2026 MLB Free Agency power rankings + Steve Cohen's New York Mets social media hilarity
Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman break down the 2026 MLB free agency class and take a look at what type of deals we can expect to see this winter. The boys give us their takes on how much Kyle Tucker's contract will be, where Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman will land & how the rest of the class stacks up.
Jake and Jordan then bring out the mailbag to answer your questions. What should be the term for a 2-game sweep? Jake also gives us his best sponsorship tie-ins for players with specific nicknames.
Later, Jake & Jordan bring back The Good, Bad & Uggla and react to Steve Cohen's most recent hilarious social media post.
(1:30) - What contract can Kyle Tucker expect?
(12:00) - Where will Pete Alonso & Alex Bregman land?
(16:45) - Where other 2026 free agents will measure up
(24:30) - Ranking pitchers in the 2026 free agent class
(30:00 ) - Answering your questions from the mailbag
(53:00) - The Good, The Bad, The Uggla🖥️
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Inside the rise of Tommy Kahnle, the Detroit Tigers reliever with an elite changeup
Sixty-one. That's how many consecutive changeups right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle threw during the New York Yankees' 2024 postseason run — a streak that began in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians and ended in Game 3 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Advertisement "I wasn't really sure what the number was," Kahnle said, reflecting on his 61 changeups in a row, "but in the back of my head, I'm like, 'I have not thrown a fastball in a long time.' It was working." The Detroit Tigers signed Kahnle to a one-year, $7.75 million contract and have wasted no time calling on their new high-leverage reliever in some of the most important moments this season, including save situations in the ninth inning. The 11-year MLB veteran has racked up eight saves in 28 games for the Tigers in the 2025 season, following a total of just eight saves in 390 games in his first 10 seasons. Get a grip on a great Father's Day gift: Our new Tigers book! He is throwing his changeup a career-high 84% of the time. Advertisement "Speaking of unicorns, it's a pitch where everyone in baseball knows how he pitches," manager A.J. Hinch said, "and yet he finds a way to get soft contact and miss bats and continue to pound the zone. Fun player because he can be utilized at any point of the game, and he doesn't change." MILESTONE: Tigers' Tommy Kahnle reflects on 10 years of MLB service time: 'It's an honor' Detroit Tigers pitcher Tommy Kahnle (43) throws against New York Yankees during the ninth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Monday, April 7, 2025. Kahnle is a changeup artist. But the 35-year-old wouldn't be who he is without a lesson from pitching coach Carlos Chantres more than 13 years ago. A career-changing adjustment occurred in 2011, when Kahnle pitched for the Charleston RiverDogs, the Low-A affiliate of the Yankees. Advertisement He didn't make his MLB debut until 2014. "It's been a while," Chantres said. "Back then, we didn't have all the technology we have now," Chantres continued. "It was old-school baseball — use your eyes, see what hitters do. He had a two-seam changeup. We weren't seeing the swing and miss." Carlos Chantres, who works as the Latin American pitching coordinator for the Chicago Cubs. One day in 2011, during a pregame bullpen session at a small South Carolina ballpark, Chantres approached Kahnle with a simple question: "Tommy, how do you grip your changeup?" Kahnle didn't say a word. He just held up the two-seam changeup grip. "Most of your fastballs are four-seam, right?" Chantres asked. "Yeah," Kahnle said. Advertisement "Then why don't we try a four-seam changeup grip?" Chantres asked. "It seems like hitters are seeing this one pretty good." Since Kahnle threw a four-seam fastball, switching to a four-seam changeup grip helped him tunnel the two pitches, making the changeup mirror his fastball out of the hand before dropping late and generating swings and misses. To this day, Kahnle still uses that grip. "He liked the feel," Chantres said. JEFF SEIDEL: Tigers have 'madhouse of a bullpen,' and Will Vest leads the vibe In 2011, the Yankees — and every other MLB team — didn't have advanced technology like they do in 2025. There was just a computer system and a camera, so Chantres couldn't fully evaluate the new changeup in the bullpen. Advertisement The real test came in a live game. Once Kahnle threw it, the feedback from hitters was immediate. The four-seam grip gave the changeup more depth. It missed bats. "Oh (expletive), there it is," Chantres said. BULLPEN STRIKES AGAIN: Tigers bring back 'pitching chaos' strategy for win, led by Brant Hurter 'Always had a great changeup' For a long time, Kahnle's changeup complemented his four-seam fastball, which maxed out 100.6 mph in 2017. He also mixed in a sinker, slider, cutter and curveball at various points in his career, but the fastball remained his primary weapon, followed by the changeup as his second-most-used pitch. Advertisement His fastball velocity began to dip in 2019. That's when the changeup took over as his go-to pitch. "I always had a great changeup," Kahnle said. "We just didn't utilize it a lot because I had an elite fastball at the time. Eventually, we made the switch. Every year since then, the usage has just gotten higher and higher." In 