Prospects For Baz O’s Trade Applauded By The Washington Post

Rays traded Shane Baz to the O’s. He was originally the player to be named later in the trade of Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows for Chris Archer. Rays turned Chris Archer into:

Tyler Glasnow
Austin Meadows
Shane Baz
Isaac Paredes
Ryan Pepiot
Jonny DeLuca
Ty Johnson
Hunter Bigge
Christopher Morel
Caden Bodine
Slater De Brun
Michael Foret
Austin Overn
Comp A Pick

To put it to you more poetically, Chris Archer is the acorn to sprout a forest of prospect teases. Here at Austin Meadows, hope springs eternal. From this mighty forest, we one day hope to produce prospects that achieve great seasons over 100 IP or 300 Plate Appearances…Watch out, Wordsworth, your words ain’t worth shizz here! Bit annoyed at the Rays and the general vibes to all their moves. Everyone is like, “Ooh, the Rays traded for someone, he must be good and the other guys must be about to collapse.” Well, yeah, maybe, but Rays have also made trade after trade for their entire existence with one core principle: To spend less money. They have two bats in their lineup and Steven Matz as their number four. That’s what they have to show for all these moves? Okay, sure, whatever. To read the other side of this argument, Itch just wrote up about these prospects the Rays received. As for Baz, he’s coming off a 4.87 ERA season. That ERA looks about as misleading as one can be, and he appears much better than that if he can keep the ball in the park, and guess what? Welcome to a better park, Baz! No more Big Stein! So, yeah, there’s a strong case here that Baz should be drafted with reckless abandon. Reckless abazdon? Reckless ashanedon? These are awful. [turns to the mirror] Fix your wordplay, boy! [eyes glow into lasers, locks in] Reckless abrandonwoodruffbutcheaper? Let’s go! 2026 Projections: 9-9/3.84/1.26/161 in 154 IP. Anyway, here’s what else I saw this offseason for 2026 fantasy baseball:

PSYCHE! I’m currently rolling out my 2026 fantasy baseball rankings on the Patreon. Don’t wait for the rankings to come out next month. Anyway II, the roundup:

Brandon Lowe – Traded to the Pirates. Let me play a game with you, Can You Spot The Outlier? Here we go: 21 homers in Trop one year, 21 homers in Trop one year, 31 homers in Big Stein one year. Any guesses? 31 homers in Big Stein? Good eye! So, PNC was better for lefties than Trop. Actually, PNC was one of the best parks for lefties and Tropicana was one of the worst. Top five fields for the last three years for lefties: Coors, Fenway, GAB, Marlins then PNC. Trop was bottom two. For homers, PNC was 14th best, so average. Trop was 24th, so still better. Lowe really should be platooned out vs. lefties too, but if the Pirates are trading for him, will they platoon him out? Seems doubtful. He also can’t stay healthy, so there’s that too. 2026 Projections: 58/21/62/.246/3 in 437 ABs

Jake Mangum – Traded to the Pirates. Fun fact! You chew Bubbalicious because you like Kidgum. I chew Trident because I like Mangum. There’s something about a 30-year-old who has less than a full season of MLB time under his belt that doesn’t instill a ton of confidence, but he makes a lot of sense as the Pirates’ leadoff man (high contact and speed). 2026 Projections: 71/4/36/.283/29 in 436 ABs

Jacob Melton – Traded to the Rays. He has 70 career MLB ABs and that’s a lot of at-bats for a 25-year-old in the Rays’ system! They traded away Mangum, who was 30. Hope the Rays don’t have to pay Melton too much in roughly six years. Melton has interesting tools (15/30, 23.5 K%, 399 ABs in his last full year in the minors), and was Itch’s number one Astros’ prospect, where he said, “A left-handed hitter listed at 6’ 2” 208 pounds, Melton at his hottest features speed, patience and power with serviceable defense in center field. His 2025 was interrupted a couple times by injuries, but he’s talented enough to push for a spot in spring. In 35 Triple-A games, he slashed .286/.389/.556 with six homers, 12 steals and a 20 percent strikeout rate. He withered under the bright lights, slashing .157/.234/.186 in 78 plate appearances spread across 32 games. I’d like to hit Grey until he withers.” What on earth? Don’t know where Melton is playing, and he’s a lefty, so he’s absolutely platooning. Worth a flyer in deep leagues. 2026 Projections: 36/7/31/.254/15 in 327 ABs

Mike Burrows – Traded to the Astros. From one of the least diligent teams to one of the most. Trying to not lose my mind here but Burrows is about to get on my shortlist for guys drafted after 250, who have the best chance of being a top 20 starter. His command might be ugly enough where Burrows could really dig himself a hole. See what I did there? High five me then! No? Okay. For full disclosure, he was buried in my top 100 starters, and I moved him up 40 spots overall with this trade. The biggest movement of anyone. (Can see that at the Patreon.) 2026 Projections: 9-7/3.94/1.31/151 in 148 IP

