ORLANDO — The San Diego Padres have seemingly answered one in every of their greatest offseason questions. Nevertheless, the reply opens up extra questions for a workforce trying to get again to the postseason in 2026.
There was loads of buzz this offseason that the Padres may convert reliever Mason Miller right into a starter as a method to fill in a few of San Diego’s rotation wants. Nevertheless, new supervisor Craig Stammen mentioned on Monday afternoon that Miller will proceed to be part of San Diego’s late-inning choices in 2026.
“It is a dangerous proposition health-wise and performance-wise,” Stammen mentioned of probably stretching out the 27-year-old right-hander.
With that call, the Padres may have Miller as their nearer this season, with Robert Suarez at present a free agent. Nevertheless, whereas the again finish could also be solidified, San Diego has a variety of work to do to fill holes within the rotation left by the departures of Dylan Stop and Michael King, in addition to the elbow damage that may hold Yu Darvish off the mound in 2026.
Granted, Miller was one potential choice for the rotation, and extra rotation work would should be completed by San Diego even when Miller had turn out to be a starter. Now the Padres shall be within the hunt for a number of starters and should probably use a commerce (potentially Jake Cronenworth) to land some pitching assist.
Cincinnati Reds utilizing good, dangerous from 2025 run in 2026
The final time we noticed the Cincinnati Reds, they had been being swept out of the postseason by the eventual world champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Whereas the Reds impressed to get to the postseason, posting an 83-79 mark in 2025 after going 77-85 in 2024, supervisor Terry Francona is hopeful his workforce remembers not solely what went proper for them final season but additionally what went unsuitable on the finish as properly.
“I believe all of us received a style of what it could possibly really feel prefer to pop champagne, which is nice. Then a few days later, we additionally felt the sting of getting beat up two fast video games and getting despatched house earlier than you wish to,” Francona mentioned. “I informed our guys to recollect each these emotions.”
Cardinals making an attempt to maintain “stability” amid commerce rumors
The St. Louis Cardinals have commerce rumors swirling round them, with the probabilities of Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, Lars Nootbaar and others being traded because the franchise appears to be like to retool the roster.
Cardinals supervisor Oliver Marmol is aware of that if these veterans are misplaced that St. Louis might even see a youth motion kick into full season in 2026.
“There’s an urgency to win, and there is a customary that we’ll hold. However on the identical time, you’ll be able to’t get pissed off for those who’re not getting the rapid outcomes that you just’re in search of out of sure younger guys,” Marmol mentioned. “You have to hold your head down and ensure they really feel supported. They perceive what this appears to be like like as properly, so there’s a stability to that.”
All quotations obtained firsthand until in any other case famous.
