Welcome to the Quarterback Notebook, where I’ll cover the past week in NFL quarterbacking – from the most interesting passers, plays and storylines to some other stuff that caught my eye while watching film this week.

This week, we’ll look at Jordan Love’s mastery of the Packers offense, take a deep dive into Drake Maye’s interceptions, and make the case for Shedeur Sanders to start for the Browns.

Let’s talk quarterbacks.

Like anyone else who watched the Packers beat the Patriots on Sunday – including Tom Brady – I was in awe of Jordan Love’s performance.

Love made several jaw-dropping throws, but one in particular stood out to me and has me ready to start throwing around the E-word when I talk about the 28-year-old. But before we get to that play, a little story time…

In 2023, I traveled to Green Bay for Packers training camp to interview Jordan Love for a story I was writing about him ahead of his first season as the team’s starter. Many of my questions focused on his development up to that point, which had mostly taken place behind the scenes, with Love spending his first three NFL seasons on the bench behind Aaron Rodgers.

One of Love’s biggest hurdles was honing his footwork when taking dropbacks from under center. At Utah State, Love played in a boilerplate spread offense that operated out of the shotgun, so he had to learn the footwork from the ground up.

“It needed a lot of work,” Love told me then. “It was sloppy at first. But through all those repetitions, throughout the four years I’ve been here, it’s been a work in progress, and now I’m confident. It feels natural.”

To get to that point without the benefit of game reps, Love told me he pored over film of his under-center dropbacks from practice and exhibition games, looking for ways to improve and to trim the fat from his process. “With him, it was throwing with anticipation and then footwork,” Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich told me. “You could see him gradually clean things up [with his feet] so he was throwing on time.”

Love’s outrageous arm talent was always apparent, but his development ultimately hinged on his ability to pick up and eventually master the footwork and timing of Green Bay’s version of the West Coast offense. If he could combine his otherworldly throwing ability with a mastery of the Packers offense, there was no ceiling on what he could become.

Fast-forward to 2026: Love is now in his fourth season, and I’m still not sure where to place his ceiling. The 28-year-old has developed into one of the league’s best quarterbacks and is showing his next-level mastery of the Packers offense every week.

Love’s 28-yard completion to Christian Watson early in the third quarter on Sunday illustrates that mastery – and the progress he’s made with his footwork and timing. Green Bay comes out in an under-center formation. As the offense gets lined up, you can see Love scanning the field, looking for any tell that gives away the Patriots’ coverage.

He sees cornerback Christian Gonzalez go across the field to line up against Matthew Golden. He sees linebacker Christian Ellis inching closer and closer to the line of scrimmage. He sees just one safety deep. All this tells Love the Patriots are likely playing a form of man coverage some coaches call “man free.” You have man coverage across the field and one safety deep behind a five-man rush.

Love knows the pass-protection scheme might give him issues off the right side – which is typically the case given the offensive line’s performance this season – with the protection sliding away from Ellis’ blitz path and a tight end responsible for sealing the edge against an outside linebacker.

The play also has Love faking a handoff to both his running back and the receiver on the “orbit” motion, giving the rush even more time to cave in the right side of his protection as he turns his back to the defense. This is a very precarious position for the quarterback, but Love knows exactly what to do. He speeds up his dropback while fading to his left, and as soon as he’s done faking, he’s ready to throw.

With Watson running a crossing route away from the cornerback’s outside leverage, Love doesn’t have to wait for his receiver to get open to know where the ball needs to go.

After doing all that mental work, Love still has to execute and, boy, did he. Just look at this beauty of a throw.

The list of quarterbacks who can flip their hips and immediately make a cross-field throw (that traveled 43.8 yards through the air, per Next Gen Stats) without really stepping into it while an unblocked defender is bearing down on them is about five names long. The list of quarterbacks who can do it after processing all that information and knowing exactly how to respond is even shorter.

Love’s name is on that shortlist, which includes only the game’s elite passers.  Based on his progress over the last three years and his play in 2026, Love is right at home in that company. 

Drake Maye’s day didn’t go nearly as well as Love’s. The Patriots quarterback reverted to his early-season ways, tossing three interceptions and ruining any chance for his team to stay competitive.

