RADIO
Joe Espada Will Not Return as Astros Manager in 2027
The Houston Astros announced on Wednesday that Joe Espada will not return as the team's manager in 2027. Espada took over in Houston in 2024 and led the Astros to a 256-229 record across his three years at the helm. The Astros won two American League West division crowns under Espada, but failed to win a single postseason game. Houston has also gotten progressively worse over the last three seasons, winning 88 games in 2024, 87 games in 2025, and 81 games this past season. Espada has already met with the Seattle Mariners about their managerial vacancy, so he could remain in the AL West.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Don Mattingly To Manage Phillies For Two More Years
The Philadelphia Phillies have announced a new two-year deal for former interim manager Don Mattingly to manage the team in 2027 and 2028, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The Phillies bowed out of the playoffs this year in the National League wild-card series against the Atlanta Braves, although they did come back to force a decisive Game 3. The Phillies will look to Mattingly to help them break through in the playoffs, as the team is largely talented both hitting-wise and on the mound.
Source: Mark Feinsand, MLB.com
Source: Mark Feinsand, MLB.com
Joe Espada Set to Interview for Mariners Manager Job
The Seattle Mariners are set to interview current Houston Astros manager Joe Espada for their managerial vacancy, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. While Espada is currently employed by Houston, Rome reports that his future with the organization is "in doubt" as his contract expires at the end of October. Espada has been the manager of the Astros since the start of the 2024 season. Houston has reached the playoffs twice under his watch, but they've failed to win a postseason game and have also seen their regular-season record get worse every year. The Mariners parted ways with former manager Dan Wilson shortly after the conclusion of the 2026 season. Seattle won just 76 games this year, but the team has plenty of returning talent. If Espada gets the Mariners job, he will be under pressure to win immediately in Seattle.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Mauricio Dubon in Play for Braves' Starting Shortstop Job in 2027?
Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos had high praise for utility man Mauricio Dubon, saying that he "can't say enough good things about him" and that he feels "very comfortable with (Dubon) at short," per Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Dubon emerged as a surprisingly critical component of Atlanta's lineup in 2026, hitting .276/.321/.399 with 12 home runs, 73 RBI, 66 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases across 619 plate appearances. Dubon is now set to hit free agency as he enters his age-32 season in 2027. The veteran had mostly been used as a versatile bench piece throughout his career prior to 2026, as he's shown an ability to line up everywhere on the diamond other than behind the plate and on the mound. However, it appears as though Atlanta could be circling Dubon as a potential stopgap starter at shortstop. The Braves have struggled to fill the shortstop position since losing Dansby Swanson to the Chicago Cubs in free agency following the 2022 season.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
Taylor Smith a Top Candidate For Head of Baseball Ops With A's
ESPN Baseball Insider Jeff Passan reports that Boston Red Sox assistant general manager Taylor Smith is considered the top candidate to become the head of baseball operations for the A's. According to Passan, another finalist for the job, Cardinals assistant general manager Rob Cerfolio is expected to stay with St. Louis. Passan previously reported that Sam Fuld, the former general manager of the Phillies, was offered the A's job but will remain in the Philadelphia organization.
