Latest news with #JeffPassan
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Orioles rumors: What Jeff Passan is hearing about a core player trade
The post Orioles rumors: What Jeff Passan is hearing about a core player trade appeared first on ClutchPoints. The 2025 Baltimore Orioles season has been a catastrophe so far, complete with the dismissal of manager Brandon Hyde. With a playoff run nearly impossible, the intrigue in Baltimore now shifts to the trade deadline, and as ESPN's Jeff Passan wrote on Tuesday, the Orioles are open for business. Advertisement That doesn't mean, however, the team will blow it all up. 'Nobody expects general manager Mike Elias to move a core player, though — especially after last year's deadline, when he dealt Kyle Stowers, who is primed to be Miami's All-Star this season,' Passan wrote. 'After two straight postseasons, this year has been a catastrophe for Baltimore. The deadline could at least salvage it from being a total waste of a season.' Even with a 22-36 record coming into play on Tuesday, Baltimore still has an exciting young core. Passan seems to be saying that Gunnar Henderson isn't going anywhere. Neither are Adley Rutschman or Jackson Holliday. All three are under team control until 2028 at minimum, giving the Orioles a window to build a contender. The Orioles could deal Ryan O'Hearn at the trade deadline Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images If the Orioles hope to turn it around in 2026, they have plenty of pieces to deal now for MLB or MLB-ready talent. It starts with the hot-hitting Ryan O'Hearn. Advertisement As Passan points out, the DH ranks fifth in baseball in wRC+ and is a free agent at the end of the year. At 31 years old and coming off what could be a career year, O'Hearn will command a hefty-yet-reasonable sum in free agency. Until then, he's an ideal rental for a contender or a trade-and-extend candidate for a contender with money to spend. It's more than just O'Hearn. Passan points to Cedric Mullins as someone who 'would help almost every outfield' with his 10 home runs and .771 OPS to start. And that's before delving into the Orioles' pitching staff. 'Baltimore could move veteran right-handers Zach Eflin and Tomoyuki Sugano, both free agents-to-be, too,' Passan said. 'There are relievers aplenty: two free agents-to-be in Seranthony Dominguez and Andrew Kittredge, with Felix Bautista, Yennier Cano and Bryan Baker carrying a heftier price.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
MLB rumors: Jeff Passan suggests Dodgers reunion with Red Sox trade
The post MLB rumors: Jeff Passan suggests Dodgers reunion with Red Sox trade appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Los Angeles Dodgers' quest for a World Series repeat was always going to include a 162-game regular season slog. And while LA is doing just fine at 36-24, it hasn't been the unrelenting buzzsaw some imagined when the team added Roki Sasaki and more to what was already a championship team. Advertisement ESPN's Jeff Passan seems to have anticipated exactly that, and with October in mind, suggested the Dodgers reunite with a starting pitcher with a playoff pedigree. 'The notion that the Dodgers were going to win 120 games was always fanciful,' he wrote on Tuesday. 'They don't build their team for regular-season wins. They want to put together the most devastating 26-man squad for the postseason.' Part of that devastating squad could be current Boston Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler, who has World Series rings with the 2020 and 2024 Dodgers. 'They saw last year what Buehler turns into in October,' Passan continued. 'The four shutout innings against the Mets. Five more against the Yankees. And then the final three outs to lock down the World Series title.' Advertisement Buehler has put up pedestrian numbers so far this year, pitching to a 4.44 ERA with 8.1 strikeouts per inning. As Passan noted, however, he has a knack for turning it on in October (10-3, 3.04 ERA in postseason career). Passan also cautioned that any talk of a reunion would be contingent on Boston falling out of contention. The Red Sox are currently 29-33, but just 4.5 games out of a playoff spot as of Tuesday. At some point, however, the Red Sox will need to ask themselves if going all-in on a team that might secure a Wild Card berth is worth passing up on the treasure trove that is the Dodgers' farm system. 'The Dodgers' farm system is so deep that they'll have their pick of players at the deadline,' Passan said of Boston. 'But to bring in someone who knows their system, knows their culture and knows how to show up in the biggest moments is a fit that's almost too good to be true.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Royals Turn Heads With Decision on No. 1 Prospect
