Hentges, 29, posted a 2.93 ERA and 2.66 FIP from 2022-24 but missed all of '25 due to multiple injuries. The left-hander underwent surgery in September 2024 to repair the capsule and labrum in his left shoulder, then also underwent arthroscopic right knee surgery this past September while rehabbing his shoulder. The combination of injuries prevented Hentges from even appearing in a rehab assignment last season, and the Guardians elected to non-tender Hentges last week.
Another came on Halloween, the day Blake Butera became the Washington Nationals' choice despite being just 33 years old. But the biggest stunner of all, according to several coaches and executives queried by ESPN, followed six days later, when former relief pitcher Craig Stammen -- barely two years into retirement and hardly even mentioned as a potential manager previously -- landed baseball's top on-field job with the San Diego Padres.
Vazquez, 25, was acquired by the Orioles in a minor trade with the Cubs last offseason. A 14th-round pick by Chicago back in 2017, he didn't make his big league debut until last year in an 11-game cameo with the Cubs. He got a larger look in a bench role with Baltimore this past year, but still has yet to establish himself as more than a depth option at the big league level.
The Giants are expected to add Justin Meccage as their pitching coach, reports Robert Murray of FanSided. Meccage has spent the majority of his coaching tenure in the Pirates' organization. He was most recently a minor league coach in the Brewers' system. After a brief playing career, Meccage got his coaching start in the college ranks. After seven years spent between the University of Texas-Pan American and Arkansas State University from 2004 to 2010, Meccage headed to the pros.
It's been known for nearly a month now that NPB infielder Kazuma Okamoto is set to be posted by the Yomiuri Giants this winter, but a report from Nikkan Sports ( Japanese language link) this morning provided a bit more specificity regarding Okamoto's timeline. He'll be officially posted tomorrow, on November 19th, and that will kick off a 45-day window for teams to negotiate with Okamoto, who is represented by Scott Boras of the Boras Corporation.
Dean had spent the his entire professional career in the Atlanta Braves organization before the 2025 season, with the Dodgers signing him after 2024. Dean made his debut for the Dodgers in 2025, featuring in 18 games during the regular season. He also came in for 13 games during the postseason, and was on the Dodgers' World Series winning roster.
The Rangers are looking for several new bats as they look to, as GM Ross Fenstermaker indicated at season's end, improve their on-base percentage and contact skills. Newly installed manager Skip Schumaker has already spoken about finding a new offensive identity. One potential target who had popped up on the Rangers' radar, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, was Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar.
Two men were gunned down and killed at a gas station in East Oakland's Elmhurst Park neighborhood Thursday morning at about 11:30 am. Neither of the two male victims has been identified, though both died on the scene, and thus far there is no information about any possible suspect. [KTVU] Beloved former Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who delivered us three championships, is finalizing an agreement to return to the Giants in some sort of advisory role with the front office.
Well the offseason has officially begun and we will see decisions on a bunch of player and team options in the next five days, as well as likely a managerial hire and some roster churn. Mark Bowman seemingly reported that Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley's team options would be picked up, which both seemed likely but not guaranteed, while casting a little doubt on Albies' option, not to suggest that Ozzie is unlikely to return, however.