That brought his season total to 11 interceptions, tying him for the league lead, and sparked another round of debates over whether Maye is actually any good or just the product of an easy schedule. I am firmly in the “actually good” camp, but I’m not going to pretend that him throwing 11 interceptions in just nine games isn’t a bad thing.

But pointing at his bloated interception total while ignoring the other promising numbers on his resume and saying “that’s bad” doesn’t really tell us much about who he is as a player or where he needs to improve. Instead, let’s look at those mistakes and see if we can find any patterns that tell about the state of Maye’s game and where he needs to improve. To do so, I’ve categorized all the interceptions he’s thrown in 2026.

The ‘Trusted His Receiver In Tight Coverage’ Interception (2)

I’d be least concerned with these interceptions. In both cases, Maye gives his receiver a chance against man coverage, and in both cases, the defensive back makes a better play on the ball.

Here, Maye expects Kyle Williams to work back to the ball. Instead, Williams lets the cornerback do that for him.

This one is for Williams as well. Maye gives him a chance to win a 50/50 ball, but the corner wins the aerial duel, and the ball is deflected into the arms of the safety working over the top.

That Maye feels the need to target Williams in tight coverage says more about New England’s receiving talent.

The ‘Bad Ball’ Interception (2)

Not much analysis is needed on these two picks. Maye makes the correct decision, and a better throw would have resulted in a completion in both cases.

This is another unlucky bounce, but Maye made Romeo Doubs’ job way harder than it had to be after he won on a slant route.

Here’s another good decision with tight end Eli Raridon beating a linebacker up the seam. Unfortunately, Maye leaves the throw well short. If he drops it over Raridon’s shoulder, it’s a touchdown.

I’d be more concerned about these if Maye hadn’t already proven to be one of the NFL’s most accurate passers. Every quarterback in the league will throw a handful of these per season.

The ‘Bad Peripheral Vision’ Interception (3)

These are the interceptions that Maye has to eliminate from his game if he’s ever going to reach elite status. It will require improved field vision and a sharper understanding of coverages. That typically comes with more experience.

On this one, Maye doesn’t see the backside safety poaching DeMario Douglas’ route and throws it right into his path. It’s fairly common coverage from Seattle, so Maye should have been prepared for it.

I’m not sure if this next one actually belongs in this category. It could just as easily go into the “bad ball” bucket. Either way, Maye has to see the linebacker sinking under Hunter Henry’s route and go somewhere else with the ball.

Here, Maye assumes the safety will run with the clear-out route and doesn’t see him sitting on Raridon’s crosser.

The ‘Bozo Moment’ Interception (4)

There is no explaining or defending these decisions. Maye just threw them up for grabs, and the defender came down with them.

This was Maye’s first interception of the season, and it’s easily his worst from a decision-making standpoint. The Seahawks have a safety over the top of Doubs’ go route and a cornerback sinking underneath it. Making matters worse, Maye’s checkdown option is wide open underneath.

This next one cost New England the game. The Pats trail by a field goal in the final minutes and are deep in Seattle territory. For whatever reason, Maye throws up a back-foot jump ball to Mack Hollins and can’t get enough on it.

Here’s another back-foot YOLO ball that cost his team points. Maye sees Travis Hunter’s back turned and tosses it up to the back of the end zone. Hunter has plenty of time to turn around and find it in the air.

I’ve seen some people defend this pick by pointing out that Hollins stopped on his route. While that certainly made the interception easier for the defender, it’s still a poor decision by Maye. He’s throwing back across his body, and the safety is already driving on Hollins’ route before the ball is thrown.

I don’t think the Patriots will ever fully coach these moments out of Maye. He’s a playmaker at his core, and while these gambles can turn into ugly interceptions on occasion, Maye is capable of hitting these throws more often than not. Gunslingers like Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford are similar. Their teams will happily live with the trade-off, and I’m sure New England feels the same way.

After studying these plays, I don’t think Maye has an interception problem. Most of his problematic picks came at the beginning of the season, and we haven’t seen many repeated mistakes. He’s also been a bit unlucky compared to other passers. Pro Football Focus has charged him with 13 turnover-worthy plays, fewer than Love, Josh Allen, and Trevor Lawrence, all of whom are in the thick of the MVP race.