2019, Kahnle threw 51.9% changeups, 44.2% four-seam fastballs and 3.9% sliders. From there, his changeup usage surged — all the way to 84% in 2025. Since 2019, only Devin Williams (2,541) and Trevor Richards (2,201) have thrown more changeups than Kahnle's 2,088 among MLB relievers. Advertisement Hitters still haven't solved it: They're batting just .155 off Kahnle's changeup since 2019 — and only .148 in 2025. By 2022, fellow pitchers had picked up on Kahnle's changeup usage, though hitters had been aware of it for a few years. That season, he pitched for the Dodgers. His changeup became a running joke in the clubhouse. "A lot of guys with L.A. were chirping about it: You could throw this pitch 100 times, they know it's coming, and they still can't hit it," Kahnle said. "It gave me a good laugh." [ NEW TIGERS NEWSLETTER! Sign up for The Purr-fect Game, a weekly dose of Tigers news, numbers and analysis for Freep subscribers, here. ] Advertisement Sometimes, Kahnle second-guesses the extreme changeup usage, which has been north of 70% in four straight seasons. He entered 2025 with the Tigers hoping to scale it back, but the data — and the results — keep reinforcing the changeup. So do his teammates. "You know it's coming, and you still really can't hit it," said Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka, who caught Kahnle for years in the Yankees' organization, dating to their time in Low-A Charleston in 2011 — the year Kahnle learned the four-seam changeup grip. "It's definitely something special." The person behind the pitcher Detroit Tigers pitcher Tommy Kahnle works out during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. Kahnle and Higashioka met for the first time in 2011. Advertisement They had just turned 21. "We were all pretty wild back then," Higashioka said. Every day, Kahnle refused to tie his shoes while running in warmups and shagging fly balls during batting practice, but he eventually laced them up for the game. "Tommy, you're going to twist your ankle," said Chantres, the pitching coach who taught Kahnle the changeup grip. "You got to tie your shoes." "No, Carlos, I've got the strongest ankles in America," Kahnle said. He's goofy like that. "Tommy still is wild," Higashioka said. For example, Kahnle shaves his entire body as a personal punishment when he allows a run — a tradition he started in the minor leagues and still follows today. He is the loudest player in the Tigers' clubhouse, collects Philadelphia Eagles jerseys, wears a Notre Dame football helmet and keeps a video game console with a monitor in his locker. He's also known for his caffeine addiction, having graduated from five Red Bulls a day to two C4 Energy drinks and two large cups of coffee. Advertisement How does Kahnle describe his personality? "High-energy, carefree, just having fun," he said. Detroit Tigers pitcher Tommy Kahnle (43) high-fives teammates after the win over the Baltimore Orioles during Game 2 of a doubleheader at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, April 26, 2025. It's impossible not to love him. "He keeps everyone loose," Higashioka said. Kahnle and Higashioka worked together for a few years in the minors with the Yankees, then again in the big leagues after Kahnle returned to the Yankees in 2017, following stints with the Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox. Higashioka had a part in the evolution of Kahnle's changeup usage. "When he came back to us, he was throwing more fastballs," Higashioka said. "Over time, the data was showing that his changeup was unhittable, so the coaches kept pushing us to throw more and more changeups. Apparently, it doesn't matter if people know it's coming. It's that good." 'Big statement for him' The personality, the contract, the changeup — it has all led Kahnle to becoming a key piece of the Tigers' bullpen in the 2025 season. In Detroit, he has stepped into a closer role for the first time in his 11-year MLB career. Advertisement His journey traces back to that grip change in 2011. And Kahnle still credits Chantres. A TEAM PLAYER: Tigers reliever Tommy Kahnle not picky about role with A.J. Hinch, Chris Fetter Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle reacts after the Tigers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. "That's a good feeling as a coach," said Chantres, now 49 and working as the Chicago Cubs' Latin American pitching coordinator. "I've been in this game for many years. A lot of guys that I've taught got to the big leagues, but when people remember stuff like that, it's a good feeling." In 2025, Kahnle owns a career-best 1.24 ERA with eight walks and 26 strikeouts across 29 innings in 28 games, notching eight saves in 11 opportunities. He generates whiffs, limits walks and induces ground-ball contact. Advertisement The Tigers have deployed a two-closer system this season, with Kahnle and fellow right-handed reliever Will Vest combining for 19 saves: 11 from Vest, eight from Kahnle. Kahnle is happy to pitch in any role. But the Tigers want him — and his changeup — in the biggest moments. "Every good team needs a good closer — somebody you can rely on to keep the score where it's at and win games," Higashioka said. "The fact that he's closing, and the Tigers have the best record in the American League, that's a big statement for him." Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Advertisement Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tommy Kahnle and elite changeup fueling Detroit Tigers bullpen