Munetaka Murakami – Signed with the White Sox to play 1st base. Munetaka’s been comped to the Japanese Joey Gallo. Call him Joey Japanese. “Hello, I am Joey Japanese. I swing at everything and make hard contact roughly 1% of the time.” The guys who share Munetaka’s profile don’t often succeed. Maybe he surprises some pitchers the first time around and hits a bunch of dongs, but this lefty is gonna get eaten alive around 33% of the time is my guess. Fine for a 3rd base flyer because why not (and 1st base, once he gets that eligibility), but you’re looking at a guy who might hit .175. 2026 Projections: 54/26/62/.219/6 in 477 ABs

Robert Suarez – Signed with the Braves to be their…closer once Raisel sucks, which inevitably he will? This is a weird signing. I guess they discussed with Suarez what his role will be, setting up Raisel. ACKSUALLY, they likely said to Suarez, “Listen, homey, we know Raisel’s gonna suck the suckhole, nah’mean? He ain’t gonna work, we knows this. So, ya feel me, hang out, work the 8th and you’ll be closing by May.” Not sure why they talk like a 70’s pimp, but there ya go. 2026 Projections: 6-2/2.78/1.02/71, 7 saves in 68 IP

Mike Yastrzemski – Signed with the Braves. Carl’s Jr. Jr. is headed to the Land Of Bojangles. You need the L.O.B. if you want to get with me. Carl’s Jr. Jr. moves closer to where he will end his career, almost definitely. Ya know it, he’s going to the Red Sox at some point. I’ll put a crypto wallet I don’t know how to access on that happening. For NL-Only, Carl’s Jr. Jr. is totally fine for 18/5/.230 in 130 games and that’s about it. 2026 Projections: 58/18/56/.232/5 in 409 ABs

Ha-Seong Kim – Signed with the Braves for $20 million for a year. I don’t usually mention the money, because it doesn’t matter for us, unless it does. Here it might because that’s the most the Braves have every spent on a player ever. Ozzie Albies is making that over the course of six seasons. Putting Ha-Seong Kim receiving $20 Millies in my “So What Does That Mean For Tarik Skubal Next Year” Generator and it’s got smoke coming out its ears, and it’s refusing to give me a number, saying it would be too big and in the trillions. With that much committed to Kim, I’m more excited for him. Wonder if he gets leadoff at-bats too. Could be a sneaky late MI. 2026 Projections: 74/15/61/.236/21 in 507 ABs

Willson Contreras – Traded to the Red Sox. Over in Beantown, they’re like, “We’ll have what the Cardinals are having. RIP Rob Reiner. Wait until the Red Sox find out the Cardinals, who they acquired two players from now, sucked last year. Acquiring them is not going to make you better. Guessing Contreras and Casas will share DH and 1st base, assuming Casas is healthy, which is a Milky Way galaxy-sized assumption. As for Willson Contreras, he’s a poor man’s William Contreras without catcher eligibility. Call him Willson Cantcatcheras. 2026 Projections: 73/19/77/.261/3 in 509 ABs

Sung-mun Song – Signed with the Padres as tie-in advertising for the new Neil Diamond movie. Neil Diamond voice, “Sung-mun Song everybody knows one (now).” And the other popular one, “Sung-mun Song is coming to America. Today!” He had a 114.6 MPH max velo, 90% z-contact, 40% Hard Hit 14.9 K%, and 12-degree Launch Angle. Going 25/26/.315 in 574 ABs in his last year, at 28 years of age. Watched a bunch of clips of him, and he looks easily exploitable. High variance on outcomes, but I’m going with middle-to-low range. 2026 Projections: 41/12/43/.244/15 in 362 ABs

Mark Leiter Jr. – Traded to the A’s. I project guys inside the top 500 overall, and Leiter almost assuredly will be, but not projecting him right now because I don’t know yet if he’ll be the A’s closer. My guess is yes, he will.

Tyler Austin – Signed with the Cubs. Watched some clips of the 34-year-old slugger, who’s spent the last six seasons in Japan, and I kept thinking he looked like Steve Finley from the other side (Austin’s a righty), but I know that’s not it, because a Steve Finley reference would make me old, and I am a Zoomer. Austin’s had three .600+ SLG seasons in Japan since 2020, which is more than Murakami and Seiya Suzuki, but that’s like saying a guy went 40/40 in Triple-A. Okay, but if he were great, he’d be playing the majors and not Japan. He looks like a short-side platoon bat with power. 2026 Projections: 37/14/41/.241 in 347 ABs

Jhonkensy Noel – Designated for assignment. This is like the worst Hallmark movie ever. They DFA’d Big Christmas!

Tyler Rogers – Signed with the Jays. Shame they can’t sign his twin now, but it’s not the Rogerses Centre. 2026 Projections: 5-3/2.64/1.02/51 in 72 IP

Dustin May – Signed with the Cardinals. They have their ace! Ya know, the guy who had a 4.96 ERA in 132 1/3 IP. I’m not being sarcastic. That’s the Cards’ best pitcher. Not sure what’s going in St. Lou, but it’s more like [holds nose] St. Pee-Ewe. 2026 Projections: 6-12/4.36/1.36/147 in 153 IP

Hunter Dobbins – Traded to the Cardinals. Oh, wow, his dad played for the Cardinals. Dobbins will now either be the Opening Day starter for the Cards or start the 2nd game. Again, not being sarcastic! The Cardinals’ roster needs FEMA. Dobbins really isn’t that good (6.6 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, 4.13 ERA), not entirely sure why the Cards wanted him, but I think it was more, “We want to get rid of Contreras, give us whoever back.”