Look, I’m not the biggest fan of Shedeur Sanders’ game, but I do find his willingness to push the ball downfield admirable, and it could be a real asset for a Browns team being led by its defense. If the offense can just muster a few explosives per game, that should be enough to keep the team competitive. It appears that Sanders gives the offense a better chance to do that.

Cleveland’s offense was as explosive as it’s been all season in the overtime loss to the Saints. While his receiving corps did a lot of the heavy lifting on those plays, it was Sanders who gave them the opportunity to do so – even if it meant taking a big hit.

Deshaun Watson isn’t pushing the ball downfield like that. The veteran is more willing to take what the defense gives him underneath, but that’s offset by his tendency to run himself into sacks. It’s difficult to sustain a dink-and-dunk approach when the quarterback is taking those drive-ending losses. The same goes for Sanders, who holds onto the ball for an eternity, but at least he does it in an effort to make plays. 

It’s been nearly a week, and I’m still not over this throw Trevor Lawrence made in Jacksonville’s win over the Ravens last Thursday night. That throw required quick processing, anticipation, arm strength, and accuracy. So pretty much all the hallmarks of elite quarterback play. 

It was difficult to pick just one throw from Carson Wentz’s disaster-class on Monday night, but throwing a screen pass so poorly that it turns into a fumble is quite the accomplishment.

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The College Football Playoff’s move to 24 teams is already raising a bigger question: What’s the point of conferences anymore?

Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz posed that question Tuesday, a day after the SEC announced this season’s championship game in Atlanta on Dec. 5 will be its last. 

The ACC, Big Ten and Big 12 have also said they’ll stop playing title games after this season, as the expanded CFP format begins at the end of the 2027 season.

Drinkwitz acknowledged that the sport has to adapt, but he wondered whether conferences now exist only for scheduling. 

“My question is why are we associated with conferences anymore if we’re not playing for a conference championship? If the point now is just to be playing into a sea of 24, are we just doing it for scheduling affiliation?” Drinkwitz told reporters. “If we’re just doing it for scheduling affiliation, is there a reason to be flying all the way across the country to play games from a national perspective?”

Wake Forest’s head coach Jake Dickert told reporters Monday that he isn’t sure how much conference affiliation will matter without title games. (Photo by Eston Parker/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

He isn’t the only coach raising the issue. 

Wake Forest’s Jake Dickert said Monday that he isn’t sure how much conference affiliation will matter without title games, calling the change “odd.” 

His Demon Deacons, who were 16th in the CFP selection committee’s initial rankings, are in position to play in the final ACC championship game in Charlotte. That game could serve as a playoff elimination game, a burden that independent Notre Dame doesn’t face.

“To not say we’re going to have conference champions, why do we have conferences?” Dickert said.

Drinkwitz also expressed broader concern about how quickly college football is changing, pointing to playoff expansion, NIL, realignment and the transfer portal. He said the sport may have devalued some of what made it special, from bowl games to regional rivalries to the excitement of building a program year to year.

Eli Drinkwitz is in his seventh season as Missouri head coach. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

“Have we cared about the fan?” Drinkwitz asked.

Starting next season, Power Four conference titles will be decided by regular-season standings. The Army-Navy game will move into the weekend previously used for conference championships, giving it a standalone window while CFP teams rest.

For Drinkwitz, the change is personal. When he arrived at Missouri in 2020, one of his goals was to win an SEC title in Atlanta. He agreed there’s no longer a reason to play the games, but called the decision disappointing.

Missouri has played in the SEC championship game twice, losing to Auburn in 2013 and Alabama in 2014.

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In the span of just one week since the first reveal of the 2026 College Football Playoff rankings, there are shake-ups everywhere. 

There’s a new No. 1 team. Two teams fell out of the Top 12. Blue bloods Ohio State and LSU have fallen out of the playoff picture. After the second edition of the CFP rankings, margins are thinner, and only four weeks remain to change those chances. 