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
‘Pure emotion' frequently drives debates on sports stadium deals
An aerial view shows Kauffman Stadium and Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri, home to MLB's Kansas City Royals and the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, respectively. Lawmakers in both Kansas and Missouri have pursued legislation to make hundreds of millions of dollars available for sports stadiums. (Photo by DutcherAerials via Getty Images) In promoting his bill to fund professional sports stadiums, Missouri Republican state Sen. Kurtis Gregory warned about the potential hit to jobs and tax revenues if the state were to lose a team. But on the floor of the Senate last week, he acknowledged that pride was also a prime motivator in his efforts to make hundreds of millions of dollars available to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs and MLB's Kansas City Royals, both of which are being courted to move several miles away into neighboring Kansas. A former University of Missouri football player, Gregory pointed to the Missouri-Kansas rivalry that dates back to the Civil War and characterized Kansas as 'kind of an archrival.' 'We just let the state of Kansas poach, you know, really the pride and joy of the western side of the state, and I would say the entire state of Missouri?' he said in his floor speech. 'And then I would also say, what's next? What's the next thing the state of Kansas is going to try and take from us?' Days after the 2025 legislative session ended in May, Missouri Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe called a special session for lawmakers to consider stadium funding and disaster relief bills. Last week, the state Senate approved Gregory's stadium incentives bill in the middle of the night by a 19-13 vote. On Wednesday afternoon, the state House approved the measure by a 90-58 vote, sending it to the governor's desk. The bill would fund up to 50% of construction or renovation costs and is estimated to cost about $1.5 billion over 30 years, the Missouri Independent reported. Stateline was unable to reach Gregory for comment. Economists have panned the ongoing stadium bidding war between Missouri and Kansas — which has offered to pay up to 70% of new stadium costs — as a waste of taxpayer dollars. But Gregory's comments highlight the emotional undercurrents frequently at play in sports stadium funding debates across the country. Experts nearly unanimously agree that public subsidies for stadiums are a poor investment, but that hasn't slowed a wave of local and state spending for billionaire team owners. More taxpayer money benefits pro sports owners amid 'stadium construction wave' Washington, D.C., could spend more than $1 billion to move the Washington Commanders some seven miles from a suburb in Maryland to a new facility planned for the old RFK Stadium site, described by the team's controlling owner as the 'spiritual home' of the NFL franchise. Geoffrey Propheter, an associate professor in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado Denver who studies stadium deals, said these kinds of arguments ignore the economic reality of stadium subsidies. 'You're not talking economics. You're talking pure emotion,' he said. Despite mounds of evidence showing the public does not fare well on stadium investments, he said lawmakers and mayors still tout the potential for jobs and new tax revenues with stadiums and arenas. Oftentimes, teams and politicians stir fears about the possibility of losing franchises to another market to increase pressure, he said. But three of the most prominent stadium subsidy deals under consideration now — in Chicago, Kansas City and the district — involve teams looking to move within the same metro area. 'I would appreciate it if lawmakers were that transparent, and they're like, 'I don't care how much this costs, there's no price that's too high for us to pay to keep them here,'' Propheter said. But cities and states have more at stake than raw economics, said Irwin Kishner, a New York attorney who has represented pro teams in multiple stadium deals. He likened the stadium debate to those surrounding the Olympics: Research has found that host cities generally spend well in excess of the revenue generated by the games. But cities and nations still fiercely compete for the chance to host the high-profile event. 'It elevates the status of venues,' Kishner said. 'And I think it's very much the same thing with stadiums and arenas.' He said cities also face potential economic consequences of lost jobs and tax revenues if teams leave altogether. Oakland, California, for example, lost both its pro football and baseball teams to Nevada after local stadium talks fell apart. The NFL's Raiders now play in Las Vegas and MLB's A's are playing temporarily in West Sacramento, California, before moving into their under-construction stadium on the Vegas strip. 'What happened in Oakland is a classic example of what happens when a team doesn't get their building in the way they want it,' Kishner said. And those sorts of relocations can leave lasting marks, he said, pointing to the sour feelings that still persist in Brooklyn decades after MLB's Dodgers left for Los Angeles. Other cities have similarly iconic teams, such as the NFL's Chicago Bears. 'When push comes to shove, municipalities would be embarrassed to lose a team. I mean, could you imagine the Bears playing in St. Louis as an argument?' Kishner said. 