Source: Jeff Passan
Source: Jeff Passan
Max Muncy Could Require Offseason Surgery
Athletics infielder Max Muncy (knee) will be re-evaluated at some point in the offseason to determine if surgery is required to fix his left-knee chondromalacia, according to MLB.com. Muncy is expected to return for next season, but it is unclear how much time he could miss in the offseason if he is forced to go under the knife. The 24-year-old former 25th overall pick in 2021 played in 82 games for the A's in 2026 in his second year in the majors, slashing .230/.296/.387 with a .682 OPS, nine home runs, 30 RBI, 31 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 284 plate appearances. Muncy had nine home runs and 23 RBI in 63 games across 220 plate appearances in his first taste of big-league pitching in 2025 as a rookie. If Muncy does have surgery, it is expected to be a minimally invasive procedure, which means he should be ready well before the start of spring training in early 2027. Muncy's power from the right side is intriguing, but he must earn more playing time going into his third year in the Show.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Corey Seager has Bone Spur Removed From his Elbow
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (elbow) had a minor procedure to remove a bone spur in his right elbow on Tuesday, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Seager battled through a right-elbow issue for months, and now we have some more specifics. The 32-year-old veteran has dealt with plenty of injuries over the last two seasons and has become a big injury risk as he heads into his age-33 campaign in 2027. The mounting injuries took a toll on Seager as a hitter this year, as he finished his 12th year in the big leagues with a .227/.312/.424 slash line in 102 games played and 436 plate appearances. It was the second straight season with exactly 102 regular-season games played for the Rangers due to injuries. Seager still managed to reach the 20-home run mark, though, for the fifth straight year, and he drove in 51 runs. With better health next year, Seager could bounce back and be more consistent at the plate, but the injury risk is very real. Unless he suffers a setback with his elbow in the offseason, Seager should have plenty of time to get ready for the start of the 2027 regular season.
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
MLB Proposes Shortening Regular Season, Tweaking Playoffs
Major League Baseball proposed cutting the regular-season schedule from 162 games to 154 games on Thursday in a bargaining session with the MLB Players Association, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Higher seeds in the playoffs getting to choose their opponents and the Division Series expanding to seven games were also part of the league's proposal. MLB is proposing a return to a 154-game schedule, starting in 2029, for the first time since the 1960s. The existing collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the Players Association is set to expire on Dec. 1, and a potential lockout could be on the horizon in 2027, which could delay the start of the regular season. The new MLB proposals will be contingent on the MLBPA accepting a salary-cap/floor system. Essentially, the league would be trimming eight regular-season games from each team's schedule while adding up to eight more postseason games total.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Miguel Rojas Not Worried About Back/Hip Injury
Los Angeles Dodgers veteran infielder Miguel Rojas (back, hip) said he felt some tightness in his left lower-back/hip area during a swing in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Tuesday against the hosting Atlanta Braves before he was pulled mid at-bat, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. However, Rojas was not concerned about his availability for the rest of the series and going forward. Rojas probably will not be in the Dodgers' starting lineup for Game 4 of the series on Wednesday at Truist Park against Braves right-hander Tyler Mahle, but it sounds like he should be available off the bench. The 37-year-old Venezuelan infielder has made two starts so far in the NLDS against the Braves and has gone 1-for-4 with a double and a strikeout. He was hitless in three at-bats with a strikeout in Tuesday's Game 3 win before being replaced at second base by Tommy Edman. Rojas has mostly been a bench player for the Dodgers in his 13th year in the league (fourth with L.A.) in 2026, but he proved in last year's World Series that he is still capable of coming through in the clutch when needed. He hit .267 (60-for-225) with four homers and 23 RBI during the regular season.
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Miguel Rojas Suffers Back Injury in Game 3 of NLDS
Los Angeles Dodgers veteran infielder Miguel Rojas (back) injured himself on a swing in the eighth inning and left Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves in the middle of his at-bat on Tuesday night, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Rojas was reaching towards his lower back with his left arm after a swing. He was making the start at second base against Braves left-hander Chris Sale, and he went 0-for-3 at the plate with a strikeout before being replaced at the keystone by Tommy Edman. The 37-year-old Venezuelan infielder is a bench player for the Dodgers at this point in his career, but despite not playing all that much anymore, he saved the Dodgers' season in last year's World Series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the series. Rojas hit .267 (60-for-225) during the regular season with only four home runs, 23 RBI, 23 runs scored, and a stolen base. If Rojas' injury is serious enough for the Dodgers to remove him from the NLDS roster, he would be unable to return for the NL Championship Series if the team advances.