Here is a look at the second set of CFP rankings, from 25-to-1:

25. Oklahoma State (6-3)
24. Boise State (8-1)
23. Arizona (7-2)
22. Missouri (6-3)
21. LSU (6-3)
20. Ohio State (6-3)
19. Ole Miss (6-3)
18. USC (7-2)
17. South Carolina (6-3)
16. Oregon (6-3)
15. Iowa (7-2)
14. Houston (7-2)
13. Wake Forest (8-1)
12. Texas Tech (8-1)
11. Kentucky (7-2)
10. BYU (7-2)
9. Indiana (8-1)
8. Tennessee (7-2)
7. Miami (Fla.) (8-1)
6. Texas (7-2)
5. Notre Dame (8-1)
4. UCLA (9-0)
3. Alabama (7-2)
2. Utah (9-0)
1. Georgia (8-1)

Georgia, Utah, Alabama and UCLA would earn first-round byes, while Boise State would be the lone Group of Six representative in the field, earning the No. 12 seed and a first-round matchup against No. 5 Notre Dame. Only four weeks remain for teams to make their case.

The committee also unveiled its second projected 12-team playoff bracket, giving us an early glimpse at the potential matchups and path to a national title. 

Here is what the second CFP bracket projection of the season looks like:

In this 12-team CFP projection, the SEC would have five teams in the field, the Big Ten and Big 12 would have two teams each, the ACC would have one team, while Boise State would be the lone G6 representative, and Notre Dame would make it as an independent. 

The CFP rankings and the latest AP Top 25 Poll still feature a slew of differences.

Alabama, at No. 3, would receive a first-round bye in the CFP rankings, but was down at seven in the AP Poll. Boise State garnered more respect from the AP, coming in at 17, rather than 24th in the CFP. 

Indiana, despite being idle in Week 10, dropped from No. 4 to No. 9 in the CFP rankings, but remained at six in the AP. Miami dropped six spots from No. 1 to No. 7 after a valiant effort on the road in South Bend, against Notre Dame. 

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History has a tendency to repeat itself, and Texas fans are witnessing it firsthand with the play of quarterback Arch Manning.

It was just a season ago when Manning was tumbling down projected draft boards following disappointing early-season showings against Ohio State and Florida. The Longhorns fell to 3-2 and head coach Steve Sarkisian was making public statements in defense of his quarterback. The questions surrounding Manning were growing louder.

Then, following a Week 8 game against Kentucky, everything changed.

Manning’s season began to take off as he settled into a rhythm and showcased his confidence and command of the offense. He finished his junior year with wins over in-state rival Texas A&M and Michigan in the Citrus Bowl, restoring confidence in his ability to lead the Longhorns to a future national championship.

Fast-forward to this season, and the familiar narrative is unfolding again.

Arch Is Silencing The Doubters … Again

Texas quarterback Arch Manning has accounted for nine touchdowns over the past three games. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Following back-to-back losses last month to Oklahoma and, ironically, Florida, concerns about Manning’s ability to live up to his name came back to the forefront.

After the Longhorns’ 27-24 loss to Florida, Sarkisian said “everything is going to be evaluated.” When asked about a potential quarterback change, Sarkisian doubled down: “Everything means everything.” Then came a report that backup quarterback KJ Lacey would receive more first-team reps during practice the following week.

Sitting at 4-2, with their College Football Playoff hopes already in jeopardy, Manning gutted out a tough win over then-No. 10 Ole Miss, breathing life into what was starting to look like a lost season for Texas.

Now, the Longhorns have won three straight, and Manning has accounted for nine touchdowns during that stretch. The improvement has been noticeable. 

Manning is getting through his progressions more quickly, with an average time to throw of 2.76 seconds over the last three games — nearly a half-second faster than earlier in the season. That has been a big development. His footwork also looks cleaner and more efficient.

Check out this beauty:

Or how about this one:

After throwing for more than 200 yards just three times in his first six games this season, Manning has now eclipsed that mark in three consecutive weeks.

In a world that often lacks patience, we tend to forget that this was an offense replacing five starters from a year ago, with a recruiting class that included more transfer portal additions than any other during Sarkisian’s tenure. This offense was always going to take time to come together, and unfortunately, Manning has borne the brunt of the blame.

That isn’t to deflect from Manning’s inconsistencies. There’s no doubt he’s forced some throws and appeared lost at times while waiting for receivers to separate downfield. The offensive line has been inconsistent and struggled to protect him. The run game has also dealt with injuries and is averaging one fewer first down per game, which brings up another point: Manning is running less.

Maybe that’s a conscious effort to become more comfortable playing from the pocket, but he’s averaging 20 fewer rushing yards per game than he did a year ago. And remember, this was a Texas offense that featured a special package specifically designed to take advantage of Manning’s athleticism during the Quinn Ewers era in 2024.