'I think Chicago would have something to say about that in a very emotional way. And by the way, these things take generations to get past.' Currently, Chicago's stadium discussions are more localized. After first sharing plans to build a new stadium along Lake Michigan's shore in Chicago, the Bears are now pursuing a massive football stadium development in suburban Arlington Heights. Despite introducing various tax measures aimed to benefit megaprojects such as stadiums, Illinois lawmakers ended their session on May 31 with no action on the matter. My brain tells me it's not that big of a deal, but my heart and soul as a Chicagoan doesn't want them to leave. – Illinois Democratic state Rep. Kam Buckner Democratic state Rep. Kam Buckner, whose district includes parts of Chicago's South Side, said lawmakers have little appetite to invest heavily in stadiums. The MLS' Chicago Fire just announced plans to privately finance a new $650 million professional soccer stadium in the city's South Loop — the same area the MLB's White Sox are also eyeing as they explore a new baseball stadium. 'The days of widespread public money for private stadiums without public benefit — those days are over, and that is not just a sentiment in the state of Illinois. I think this is a sentiment across the country,' Buckner said. Still, he acknowledged the sway emotions can have in the matter. While the Bears leaving the city limits likely would not affect the region's economy, he said, it would still prove a blow to morale. 'My brain tells me it's not that big of a deal,' he said, 'but my heart and soul as a Chicagoan doesn't want them to leave.' Missouri's stadium debate has been simmering for years now: The Royals first announced plans in 2022 to move downtown from their stadium on the outskirts of the city. And the Chiefs — who share the sprawling stadium complex with the Royals — quickly followed with talks of wanting a new or renovated stadium. After voters in a county election last year soundly rejected extending a stadium sales tax to fund those plans, lawmakers across the border in Kansas passed legislation that would fund up to 70% of the costs of new stadiums. That measure expires at the end of June, pushing Missouri legislators to act. Neil deMause, a journalist who has written extensively about stadium subsidies, said such deadlines are arbitrary and meant to exact political pressure. While politicians once had plausible deniability about the pitfalls of stadium subsidies, the research is now overwhelmingly clear and well covered in the media, he said. (It's been nearly a decade since HBO's John Oliver dedicated an episode of his satirical news show to the folly of stadium finance.) Kansas v. Missouri stadium battle shows how states are reigniting border wars But politicians on both sides of the aisle continue to push stadium subsidies — whether they're touting the potential for wider real estate development or intangibles such as team pride and fears of losing franchises. 'It's this prescribed dance, where everybody sort of pretends to be doing due diligence, but at the same time, everybody knows it's going to happen,' deMause said. He said that appears to be the case in the nation's capital. In April, city and team officials for the Washington Commanders announced plans for a 65,000-seat stadium. The proposed deal, which must be approved by the full city council, would cost taxpayers some $1.1 billion over eight years. But deMause's analysis of the plan determined the public will be spending well in excess of that figure because of billions in free rent and hundreds of millions in property tax breaks. He estimates taxpayers will pay or forgo at least $7.5 billion on the deal. 'Everybody in and around the D.C. Council seems to be saying, 'Yeah, it sure is a lot of money, but the mayor really wants it, so it's going to happen. It's just a matter of whether or not we can improve it some,'' he said. 'It's a little bit like saying, 'World War II is going to happen — just try and keep the death toll down.'' Last week, Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser's office released a report it commissioned that projected the stadium would create billions in new economic output and local tax revenue in the coming decades — figures that were quickly disputed by skeptical economists and academics. Still, much of the district's stadium conversation has centered on intangibles such as hometown pride and nostalgia. Even NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell waxed about his childhood memories attending games at the old RFK Stadium at an April event announcing the deal. Sitting in front of a 'WELCOME HOME' banner at that event, the mayor said the RFK site was 'where they belong.' 'I want to start by saying welcome home,' she said. Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at khardy@ SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Dodgers trade deadline primer: 3 early storylines to watch