Royals Turn Heads With Decision on No. 1 Prospect originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In a move that has electrified Kansas City, the Royals are calling up their top prospect, Jac Caglianone, as reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan on Sunday night. Advertisement The 22-year-old slugger, drafted sixth overall in 2024, has been tearing through the minors, boasting a .322/.389/.593 slash line with 15 home runs and 56 RBIs across 50 games between Double-A and Triple-A. Caglianone, a former two-way star at the University of Florida, has transitioned into a full-time hitter, splitting time between first base and right field. Royals fans, desperate for outfield power after a lackluster season, are buzzing with excitement as Caglianone prepares to make his MLB debut against the Cardinals and Yankees. Kansas City Royals first round draft pick Jac Caglianone poses with his mother Johanne Caglianone for photos on the fieldDenny Medley-Imagn Images "The kid has all the potential in the world," wrote one fan. Advertisement "Dude is a stud and is going to be a major asset to the Royals for years to come," wrote another. "Born superstar," said one user. "That's exciting news! Jac Caglianone is going to bring some serious power to the Royals lineup," said another user. "Damn Jac gonna rake for the Royals," chimed in another. Despite concerns over his high two-strike chase rate, the Royals believe his raw power and improved plate discipline—evidenced by more walks than strikeouts in spring training—make him ready for the big leagues. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound phenom's arrival signals a new era for Kansas City, a team looking to build on its 2024 postseason appearance. With Caglianone's bat in the lineup, the Royals are poised to make a serious statement in the AL Central. Related: Florida Beats Out Three SEC Rivals For Elite OL Recruit This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Royals to call up top prospect Jac Caglianone to boost struggling offense
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21, 2025: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals looks on during the eighth inning of a spring training game against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium on February 21, 2025 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) The Royals are hoping Jac Caglianone can boost their moribund offense. Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, Kansas City is calling up its top prospect after a 1-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. The Royals are 31-29 despite having one of the worst offenses in baseball. The Royals have scored just 194 runs through 60 games this season. Only the the Colorado Rockies — a team on pace to be historically terrible — have scores fewer runs. Advertisement Caglianone has mashed since he was drafted by the Royals in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Florida. Across AA and AAA this year, he's hitting .323 with an OPS of .991. Caglianone has also hit 15 HRs and driven in 56 runs across 49 minor league games this season. Even if he's an immediate impact bat for the lineup, there could be some growing pains in the outfield. After pitching and playing first base for the Gators, Caglianone has shifted to the outfield and is still learning the corner positions. The Royals are an organization that puts a premium on outfield defense. But they also need outfielders that can hit. Kansas City's outfielders have struggled over the past two seasons and Hunter Renfroe was recently designated for assignment after posting a .483 OPS over 35 games. Drew Waters has been the team's best outfielder so far this season and he's posted just a .703 OPS over 43 games. Despite the offensive struggles, the Royals are just two games out of second in the American League Central thanks to a pitching staff that's been one of the best in baseball. Kansas City made the playoffs a season ago and beat the Baltimore Orioles in the wild card round before losing to the New York Yankees in the Divisional Series.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox calling up top prospect Marcelo Mayer after Alex Bregman's injury: Report
The Red Sox are calling up top prospect Marcelo Mayer after Alex Bregman was injured in Friday's game against the Orioles, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported on Saturday. Mayer is one of the top prospects in baseball, and Boston could use a boost with Bregman's near future uncertain. He left Friday's game with quad tightness and manager Alex Cora didn't have more information after the game. The Boston Red Sox are calling up infielder Marcelo Mayer, one of the top prospects in baseball, sources tell ESPN. With Alex Bregman injured, Boston needs infield help, and the 22-year-old Mayer -- who's hitting .271/.347/.471 at Triple-A -- will get the first shot at his ABs. — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 24, 2025 This breaking news story will be updated.
