The Athletic's Patrick Mooney writes that the Chicago Cubs are expected to have interest in keeping right-hander Clay Holmes for the 2027 season despite his disappointing end to the year after the team acquired him in a trade from the New York Mets. Holmes has a $12 million player option for next season. If Holmes turns down his option and becomes a free agent, the Cubs could once again become desperate for pitching reinforcements. "In so many ways, Clay fits our team really well," president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. "He puts the ball on the ground." Holmes had an 8.24 ERA in four September starts for the Cubbies, walking 15 batters in 19 2/3 innings after posting a 1.55 ERA in five August starts after the trade. His lack of command down the stretch dropped the Cubs out of the top Wild-Card spot in the National League, and they were swept by the San Diego Padres in two games in the Wild-Card series. Before the Cubs acquired Holmes, he had not pitched for the Mets since May 15 due to a fractured right fibula. Holmes could bounce back with better health in 2027 in Chicago or somewhere else, but he will also be turning 34 years of age.

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MLB.com's Christina De Nicola writes that Miami Marlins catcher Joe Mack is an obvious extension candidate this offseason. The team's entire 40-man roster is under club control outside of right-hander Sandy Alcantara and impending free-agent right-handed reliever Pete Fairbanks, and everyone except setup man Anthony Bender has multiple years remaining on their contracts. The Fish will not have to extend anyone this offseason, but locking up Mack early in his career could make sense. The 23-year-old former 31st overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft made his major-league debut in 2026 and finished with a .234/.282/.403 slash line with a .685 OPS, 14 home runs, 52 RBI, and 40 runs scored across 105 games and 330 plate appearances. Mack has the potential to become Miami's catcher of the future if they ink him to an extension, and his left-handed bat will have plenty of use in fantasy baseball leagues with above-average power at the catching position.

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MLB.com's Christina De Nicola writes that right-hander Eury Perez is a prime extension candidate this offseason. The Marlins' entire 40-man roster is under club control outside of right-handed starter Sandy Alcantara and impending free-agent right-handed reliever Pete Fairbanks, and everyone except setup man Anthony Bender has multiple years remaining on their deals. The 23-year-old Perez threw a career-high 159 innings in 2026 in just his third year in the major leagues with the Fish, going 8-11 with a 3.91 ERA (4.07 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 170 strikeouts and 68 walks in 30 appearances (29 starts). He saved one of his best outings of the year for last on Sept. 25 against the division-rival Atlanta Braves, throwing a one-hit shutout with eight strikeouts in nine scoreless innings. It was a nice bounce-back outing to close out the year after he struggled in four of his last five starts down the stretch. Despite solid numbers, Perez's strikeout rate dropped to a career-low 25.8%, and he had a career-high 10.3% walk rate. Still, he is an intriguing young arm that the Marlins may want to lock up for the long term.

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Miami Marlins right-hander Ronny Henriquez (elbow) is expected to be in the mix at the back end of the team's bullpen in 2027, per Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. Henriquez missed the entire 2026 season after undergoing elbow surgery in December 2025. However, the 26-year-old emerged as a potentially dynamic reliever in 2025, recording a 2.22 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP with 98 strikeouts, 26 holds, and seven saves across 73 innings (69 games). Henriquez posted an excellent 32.3% strikeout rate while limiting his walk rate to a solid 8.9%. Miami got underwhelming production in the ninth inning this past season from right-hander Pete Fairbanks, who logged a 6.31 ERA across 41 1/3 innings and is now set to hit free agency. Heading into 2027, Henriquez could be a potential source of saves for fantasy managers to target in drafts.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Miami Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix said that first baseman/outfielder Kyle Stowers could see time at both first base and the outfield next year. Stowers was a 2025 Gold Glove finalist in left field, but due to recurring hamstring issues in 2026, his long-term future could be better suited for first base. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger, a former second-round pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 from Stanford, was a first-time All-Star in 2025, when he slashed .288/.368/.544 with a .912 OPS, a career-high 25 home runs, 73 RBI, 61 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 117 games across 457 plate appearances. Stowers played in a career-high 121 games in 2026 despite his hamstring issues, but he hit just .239 (107-for-447) with 21 home runs and an elevated 31.4% strikeout rate. He also missed the final four regular-season games due to an abdominal injury. The power from the left side is certainly intriguing, but a lengthy injury history and problems with strikeouts should scare off some fantasy managers in drafts next spring. It could be worth Stowers losing outfield eligibility for him to stay at first base so that he can stay on the field more.

