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Brandon Marsh Likely to Be Limited to a Platoon Role in 2027
Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski described outfielder Brandon Marsh as a "platoon-type guy (who) hits right-handed pitching and he hasn't done very well versus left-handed pitching," per Charlotte Varnes and Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Marsh set career highs by appearing in 155 games and logging 568 plate appearances in 2026, slashing .260/.304/.408 with 18 home runs, 62 RBI, 71 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases. Marsh got off to an excellent start to the year, but he hit just .184 with three home runs across 205 plate appearances after the All-Star break. The 28-year-old has struggled to hit left-handed pitching throughout his time in the big leagues, posting a .588 OPS with a 38.1% strikeout rate across 603 career plate appearances against southpaws. While his combination of power and speed gives him some appeal in deeper fantasy leagues, Marsh's upside is limited if he does not see everyday playing time.
Source: The Athletic - Charlotte Varnes, Matt Gelb
Source: The Athletic - Charlotte Varnes, Matt Gelb
Sal Frelick Delivers Clutch Homer in World Series Game 2 Victory
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick, who is not known for his power at the plate, went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the team's 5-4 comeback win over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night to take a 2-0 lead in the World Series. The Brewers fell behind 4-0 in the top of the first inning in Game 2 of the series, but they were able to come back like they have done all postseason. "If we're down," said Frelick, "we're not out." Frelick's solo homer to straightaway center field tied the game at four in the bottom of the sixth inning. To make the lefty-hitting outfielder's long ball even more impressive was that it came against left-hander Ian Seymour. Frelick hit one home run during the regular season in 98 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers. The 26-year-old has been in the thick of Milwaukee's rallies during the playoffs after hitting just .230 (78-for-339) with four homers, 40 RBI, 36 runs scored, and seven steals during the regular season. Frelick has gone 6-for-22 (.273) with a homer, three RBI, three stolen bases, and four runs scored in seven games in this year's postseason.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Justin Crawford Likely to Remain in a Platoon Role in 2027
Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski indicated that outfielder Justin Crawford is likely to remain in a platoon role in center field in 2027, per Charlotte Varnes and Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Across 465 plate appearances as a rookie in 2026, the 22-year-old hit .264/.309/.353 with three home runs, 41 RBI, 48 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases. The lefty-swinger lost playing time against same-handed pitching over the course of the season and ended the year with just a .603 OPS against southpaws. Crawford hit .334 and stole 46 bases across 506 Triple-A plate appearances in 2025, so he carries some speed and batting average upside for fantasy managers. However, his fantasy value is limited if he cannot max out playing time and fully unlock his speed.
Source: The Athletic - Charlotte Varnes, Matt Gelb
Source: The Athletic - Charlotte Varnes, Matt Gelb
Christian Yelich Triples Home a Run in World Series Game 1
Milwaukee Brewers veteran outfielder/designated hitter Christian Yelich made his mark in the team's 3-2 Game 1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at American Family Field on Friday night, going 1-for-4 at the plate with an RBI triple and a run scored. Yelich got the Brewers on the board first in the first inning, when a ball he hit into the right-center field gap was nearly caught by Rays center fielder Johnny DeLuca. Yelich's triple gave the Brewers an early lead that they would never relinquish on their way to taking a 1-0 series lead. The 34-year-old entered Friday night with the sixth-most career games among active players without playing in a World Series. He is also the seventh player to hit a triple in his first World Series at-bat, the first since the Royals' Lynn Jones did it as a pinch-hitter in Game 1 of 1985. Yelich has swung a hot bat in eight postseason games so far this year, going 8-for-28 (.286) with a double, a triple, four RBI, four runs scored, and two stolen bases. The Brewers' captain is hoping to keep it up as he tries to lead the Brew Crew to their first-ever World Series title.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Steven Kwan Could Be on the Trade Block this Winter
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan could be a candidate to be traded this upcoming offseason, per Robert Murray of FanSided. Across 637 plate appearances in 2026, Kwan slashed. 282/.382/.349 with three home runs, 32 RBI, 80 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. While he does not provide much power, Kwan rarely strikes out and provides teams with elite defense in the outfield. He's been a staple at the top of the Guardians lineup for several seasons now, but he's set to hit free agency at the end of the 2027 season. Cleveland has a long history of trading players before they hit their final season of team control, which could mean that Kwan is unlikely to make it through the offseason without a trade. If Kwan ends up in a better offensive environment, his fantasy outlook could be slightly improved.