Texas QB Arch Manning has two rushing touchdowns through nine games this season. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Having played quarterback, I know the spotlight is always on you. When things are going well, everyone wants to talk about you. When things aren’t going well, everyone wants to talk about you even more. Manning understands that, and given the name on the back of his jersey, he’s prepared to handle it. 

After slow starts in back-to-back seasons, he’s been able to block out the noise and rebound, giving his team a shot at the CFP.

This week will be Manning’s toughest test for the remainder of the regular season: a night game against No. 14 LSU in Death Valley. The outcome will go a long way toward determining the Longhorns’ playoff hopes and shaping the narrative surrounding their quarterback.

Based on how Manning has responded, I wouldn’t bet against him.

One Name To Know …

Ty Dieffenbach, UCLA

UCLA QB Ty Dieffenbach has thrown for 986 yards and six touchdowns this season. (Photo by Melina Pizano/Getty Images)

If you’re looking for the underdog story of this college football season, we’ve got one. 

The UCLA Bruins are one of just two remaining undefeated FBS teams, led by a quarterback who began the year third on the depth chart. Ty Dieffenbach is a former three-star recruit out of Agoura Hills, California, who began his career at University of Pittsburgh. During the two years he was there, he didn’t see the field and was even asked to move to tight end, which prompted his desire to transfer.  

Dieffenbach found a home at Cal Poly, where he earned a starting role. However, injuries, inconsistent play and a poor season saw the Mustangs finish 4-8 and led to Dieffenbach looking for a new home. He had a strong belief he could play for a major college football program, and the arrival of head coach Bob Chesney at UCLA provided the chance. Fresh off his CFP run with James Madison, Chesney was billed as the second coming of Curt Cignetti.

Following training camp, Dieffenbach moved up to second string. There were even some murmurs that the coaching staff thought he threw the best ball on the roster.  

Dieffenbach’s first snap at the FBS level would come in the second half of one of UCLA’s biggest games of the season. Starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava suffered a leg injury in the second half against Oregon, which prompted Dieffenbach to enter the game. He was only asked to throw six times but led a drive in the fourth quarter that created enough cushion to allow the Bruins to pull off the upset. 

Let the Cinderella season begin.  

Since that upset, UCLA has continued to rip off wins with a formula that will look familiar to many in Bloomington: a dominant rushing attack, which ranks No, 1 in the Big Ten, combined with a suffocating defense, allowing just 14 points per game.

Dieffenbach has managed the offense well and continued to gain confidence each week. He throws a beautiful ball and excels at layering passes against zone coverage. 

For a 6-foot-6 signal-caller, Dieffenbach has a compact motion and stride with plenty of arm strength.  Not to be confused with a dual-threat QB, but he’s a very capable runner and evades pressure to create out of the pocket. It’s impressive to watch his movement in the pocket and the feel he has navigating the pocket under duress. 

Take a look at this touchdown pass from Dieffenbach in the Bruins’ win over Minnesota:

Inexperienced quarterbacks have a tendency to bring their eyes down when they have to move off the spot in the pocket. Dieffenbach moves and resets while still maintaining vision downfield to take a shot, then throws a beautiful ball to UCLA wide receiver Aidan Mizell in stride for the touchdown. 

I’ve been hesitant to write about Dieffenbach until he was able to get over some of those “firsts.” First start. First start on the road. First chance for defensive coordinators to see a few games and game plan against him. Well, here we are. The Bruins currently sit at 9-0 and continue to improve and make believers out of me and many others in the college football world. 

Now if we could just get some of their fans to show up to their games.

What I’m Watching …

  Utah at Arizona

Speaking of firsts – “Big Noon Kickoff” is headed to Tucson this week for the Wildcats’ Big 12 battle with the only other remaining undefeated team in the nation, Utah. This is essentially a Big 12 championship elimination game for Arizona, a program that has no room for error. 

This matchup also features two offenses with quarterbacks that exude different styles of play and took different paths to stardom. 

This will be a homecoming of sorts for Utah QB Devon Dampier, who will be returning to his home state where he played high school football. He began his career at New Mexico, appearing in nine games as a freshman and making one start. He would eventually take over the following year as the full-time starter, becoming the first QB in program history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. 