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MLB.com's Christina De Nicola writes that it is safe to assume that the Miami Marlins will exercise right-hander Sandy Alcantara's $21 million team option for the 2027 season rather than buy it out for $2 million after he returned to form in 2026. The 31-year-old Dominican hurler was a workhorse for the Fish in his ninth year in the majors, going 13-11 with a 3.87 ERA (4.08 FIP) and 1.23 WHIP with 153 strikeouts and 59 walks in a league-high 214 innings across 36 appearances (33 starts). Alcantara even made three outings out of the bullpen and went 3-for-3 in save chances towards the tail end of the regular season after the Marlins were eliminated from postseason contention. He showed in 2026 that he still has the potential to be a fantasy ace after already making two All-Star teams and becoming the Marlins' first Cy Young winner in 2022. Miami has not officially said that they will exercise Alcantara's 2027 option, but president of baseball operations Peter Bendix had nothing but good things to say about him. "With Sandy in particular, he is so meaningful to this organization," Bendix said. "That's not lost on me. That's not lost on us. Another incredible season. Really, really fun to watch him pitch. His leadership in the clubhouse, the way he handles himself, the way he sets an example for the rest of the team -- it's second to none, and it's something that I know [manager] Clayton [McCullough] really appreciates [and] I really appreciate. We value it tremendously."

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Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shawn Armstrong will serve as the opener for the Guardians again in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night against the hosting Tampa Bay Rays, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. The Guardians are going to stick with what is working, as Armstrong has given up two hits with six strikeouts and no walks in 7 2/3 scoreless innings so far this postseason. He threw a scoreless inning in Game 4 and 1 1/3 scoreless innings in Game 5 on Sunday, so Monday will be his third straight appearance in the best-of-seven series. The 36-year-old veteran and former 18th-round pick by Cleveland in 2011 from East Carolina University went 2-1 during the regular season with a 4.58 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 34:19 K:BB in 35 1/3 relief innings in his 12th year in the major leagues. Armstrong most likely will only go an inning or two at the most as he appears in the playoffs for the third straight day while trying to force a Game 7 in Tampa, with a trip to the World Series to face the Milwaukee Brewers on the line.

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Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Freddy Peralta will start Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Monday back in Tampa against the Cleveland Guardians on a short turnaround after the Rays won Game 5 of the series in Cleveland on Sunday, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Peralta will be looking for more of the same after he picked up the win in Game 2 against Cleveland by tossing six shutout innings with six strikeouts. In three postseason appearances (two starts) this year, Peralta has been money for the Rays, allowing just one earned run on seven hits (one homer) while walking four and striking out nine in 11 1/3 innings pitched for a win and a hold. He threw two-thirds of an inning out of the bullpen in Game 4 of the ALCS in Cleveland. The veteran hurler did not face the Guardians at all during the regular season, going 10-11 on the year with a 4.42 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 156 strikeouts in 169 innings pitched over his 32 starts with the Rays and New York Mets. Peralta was better in his 10 regular-season starts with Tampa, posting a 3.25 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 43:15 K:BB in 55 1/3 innings.

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Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson showed off his skills in the team's 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of the ALCS on Sunday. Simpson was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, a single, a stolen base, and a run scored. Simpson showed off his speed and how much of a threat he is in the run game with his second stolen base of the postseason. The speedster had 46 stolen bases during the regular season. Simpson is hitting just .238 in the postseason, but he had a nice game in Game 5 and will look to build on that back home as the Rays try to put away the Guardians and make the World Series in Game 6 at Tampa Bay.

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New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells took several foul tips to the catcher's mask that led to headaches, which slowed down his first-half production offensively, before he was able to have a resurgent second half of the season, according to a report from The Athletic's Brendan Kuty. Kuty says Wells passed concussion protocols after two specific shots to the mask but had "pressure in his head and headaches" as a result of the foul tips. Wells hit .186 this season with 14 homers and 32 RBI. Over the final three months of the season, Wells had 10 homers and 22 RBI, as he was clearly more productive over the second half of the year.

