We've won 103, 92, 96 and 101 games in the four seasons of this save and made the playoffs each time but are still without a World Series or even a pennant win to show for it, which really has been the story of this franchise to date in this save. All I can do is to keep putting out a good a team as possible, get into the playoffs, and see what happens from there. And to that end most of this 101-win team should return for another go-round.
The only free agents of significance we're losing are two guys we probably wouldn't be keeping anyway:
Jason Adam and
Drew Rasmussen. The former lost arm strength and the closer's gig during the season and the latter couldn't stay healthy at all, managing only six starts last year. We did make two waiver claims during October that I didn't want to interrupt playoff coverage for since they're mainly depth moves:
Love the nickname, the power, and those AAA stats. He could be used as a 1B/DH against lefties and he has an option left (I think).
Wicks is your classic "crafty lefty" type and it also says he has one option left although I'm never sure when the odometer turns over on that (after free agency starts?). Like Melendez he put up nice numbers in AAA but has to prove it at the big league level.
Here's where things stand position-by-position:
C: The tandem of Langeliers and Bailey should return. Langeliers was one of our best players from about June on, while Bailey disappointed (0 HR in 164 AB after hitting 12 in 298 in 2025, not sure how that happens).
1B: Casas returns, he was a good pickup mid-season and didn't embarrass himself against lefties (832 OPS). If Melendez makes the squad he could spell Casas against them.
2B: Wander returns for another year of what should be his usual 5-6 WAR.
SS:
Carson Williams was everything we'd hoped for after his midseason callup and appears to be a franchise fixture.
3B:
Elly De La Cruz is coming off a 34/47, 5-WAR season and is making the minimum for one more season.
IF:
Masyn Winn hit 296/358/408 as the infield backup and probably should be starting somewhere so I can't ask for anything more.
LF:
Brock Jones tailed off in the second half at the plate but played Gold Glove-caliber defense (he got my vote) all season and looked good in the playoffs. He'll probably be back and will sit again against lefties, but it's possible he could be improved upon.
CF:
Jackson Chourio also tailed off in the second half and then got hurt, coming back just in time for the playoffs. He should still be great.
Jose Siri is projected for $7.5M in arbitration and will be non-tendered; as well as he played last year in both phases, that's way too much for a backup OF with 40 contact.
RF:
Mason Auer had the season we envisioned he'd have after re-acquiring him from the Cubs in 2025, 20 HR, 96 RBI, 54 SB and 5.4 WAR. That'll play.
OF: Right now
Kevin Alcantara is our 4th OF. He still has the potential to be an above-average bat, although he didn't distinguish himself in limited action with us (169/239/325). He could platoon with Jones in LF.
DH:
Cal Mitchell is the incumbent, coming off a nice 305/362/496, 24 HR, 80 RBI season worth 2.5 WAR. That's the good news, the bad news is that most of that WAR was earned with Texas in the first half of the season and his 270/306/478 with us was just passable. He could also use a righty partner here, although he did hit .318 against lefties (but with only a .398 SLG). He's also due for about $5.8M in arbitration so trading him's a possibility too.
Junior Caminero, who held his own in his first MLB action at 268/324/444, could easily take his place and also serve as a 1B/2B/3B backup.
Rotation: The big four of McClanahan/Bradley/Springs/Brash are all back with
Waylin Santana set to join full-time as the fifth starter. And the likes of
DL Hall, Ryan Pepiot, Jack Perkins and
Hayden Juenger are all capable of starting but will likely resume their roles in the bullpen.
Bullpen:
Camilo Doval returns as closer, Pepiot, Perkins and Juenger are back, Hall,
Jovani Moran and
Garrett Cleavinger give us deep depth from the left side, and
Seranthony Dominguez is back to set up. In other words, the same bullpen without Adam.
Dylan Lee is too expensive at $7.3M in arbitration and will be non-tendered. Possibilities to be the last man in the pen are
Matt Canterino, Fernando Costume (the probable front-runner), and Wicks.
Chase Petty will be back mid-season from his partially torn UCL and we'll have to see what kind of shape he's in.
Prospects: We do have a couple of bats of note who could make an impact.
Cooper Kinney hit 43 HR and had 93 RBI with a 950 OPS between Montgomery and Durham last year and is ready to hit at the big-league level. The problem with him is that he's basically a lefty-swinging DH with lousy ratings on the infield.
Joe Quelch has 65 MLB power with 70 potential and clubbed 36 dingers (including 25 at Durham) but as a 2025 draftee he doesn't have to go on the 40-man yet unlike Kinney. He's a decent corner OF and a righty swinger which fits our needs and is already 25.
Joel Diaz is still considered our top starting pitcher prospect behind Santana but missed half the year with shoulder inflammation and put up some rough numbers at Durham (5.50 ERA, 16 HR in 88 IP) and without an opening on the MLB staff he'll be back with the Bulls.
So with all that said our goals for the offseason are:
1. Possibly find an upgrade for Jones in LF or at least a backup OF, one who hits from the right side.
2. See what we can get for Mitchell and possibly go with Caminero/Kinney at DH.
And really that's about it as we're pretty much taking this 101-win team and running it back.