Former Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck – yes, the one that just got fired at Michigan – was courted to Utah and Dampier followed. He didn’t quite eclipse 1,000 yards in his first season with the Utes, but he improved dramatically as a passer, earning Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors. 

Despite Beck moving on to Michigan with former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, Dampier stayed put and now has the Utes sitting at 9-0 and ranked No. 3 in the nation.

On the other side is Arizona QB Noah Fifita, who leads one of the most prolific passing attacks in college football. Fifita began his career at Arizona and has never left, despite coaching changes and easy access to greener pastures via the transfer portal. 

Fifita broke out in 2023 and has continued to build with the arrival of Arizona head coach Brent Brennan in 2024. He’s a throwback in every sense of the word.

Fifita will occasionally take off and run, but he’s more focused on keeping his eyes downfield in the passing game. Given his small stature – he’s listed at 5-foot-11, but I’ll bet a ham sandwich he doesn’t measure that at the NFL Combine – it’s impressive to watch him find throwing windows from the pocket and maintaining his vision downfield. 

Fifita will eclipse 12,000 passing yards in his career in this game, which will make him the 50th player to do so in college football history. 

This should be a fun one in the desert!

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Jeremy Fears Jr. had 18 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds as No. 5 Michigan State shut down No. 2 Duke for a rugged 79-73 win Tuesday night.

Playing coach Tom Izzo’s usual swarming, physical defense, Michigan State held Duke to 33.3% (20 for 60) shooting from the field and forced 13 turnovers. Jordan Scott had six of the Spartans’ eight blocked shots and two of the team’s seven steals.

Cam Ward added 14 points as Michigan State (3-0) earned its first win against Duke since a 75-69 victory on Dec. 1, 2020. 

The Spartans also improved to 7-9 in the Champions Classic, an annual doubleheader that also includes Kansas and Kentucky in various combinations and different cities early in the season.

John Blackwell scored 17 points for Duke (2-1), and Patrick Ngongba II finished with 11. The shooting trouble for the Blue Devils extended to the free-throw line, where they went 26 for 37.

Duke opened the regular season with a pair of runaway victories against Army and Coastal Carolina, averaging 98.5 points while shooting a combined 55% from the field. But the Blue Devils looked uncomfortable for most of the night at United Center, home of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.

Jesse McCulloch made two free throws and Fears converted a three-point play to help Michigan State open a 50-36 lead with 13:37 remaining.

Duke closed to 73-68 on Caleb Foster’s two foul shots with 2:03 to go. But then Scott responded with a driving layup for Michigan State, and Fears made two free throws with 39 seconds left.

Fears drove inside to set up Ethan Taylor’s three-point play late in the first half, lifting Michigan State to a 34-25 lead at the break. Fears had eight assists at halftime, and the Blue Devils shot 25.9% (7 for 27) from the field in the early going.

Up Next

Duke hosts SIU Edwardsville on Friday night.

Michigan State hosts Northern Iowa on Friday night.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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When setting a date for hip replacement surgery, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy made sure to schedule it after the World Series.

What he didn’t consider was when the NL Manager of the Year would be announced.

That’s why Murphy was in a hospital bed Tuesday night recovering from an operation on his right hip when he became the first skipper from either league to win the award three years in a row.

“I’ve got nothing to do. I’m just sitting here,” Murphy quipped at the end of a call with reporters.

The award came less than two weeks after the Brewers won their first World Series title, and a day after the manager’s surgery in Milwaukee.

“The doctor gave me some dates and I just picked a date one day, and I had no idea that it was going to coincide. I wasn’t thinking in those terms,” said Murphy, who turns 68 on Nov. 28. “I was just thinking about what we had, task at hand. I mean, I probably picked it a month ago and obviously I picked it after the World Series was done, but I didn’t know we were going to be in the World Series at that time. But I thought it was a safe date to do it.”

Will Venable won AL Manager of the Year after his Chicago White Sox became the first major league team to reach the playoffs following consecutive 100-loss seasons. Only the third of three straight came under Venable, who took over in 2025. Chicago went 84-78 this year.

Balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America was conducted before the postseason, and results were announced Tuesday night.

Milwaukee has won the NL Central in all three years with Murphy as manager after he spent eight seasons on Craig Counsell’s coaching staff. The Brewers led the majors this year with a franchise-record 103 wins during the regular season, then in the playoffs swept the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series and beat Tampa Bay in a five-game World Series.