Foolish or not, Andrew Friedman set an outlandish goal last December. Sitting in a suite at the Hilton Anatole hotel in Dallas at baseball's annual Winter Meetings, the Los Angeles Dodgers' president of baseball operations set out a hope for this year's trade deadline. 'My goal is to not buy in July,' Friedman said. 'I am setting that out there right now. My goal is to do everything we can right now to not buy in July. It is terrible. (Knock on) everything. It is a terrible time to acquire talent. We're going to do everything we can to put ourselves in a position to not. Obviously, as we said last year, if we need to, we will. But our goal is to not.' Advertisement That will not happen. The Dodgers' pitching depth is decimated. Their injured list is 14 names long. So yes, the Dodgers will be in the pitching market next month, likely for something Friedman loathes: He hates trading for relievers in July. 'I hate trading for relievers at the deadline,' Friedman said in 2022. 'It's my least favorite thing to do. The acquisition cost is totally out of whack. So I like to avoid it as much as possible.' Still, the Dodgers have found success in doing so. Their three-team trade last year to acquire not just utilityman Tommy Edman but reliever Michael Kopech was a coup. Another impactful trade came last May when they sent cash to the Cleveland Guardians for Anthony Banda, who put up a 3.08 ERA in 48 appearances the rest of the way. They went hard after Tanner Scott last summer, then wound up signing him last winter after he starred post-deadline for the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers will be buyers, as we all expected. It's impossible to rule out the Dodgers if the opportunity presents itself. They'll have the ammunition to get most deals done. Perhaps they are the team that thinks it can get Sandy Alcantara right after struggling in his return from Tommy John surgery. The Dodgers tried to pry Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers last year before swinging a deal with them for Jack Flaherty. Still, the Dodgers are bullish on what they have coming back. They remain optimistic they'll have Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani back in their rotation before long. Roki Sasaki remains a project even when healthy, but he's still in the picture. They've heaped praise on how good Emmet Sheehan has looked while completing his Tommy John rehab. By the numbers, the Dodgers could use starting help. They entered Wednesday having gotten the third-fewest innings out of their starters (317), ahead of just the Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins. Not great company. Their 4.32 ERA ranks 23rd, and their 10.6 percent walk rate was the worst in the majors. Their depth options have largely floundered: Bobby Miller, Landon Knack and Justin Wrobleski have combined for a 6.29 ERA. Advertisement It's just not priority No. 1. The Dodgers still believe they have enough high-end arms coming back from injury. Likely a right-handed reliever, especially in the wake of Evan Phillips undergoing Tommy John surgery and the uncertain futures of Blake Treinen and Brusdar Graterol. Though the Dodgers still anticipate Treinen returning — he's been playing catch but still has a ways to go — and Graterol is working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery, the club could still look to add another high-end arm. Alexis Díaz is among the options, with the Dodgers jumping into the market last month to acquire the former All-Star closer. Ben Casparius is another internal October option. The Dodgers are considering stretching the rookie right-hander as a starter, but he has shown an ability to handle leverage spots and filled a valuable role in the bullpen during last year's postseason run. This is a bullpen that has already taken on the biggest workload in the majors (290 innings entering Wednesday) and could use the fresh arms just to get it to the finish line. The team has already had 30 players throw a pitch for it, including Chris Stratton, José Ureña, J.P. Feyereisen, Ryan Loutos and Yoendrys Gómez. Expect the shuffle to continue. The Dodgers chose offense over defense this winter when acquiring Michael Conforto to go with re-signing Teoscar Hernández to align their corner outfield spots. Except Conforto, who signed a one-year deal worth $17 million to juice up his value, hasn't worked out. Even after Wednesday, when he tied the score with a solo home run in the fifth inning, Conforto has a .600 OPS. That's the eighth worst in baseball among qualified hitters. Michael ties it! — Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 11, 2025 As patient as the Dodgers have been with Conforto, it's not as if they're overflowing with options should they move off him. James Outman has largely scuffled in the big leagues since finishing third in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2023. Their other 40-man roster outfield options — Esteury Ruiz and Steward Berroa — had been designated for assignment by other clubs. The team hasn't experimented with Dalton Rushing getting reps in the outfield in the big leagues after the catching prospect saw time there in the minor leagues. Advertisement Andy Pages has had a stellar season and has played left field on days when Conforto sits, but he has also shown himself to be a strong defensive center fielder after some early flubs. One could imagine a scenario with Pages in left, Edman in center and Hernández in right in October. Part of the logic in having Mookie Betts play shortstop is decisions like the one facing the Dodgers next month. It's certainly cheaper to find a corner outfield bat than a shortstop at the deadline. Prospect Alex Freeland is an intriguing infield option, if needed, as an internal replacement or a trade option. The Dodgers' offensive needs aren't dire. They entered Wednesday ranked second in baseball in scoring 5.53 runs per game. But they'll monitor the market, just as they did a year ago in acquiring Edman, Kevin Kiermaier and Amed Rosario at the deadline (Rosario lasted just a week before being cut). (Top photo of Anthony Banda: David Frerker / Imagn Images)