Source: FanSided - Robert Murray
Source: FanSided - Robert Murray
Stephen Vogt Says He's Staying With Guardians
Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said that he will return to the team next season after losing to the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series this year, according to The Associated Press. "I'm here," Vogt said at a news conference Thursday. "I'm coming back." There were rumblings that Vogt could leave Cleveland for the Seattle Mariners' managerial opening so that he could be closer to his family's home in Washington. The former big-league catcher has led the Guardians to a division crown in each of his three seasons at the helm and has been named American League Manager of the Year twice. The 41-year-old said he has not been contacted by the Mariners, who fired Dan Wilson last month following the disappointing year after Seattle made it to the AL Championship Series in 2025. Although the M's have not reached out to Vogt, it is possible that they contact Cleveland with a trade proposal.
Source: The Associated Press
Source: The Associated Press
Kahlil Watson Undergoes Sports-Hernia Surgery
Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect Kahlil Watson underwent sports-hernia surgery on Tuesday, Oct. 20, to fix his bilateral core-muscle injury, according to the team. Dr. William Meyers in Philadelphia recommended a surgical intervention to address the injury after it was diagnosed as a sports hernia. Watson will start his rehab this week in Goodyear, Arizona, and his return-to-play timeline is expected to be around eight to 12 weeks. The 23-year-old former first-rounder by the Miami Marlins in 2021 made his major-league debut with Cleveland this year and played in 27 games (91 plate appearances), going 21-for-88 (.239) with just one home run, 11 RBI, nine stolen bases, and six runs scored. In 98 games at Triple-A Columbus, Watson hit .247/.361/.455 with an .816 OPS, 19 homers, 60 RBI, 24 stolen bases, and 68 runs scored. He is considered the team's No. 14 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and he should be fully healthy at spring training in 2027 as he competes for a spot on Cleveland's Opening Day roster. Despite being only 5-foot-9 and 179 pounds, Watson has raw power from the left side and plenty of speed to spare.
Source: GuardsInsider
Source: GuardsInsider
Managerial Candidates Emerging For Mariners Job
According to The Athletic's Chandler Rome, two former members of the Houston Astros staff -- Joe Espada and Jason Kanzler -- have emerged as serious candidates in the search for a new Seattle Mariners manager. Kanzler was on the Astros' 2022 staff and is now the Cubs farm director. And The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal added that Rocco Baldelli, the Dodgers' special assistant, is also in the mix for the Mariners job. The Mariners finished 76-86 overall and in third place in the AL West behind the Houston Astros, who finished with an 81-81 record to win the division. The Astros parted ways with Espada this offseason after the team lost to the Chicago White Sox in the postseason.
Source: Chandler Rome, The Athletic
Source: Chandler Rome, The Athletic
Kurt Suzuki Won't Return as Angels' Manager in 2027
The Los Angeles Angels have announced that they have declined the option in Kurt Suzuki's contract and will search for a new manager and coaching staff for next season. "Kurt has earned tremendous respect in our clubhouse, and I've seen firsthand how much he cares about our players. I do not believe our record this year was a true reflection of his abilities as a manager," Angels baseball operations consultant John Mozeliak said. Mozeliak said Suzuki has been offered to stay on the Angels staff as a special assistant. The Angels finished this season 62-100 and in last place in the American League West division, 19 games back of the division winners, the Houston Astros.
Source: Los Angeles Angels
Source: Los Angeles Angels
Orioles Hiring Jared Banner as General Manager
The Baltimore Orioles are hiring Chicago Cubs assistant general manager Jared Banner as their general manager, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. Banner will work alongside incumbent Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias in Baltimore. The 41-year-old Banner has 18 years of baseball operations experience, taking over his most recent role in Chicago in 2024. He got his start with the Boston Red Sox in 2008, where he spent the first 11 seasons of his career in baseball management. The Orioles have now missed the postseason in back-to-back years after consecutive playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024. While Elias has spoken publicly about his desire to add to his own front office, Banner's presence could signal that Elias' job is under scrutiny from ownership heading into 2027.