Murphy survived a heart attack in August 2020 that happened on the day of a Milwaukee workout.

The Brewers play in Major League Baseball’s smallest market and have a payroll in the bottom half of the sport, but have had the best record in the big leagues each of the past two seasons.

After sweeping the NLCS for their first World Series berth since their only other one in 1982, Murphy celebrated by saying the Dodgers had Hall of Famers but his team had gamers.

“I think it’s just a reflection of what our team has done,” Murphy said Tuesday night. “First and foremost is players, hungry players that are willing to live up to certain standards and have a focus and awareness about winning.”

Only three other managers have won the award three times in the same organization. Bobby Cox, one of three four-time winners along with Buck Showalter and Tony La Russa, earned three with the Atlanta Braves (1991, 2004 and 2005). Cox is also the only other back-to-back NL winner.

Terry Francona was a three-time winner with Cleveland (2013, 2016 and 2022), while Dusty Baker won three times with the San Francisco Giants (1993, 1997 and 2000).

White Sox Went From 102 Losses In Venable’s Debut To The Playoffs

Venable, a former big league outfielder, got his first managerial job when the White Sox were coming off 121 losses in 2024, a record for the most since 1900, after 101 losses the previous season. They went 60-102 in Venable’s debut and followed that this season when 19 rookies played and they made the playoffs for the first time since 2021.

“I’m really proud about the playoff appearance because it’s what the players believed from day one, you know, at a time when nobody, certainly nobody outside of our walls, believed that we were a playoff team,” Venable said. “There was real belief internally with our player group that they were a playoff team and beyond that, they were also willing to do the things necessary to turn that into a reality.”

After sweeping Houston in two road games in their AL Wild Card Series, the White Sox had a 2-0 series lead before losing a five-game AL Division Series to Cleveland.

Before he was hired by Chicago, Venable was on manager Bruce Bochy’s staff in Texas and was part of the Rangers’ only World Series title in 2023.

Venable, who played briefly for Murphy with the San Diego Padres in 2015, is the first White Sox manager to win the award since Ozzie Guillen in 2005.

Vote Totals For Both Awards

Murphy got 20 of 30 first-place votes and finished with 124 points. Atlanta’s Walt Weiss came in second with seven first-place votes and 86 points, while Philadelphia’s Don Mattingly was the other NL finalist and came in third. Mattingly got one first-place vote, and San Diego’s Craig Stammen got the remaining two.

Venable received 15 of 30 first-place votes and 111 points in the BBWAA balloting. The other AL finalists were two-time winner Kevin Cash of the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays, and Chad Tracy, who took over the Boston Red Sox in April and led them to the playoffs.

Cash was runner-up with 12 first-place votes and 98 points. Tracy got three first-place votes and 47 points.

The AL and NL Cy Young Award winners and Relievers of the Year will be announced Wednesday. MVP winners will be revealed Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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LAS VEGAS — All the big free-agent moves and trades are still ahead as Major League Baseball executives, players and agents meet in person this week at the general manager meetings at the Aria hotel and resort in Las Vegas. 

Here are five takeaways from Day 1 of the meetings.

1.

‘Business As Usual’ Amid Lockout Talk

Ask nearly any executive about the looming lockout and the answers are strikingly uniform. 

“We’re here preparing for a business-as-usual offseason, a business-as-usual season,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “It seems like a normal offseason. That is the feeling, for me, when I talk to agents, when I talk to other executives, that’s the feedback I’m getting from them as well. The pacing of all of this feels very representative of what we’ve experienced in the past.”

Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on Dec. 1. Until then, agents and executives are expecting a frenzy of activity on the free agent market and trade front. As of Tuesday, when the GM meetings officially kicked off, no major moves had been executed.

“In terms of our process of evaluating players, valuing players, talking to agents and individual players, we’ve been doing kind of what we do every offseason, putting ourselves in position to make decisions,” said Padres GM A.J. Preller. “You factor in everything. The possibility of having a different economic system, you take that into consideration. But it’s really hard to predict what’s going to happen, what the exact system is going to be. Ultimately, if we see something we think makes sense for us both in the short and long term, we’re going to be prepared to act on it, but we’ll factor everything in, and it’ll all be part of our decision-making process.”

