2026 MLB Thread

[Shaka Shart]

Wow both Chicago teams two games back. Baseball town

[TallTitan34]

Looking at third order records, the Reds are currently outperforming their numbers by 5.4 wins!

https://claydavenport.com/stats/standings.html

[MU82]

Tigers put all that money into starting pitching but the best they could do at closer was 106-year-old Kenley Jansen?

[Shaka Shart]

The many whispers saying the white Sox are back are growing louder

[tower912]

Tigers put all that money into starting pitching but the best they could do at closer was 106-year-old Kenley Jansen?

Three relievers who have seasons with 20+ saves.  Vest, Finnegan, Jansen.

The Tigers are a hot mess right now.

[WhiteTrash]

The many whispers saying the white Sox are back are growing louder

I'm sure I'll jinks them, but is 70 wins in the cards?

[Uncle Rico]

This endeth the Brewers career of Brandon Woodruff

[GB Warrior]

This endeth the Brewers career of Brandon Woodruff

Hard not to think about all of the sand that $22M QO could have purchased

[tower912]

When Skubal called timeout and started massaging his elbow and forearm last night, my first thought was that Detroit had dodged a $400 million bullet.

Seriously, I think Detroit still tries to sign him, but final decision won't be until after the CBA is signed and they know what they have to work with.

[Uncle Rico]

Hard not to think about all of the sand that $22M QO could have purchased

A LOT

[Billy Hoyle]

Three relievers who have seasons with 20+ saves.  Vest, Finnegan, Jansen.

The Tigers are a hot mess right now.

The Athletic had an article recently about how the days of the full-time closer is going away due to analytics.

[JWags85]

Tigers put all that money into starting pitching but the best they could do at closer was 106-year-old Kenley Jansen?

To be totally fair, age aside, Jansen was actually pretty damn good last year, albeit on a very mediocre team.  His WHIP was under 1 for the first time since his peak in the mid 2010s where he was a monster on those Dodgers teams, even more significant since he's lost some juice and is pitching to contact a lot more than he used to.  He's not been good this year, but its not like they signed someone who was absolute toast/had been showing signs of being done.

You'd think this may be his last year, maybe 1 more if someone will pay him, but will be one of the most fascinating HOF level careers in awhile.  Made it to AAA as a catcher, good enough to start for the Dutch in the WBC, but didn't have a great bat.  Didn't start pitching till he was 22 and in less than a year he was good enough to get promoted to the majors.  By his late 20s he was the best closer in baseball for a good 3 years.  Fell off a bit during/after COVID then rebounded and was really good for the Red Sox and Braves and is gonna pitch till he was almost 40 without ever missing a chunk of time with injury.  He's basically right at the HOF probability level where everyone above him is in. 

[GB Warrior]

The Athletic had an article recently about how the days of the full-time closer is going away due to analytics.

No one wants to work anymore

[Billy Hoyle]

No one wants to work anymore

I get the joke, but it's more of having a rotation of closers than a lockdown every day closer like the old school guys like Mariano, Sutter, Mark Davis, Eck, etc.

[CreightonWarrior]

This endeth the Brewers career of Brandon Woodruff

weird

Hard not to think about all of the sand that $22M QO could have purchased

to be fair there's nothing in the last 4 years that could've shown that he's injury prone.

[Uncle Rico]

weird to be fair there's nothing in the last 4 years that could've shown that he's injury prone.

I thought it was worth a 1-year flier.  If it had been a multi-year deal, that would have been a different story.  Offering the qualifying offer was the right move, 1-year deal and had he declined, extra draft pick.

[TallTitan34]

I think it depends on the game situation. If you have a one run lead in the seventh facing the 3, 4, and 5 hitters with a guy on second, that may be the most important time to use your best reliever.

[MU82]

To be totally fair, age aside, Jansen was actually pretty damn good last year, albeit on a very mediocre team.  His WHIP was under 1 for the first time since his peak in the mid 2010s where he was a monster on those Dodgers teams, even more significant since he's lost some juice and is pitching to contact a lot more than he used to.  He's not been good this year, but its not like they signed someone who was absolute toast/had been showing signs of being done.

You'd think this may be his last year, maybe 1 more if someone will pay him, but will be one of the most fascinating HOF level careers in awhile.  Made it to AAA as a catcher, good enough to start for the Dutch in the WBC, but didn't have a great bat.  Didn't start pitching till he was 22 and in less than a year he was good enough to get promoted to the majors.  By his late 20s he was the best closer in baseball for a good 3 years.  Fell off a bit during/after COVID then rebounded and was really good for the Red Sox and Braves and is gonna pitch till he was almost 40 without ever missing a chunk of time with injury.  He's basically right at the HOF probability level where everyone above him is in. 

He's had a fine career. I'm glad he's not my team's closer in 2026.

[Jockey]

With Yelich, Churio, and Vaughn already injured, the Crew loses Woodruff and Miz on back-to-back days.

Someone else will finally win the Central. If not, all 4 managers should be fired.

[TallTitan34]

Really unfortunate for the Brewers they are the only team with injuries.

[Dish]

Murakami & Montgomery new M&M boys.

[BM1090]

Miz is fine. Who knows with Woodruff. They get Chourio and Vaughn back in a few days. They've weathered the storm and played above .500 baseball. Rotation has been great, offense is coming around.

[Shaka Shart]

Murakami & Montgomery new M&M boys.

Dare I say I'm having fun tuning in? A little!

[Uncle Rico]

Really unfortunate for the Brewers they are the only team with injuries.

Who said that?  That's wild someone would say that.

[cheebs09]

Miz is fine. Who knows with Woodruff. They get Chourio and Vaughn back in a few days. They've weathered the storm and played above .500 baseball. Rotation has been great, offense is coming around.

Yeah, it will be interesting once the Brewers start playing more NL Central teams. Their schedule was very AL heavy to start the year.

It feels like the division will be a dog fight all year.