Source: ESPN - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN - Jeff Passan
Aaron Judge Set for Follow-Up Exam For his Rib
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) has a follow-up exam scheduled with Dr. Gregory Pearl regarding the rib injury that sidelined him for most of the 2026 season, general manager Brian Cashman told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. "We feel like we're in a good place. He can take advantage of the rest of the winter and be ready to go when Spring Training starts," Cashman said. The three-time MVP missed over three months during the regular season due to a stress fracture in his ribs, and then he missed the end of the regular season due to a calf injury that also kept him out of the postseason. It was surely a disappointing season for Judge's fantasy managers, but he should go into spring training in 2027 with a clean bill of health as he looks to bounce back and prove that he is still one of the best power hitters in baseball. The 34-year-old veteran, eight-time All-Star, and five-time Silver Slugger winner only had 237 at-bats in 2026 and hit .241/.360/.511 with an .871 OPS, 18 home runs, 41 RBI, 45 runs scored, and five stolen bases. It was the first time Judge did not have over 30 home runs in a season since the COVID-shortened campaign in 2020.
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Brian Cashman Agrees to New Contract With Yankees
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that he agreed to a new contract with the team, with a deal pending final language, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. "We're locked and loaded," Cashman said. The 59-year-old will continue in the job that he has held since 1998. The Yankees have won four World Series championships and 15 American League East titles under Cashman, but they have reached the World Series just once (2024) since winning their 27th title in 2009. The 17-year drought is the second-longest in franchise history, and the team's 13 straight playoff appearances without a World Series title is tied for the fourth-longest streak in MLB postseason history. The Yankees went 93-68 in 2026 -- the team's third straight 90-win season -- but they were swept in the American League Division Series by the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays after taking two from the division-rival Boston Red Sox to win the Wild-Card Series. Manager Aaron Boone will also return as the skipper of the Bronx Bombers in 2027.
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Javier Sanoja Set to Take Over as Marlins Everyday Third Baseman in 2027?
Miami Marlins utility man Javier Sanoja could be in line for an everyday role at third base in 2027, speculates Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. Sanoja emerged as a key piece for Miami in 2026, hitting .295/.333/.458 with 11 home runs, 69 RBI, 50 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across 490 plate appearances. The 24-year-old spent time at every position other than first base, catcher, and pitcher, but saw the majority of his playing time in the second half of the season at the hot corner. Sanoja may not offer fantasy managers much in the power department, as he logged just a 2.8% barrel rate and a 32.3% hard-hit rate. However, he also struck out in just 8.0% of his plate appearances, making him one of the better batting average bets in the game. With everyday playing time in 2027, Sanoja could be an under-the-radar contributor for fantasy managers to target.
Source: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
Source: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
Cam Cannarella Could Be in the Center Field Mix in Miami in 2027
Miami Marlins outfield prospect Cam Cannarella could be in the mix to win the team's starting center field job in 2027, per Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. De Nicola notes that 2026 center fielder Jakob Marsee (elbow) is gathering opinions on his injured left elbow and could require an extended absence, which could open up a chance for Cannarella. After starting the 2026 season at High-A, the 23-year-old finished the year by slashing .282/.393/.420 with three home runs, 12 RBI, 29 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across 206 plate appearances at Triple-A. Cannarella is known for his speed and his hit tool, but he also logged a respectable 9.6% barrel rate at Triple-A. Depending on the prognosis for Marsee, Cannarella could be a name for fantasy managers to monitor ahead of 2027.
Source: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
Source: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
Teoscar Hernandez a Potential Trade Candidate this Offseason
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez could be a trade candidate this upcoming offseason, speculate Fabian Ardaya and Katie Woo of The Athletic. Hernandez is entering the final year of his three-year, $66 million contract with Los Angeles, and he could be moved to both clear money and open up a regular role for Dodgers outfield prospect Josue De Paula. Across 491 plate appearances in 2026, Hernandez hit .267/.334/.425 with 16 home runs, 64 RBI, 66 runs scored, and five stolen bases. The 34-year-old remained a viable source of power and run production for Los Angeles, but his 10.6% barrel rate and 44.8% hard-hit rate were both his worst since his rookie season in 2016. If Hernandez is indeed moved and ends up in an inferior lineup to the Dodgers, his fantasy outlook could be slightly worse in 2027.
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya, Katie Woo
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya, Katie Woo