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Source: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
Chase Meidroth Powers White Sox to Wild Card Series Win on Wednesday
Chicago White Sox second baseman Chase Meidroth was one of the stars of his team's 7-3 closeout victory over the Houston Astros in the American League Wild Card Series on Wednesday, going two-for-three with a home run, a walk, and three RBI. Meidroth was one of the drivers of Chicago's two-game sweep, logging four hits and four RBI in eight plate appearances in the series. The 25-year-old was a steady presence in the White Sox lineup all season long in 2026, slashing .276/.350/.415 with 16 home runs, 63 RBI, 90 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 643 plate appearances. With his 9.5% walk rate and elite defense at second base, Meidroth profiles as the type of under-the-radar contributor who could help power a deeper-than-expected postseason run for Chicago.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Ernie Clement Not Assured of Blue Jays Second Base Job Entering 2027
Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said that infielder Ernie Clement "will have to earn" the team's starting second base job in 2027, per Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. After being one of the heroes of Toronto's run to a World Series appearance in 2025, Clement's numbers regressed in 2026. Across 621 plate appearances this past season, the 30-year-old hit .259/.285/.364 with nine home runs, 48 RBI, 60 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. Perhaps most concerningly for Toronto, his defensive metrics plummeted after he graded out as a plus defender in 2025. Clement rarely strikes out (9.3% strikeout rate) and can line up all over the diamond, which makes him a valuable piece for the Blue Jays. However, the 30-year-old may be best suited for a utility role in Toronto going forward.
Source: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
Source: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
Corey Seager Could Undergo Minor Surgery on Elbow
Texas Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said that shortstop Corey Seager (elbow) has been dealing with a bone spur in his elbow that could require offseason surgery, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Landry reports that the team is still talking through options, and that Seager would be expected to be fully ready for 2027 Spring Training even if surgery is eventually required. The 32-year-old had a down year by his lofty standards, hitting .227/.312/.424 with 20 home runs, 51 RBI, 57 runs scored, and two stolen bases across 436 plate appearances. In addition to playing through the elbow injury, Seager missed time in 2026 due to back issues and a concussion. If Seager can get fully healthy over the offseason, he could be primed for a bounce-back campaign in 2027.
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
Kaelen Culpepper Returns From Injured List on Saturday
The Minnesota Twins officially activated shortstop prospect Kaelen Culpepper (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list on Saturday and placed right-handed reliever Jeff Hoffman (forearm) on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his right forearm in a corresponding move, according to Aaron Gleeman. The Twins have elected to bring Culpepper back for the final two games of the regular season after he was placed on the IL on Sept. 16 with a left-hamstring strain. He should be back in action on Saturday evening at home against the Texas Rangers and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. The 23-year-old former first-rounder in 2024 from Kansas State University is viewed as the team's shortstop of the future, and MLB Pipeline has him ranked as Minnesota's No. 3 overall prospect, behind only outfielder Walker Jenkins and catcher Vahn Lackey. Culpepper has looked good in his first 109 major-league at-bats, hitting .275 with three home runs, 11 RBI, 15 runs scored, and a stolen base. He brings a strong contact-oriented approach with good bat speed and the ability to send line drives to all parts of the field.
Source: Aaron Gleeman
Source: Aaron Gleeman
Xavier Edwards Still Out for Marlins
Miami Marlins middle infielder Xavier Edwards (thumb) remains out of the starting nine for Friday's series opener at home against the division-rival Atlanta Braves, per MLB.com. Jared Serna will make another start at second base for the Fish and will hit in the nine-hole against Braves left-hander Ray Kerr. This will be Edwards' fifth straight missed game after he aggravated a left-thumb injury last Saturday against the San Diego Padres. The Marlins have not rushed the 27-year-old back after being eliminated from playoff contention. At this point, he only has two more chances to return before the end of the regular season on Saturday and Sunday against Atlanta. The switch-hitting middle infielder was having a second straight solid season for the Fish this year, slashing .280/.360/.371 with a .730 OPS, a career-high six home runs, 52 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 61 runs scored across 142 games and 595 plate appearances. You are not going to get any power from Edwards, but he remains useful for his speed and contact-oriented approach at the dish in fantasy leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