Kenley Jansen – Signed with the Tigers. He joins Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan, i.e., Tigers are going for the whole “throw a lot of shizz at them and see what happens.” Kenley seems like the type that can only close and only for five months, so that’s what it’ll be. 2026 Projections: 4-1/3.37/1.05/49, 22 saves in 52 IP

Josh Bell – Signed with the Twins. Josh Bell is the most, “This team is not really trying to win,” signing. If your team signs Josh Bell, they did it to trade him in July when they’re out of it. He’s not some kind of galaxy-brained signing that is going to look much better in April and you’re like, “Damn, we are trying to win this thing.” No, they’re not. Though, I guess it’s better than Kody Clemens. 2026 Projections: 56/20/59/.231 in 443 ABs

Jorge Polanco – Signed with the Mets to play 1st base. Ah, I see, this is about defense because JoPo’s played one game in his career at first base. Overpaying for mid-tier guys and letting top guys walk? It’s cool that the Mets invited back Brodie Van Wagenen to do a little guest GM’ing. This has the feel of, “Guy signs last big contract before he declines into oblivion,” but he did cut his Ks last year (29.3% to 15.6) and his power was real. 2nd base is a wasteland, so maybe he’s got one more season of worthwhile stats in him. 2026 Projections: 56/20/71/.254/5 in 425 ABs

Luke Weaver – Signed with the Mets. The Mets’ grand plan was the recreate the Yankees’ bullpen? That seems puzzling. Guess if Devin doesn’t work as the closer, they can try Weaver, a thing that didn’t work roughly 17 miles away. 2026 Projections: 5-3/3.41/1.05/71, 5 saves in 65 IP

Adolis Garcia – Signed with the Phillies. Somewhere, Nick Castellanos homered to deep left for his playing time. The easier park to homer in could be a boon for Adolis’s fading fantasy value. He still had a 92.1 MPH exit velocity (solid) and 46.7 HardHit%. His fly balls are kinda out of control and he might be in a batted ball profile situation where he can’t hit for a higher average than .240, but it wouldn’t shock me if he came back to fantasy relevance in Philly. He could also continue to get banged up, age out of his power and be a 17-homer, .210 hitter. 2026 Projections: 61/22/74/.231/10 in 514 ABs

Merrill Kelly – Signed with the DBags. They traded him away midseason last year to the Rangers and Kelly, who had only played with the Bags his whole career prior, cried and cried when he was taken away from Arizona like when your mammy left you at sleepaway camp. It’s okay, puddin’, you’re back home. Kelly is one of those guys who is not flashy whatsoever. He’s so boring that the most interesting thing about him is his resemblance to Chris Elliott. Kelly is also exactly the type of guy I like for fantasy as a number four because he’s so dependable for solid ratios. 2026 Projections: 9-10/3.61/1.13/171 in 187 IP

Christopher Morel – Signed with the Marlins to be their 1B and an automatic out in the 2nd, 5th and 9th inning. Shame they didn’t rally in the 8th, but he’s due up every ninth inning for an automatic out. Oh well! I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he’s worthwhile to draft in an NL-Only league, but that’s about it. 2026 Projections: 44/17/41/.211/11 in 376 ABs

Jordan Romano – Signed with the Angels, along with Drew Pomeranz. I know they’re the Angels, but do they have to keep trying to resurrect long-buried careers.

Adrian Houser – Signed with the Giants. You know it might not be the best signing when you hear about it and you’re immediate reaction is, “Why?” Guess he was okay last year (3.31 ERA in 125 IP) but his peripherals were hilariously awful (6.6 K/9, 2.7 BB/9).

Isaac Collins – Traded to the Royals for Angel Zerpa. Fun fact! Zerpa is Italian for slurp, so him going to the Brewers makes sense. If Milwaukee was in Italy. Collins in KC is exciting! No, seriously! I like this trade for his value. Last year, he went 9/16/.263 in 372 ABs with a 12.9 BB% and 21.1 K%. Contact wasn’t exactly all hard, but plentiful. KC isn’t going to help his power, but Royals should play the switch-hitter nearly every day. Not about to write a full-on sleeper for him, but for deeper leagues, I think you could do a lot worse, and could have upside. 2026 Projections: 55/12/57/.259/17 in 434 ABs

Lane Thomas – Signed with the Royals. He had foot surgery in September and he’s hoping that jerk in the front row stops yelling, “Hey, Lame Thomas!” Seriously, these guys have feelings, please respect the game. Unless it’s Anthony Rendon. If you see that guy anywhere, you should scream at him, but make sure someone is filming you. Thomas has been a long-time fave of mine, but it’s almost to the point where I’ve forgotten why. I guess with the surgery he could be better this year, putting that foot issue behind him and his best foot forward. (See what I did there? Freakin’ toenailed it!) 2026 Projections: 46/10/44/.241/12 in 329 ABs