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Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda was one of the key contributors in his team's 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Sunday, logging two hits and an RBI in five plate appearances. Aranda emerged as a staple at the top of the Rays lineup in 2026, hitting .274/.358/.434 with 22 home runs, 92 RBI, and 73 runs scored across 668 plate appearances. The 28-year-old has continued his solid production in the playoffs so far, slashing .290/.353/.387 with one home run, five RBI, and four runs scored across 35 plate appearances. Tampa Bay will have a chance to advance past Cleveland and into the World Series with a win in Game 6 on Monday.

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Cleveland Guardians left-hander Parker Messick did not have his best day in his team's 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Sunday. The 25-year-old pitched just two innings, throwing 57 pitches and allowing five hits, two walks, and two earned runs. Messick emerged as Cleveland's ace during the regular season, recording a 12-9 record with a 2.56 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 193 strikeouts across 186 1/3 innings (32 games). However, the young lefty has not been quite as effective in the postseason so far. Messick is 0-3 in his three playoff starts, allowing 17 hits, 10 walks, and nine runs (six earned) across 13 2/3 innings. Cleveland will now need to win two straight games in Tampa to advance past the Rays and move on to the World Series.

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Tampa Bay Rays closer Bryan Baker continued his dominant postseason on Sunday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning in his team's 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series. Baker had a breakout regular season for the Rays, pitching to a 1.44 ERA with 63 strikeouts and 41 saves across 62 1/3 innings. He's continued his excellent production in the playoffs, logging six strikeouts and five saves while allowing one hit, two walks, and zero earned runs across six innings (six games). Tampa Bay has a chance to advance to the World Series for the third time in franchise history with a win in Game 6 of the ALCS on Tuesday.

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Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen came through for his team with a gem in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Sunday. The 31-year-old allowed just four hits, one walk, and one earned run while striking out six across seven innings of work in Tampa Bay's 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians. Rasmussen had an excellent regular season for the Rays, recording a 16-5 record with a 2.67 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 174 strikeouts across 172 innings (30 starts). He's been even better across his three starts so far this postseason, allowing just 13 hits, three walks, and three earned runs while striking out 23 across 21 innings pitched. Thanks to Rasmussen's efforts in Game 5, Tampa Bay now holds a 3-2 series lead over Cleveland and will have a chance to advance to the World Series with a win in Game 6 on Tuesday.

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Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Yandy Diaz was one of the stars of his team's 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Sunday, logging three hits and scoring a run in five plate appearances. The 35-year-old was a consistent presence at the top of the Tampa Bay lineup all season long, hitting .293/.359/.446 with 22 home runs, 85 RBI, 93 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 686 plate appearances. Diaz has continued his steady production in the playoffs, slashing .314/.333/.514 with one home run, two RBI, and six runs scored across 36 postseason plate appearances. The Rays are now one win away from a trip to the World Series after taking a 3-2 series lead over Cleveland on Sunday.

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Cleveland Guardians rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana went 2-for-3 at the plate with his first career postseason home run as the Guardians came up short 7-3 in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night. Bazzana's home run came in the seventh inning, when the Guardians put up a little rally, but it was not nearly enough as the Rays tied the best-of-seven series at two games apiece. "We've been in situations where it gets tough, where it gets tighter and it gets harder a little closer to the end of the season," Bazzana said. "You've just got to fight for that next win." The 24-year-old former first overall pick in 2024 from Oregon State has struggled so far in his first nine postseason games, going 6-for-30 (.200) with the home run, two RBI, four runs scored, a stolen base, four walks, and six strikeouts in 34 plate appearances. The Australian native has been hot since the start of September, though, slashing .280/.365/.613 with six home runs, 15 RBI, 14 runs scored, and a stolen base.

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Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda helped carry the offense in the 7-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday night at Progressive Field. Aranda, batting out of the two-hole, went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI, two runs scored, and a walk. It was nice to see Aranda do something on offense after going hitless in the first three games of the series. In seven total postseason games this October, Aranda has gone 7-for-26 (.269) at the plate with a home run, four RBI, four runs scored, one walk, and three strikeouts. The Rays are going to need their core players like Aranda to continue stepping up if they are going to win two more games necessary to get them back to the World Series. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger from Mexico followed up his first-time All-Star bid in 2025 with a nice .274/.358/.434 slash line with a career-high 22 home runs, 92 RBI, and 73 runs scored across 155 games and 668 plate appearances during the regular season in his fifth year in the majors.

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