All of this talk is doing the heavy lifting of a potentially compressed calendar. The lockout will freeze all transactions once the CBA expires and the Winter Meetings will also be canceled, so these GM meetings are likely the only time top executives are in the same building.

At least one executive is looking forward to the unfamiliar nature of this offseason. 

“I think that’s what makes it fun,” new Astros GM Randy Flores said. “There is a lot of unknown. We’ll see how the pace of this — I think I remember last time we had an impending lockout there were some pretty major, major deals that happened. What I don’t recall is the pace on the trade front, so I’m asking our guys to kind of take a look just to use historical comps as a proxy for how active teams were in adjusting some of their roster decisions via trades.”

Added Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen: ‘”It seems like there’s been a lot of activity leading up to the GM Meetings. Like I said, it feels like some of the conversations we’ve had have been more robust conversations. But that may not mean anything. We may not get anything done. It’s hard to know what’s going to happen.”

Business as usual seems to be the collective message, even if the reality is more akin to a one-month sprint. — Deesha Thosar 

2.   Skubal Sweepstakes Heating Up

At least within the industry, the New York Mets appear to be the favorites to land this year’s belle of the ball, left-hander Tarik Skubal. The left-hander and two-time Cy Young award winner leads this year’s free-agent class by a long shot as the best player available on the market. 

The Mets have the financial might to meet Skubal’s demands, and they have the desperation to get a deal done. This year, they were the most disappointing team in baseball after failing to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season despite flashing one of the richest payrolls in the majors. Part of the reason for their demise was their lack of dependable pitching. Stearns thought he had an ace on the staff when he traded for right-hander Freddy Peralta, but that didn’t work out when Peralta recorded his worst career season in New York. Once again, the Mets need an ace to lead a rotation that currently consists of green arms, including Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, Zac Thornton and Jonah Tong. 

Tarik Skubal is the top free agent on the board this winter. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

“Having a complete rotation is really important and that includes pitchers who can successfully get through a playoff series,” Stearns said on Tuesday. “We’ve seen over and over again in the playoffs that that could be constructed in a variety of ways. And so we’re open to doing it any way possible.

Stearns declined to talk about any specific free agent, but a New York Post report indicated the Mets have a meeting set up with Skubal for next week. The Mets, of course, are not the only interested party. 

The Dodgers have been in touch with Skubal’s camp, which is led by agent Scott Boras, and their expectation is they will meet with the southpaw at some point. Skubal finished the year with the Dodgers after the Tigers traded him to Los Angeles at the summer deadline. In the regular season, he recorded a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts and 62 innings pitched for the Dodgers. In the postseason, he registered a 2.45 ERA in two starts and 11 innings pitched before the Dodgers were eliminated by the Brewers. 

“I think a lot of it is continuing to see what this all looks like,” Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes said regarding how aggressive the team will be in pursuit of Skubal. “He was awesome getting to know. He fit in great into the clubhouse. Obviously, we know what kind of pitcher he is. So for us, it’s understanding what this all looks like, as far as what does our team need? What does the contract look like? Where does he end up? I don’t know. We know we love the player, we love the human, and you kind of have to let things play out to understand what that looks like, and if it’s something that we’re gonna ultimately execute.” — Thosar 

3.

Nolan Arenado Open To First Base Switch?

Nolan Arenado has never played a position in the field other than third base over his 14-year career, but that could change in 2027. 

The Diamondbacks know they need to make pitching additions this winter, but general manager Mike Hazen also hopes to upgrade a lineup that ranked 26th in OPS against right-handed pitching. Depending on where those changes happen, it’s possible that Arenado  moves to first base — either full-time or on a part-time basis — to accommodate those upgrades. 

“He told us he’ll do whatever we ask,” Hazen said. “But we’ve talked through the scenario of what first base will look like full-time, too.” 

Could Nolan Arenado be in line for a position switch? (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Hazen expressed regret that he didn’t do enough at the deadline to help a Diamondbacks team that missed the playoffs for a third straight season following their 2023 run to the World Series. He’ll have an opportunity to remedy that mistake this winter. 

The positions at which those offensive upgrades are made is still to be determined, but they’re more likely to happen in the infield than the outfield. Last year, Arizona first basemen ranked last in MLB in OPS. 

“DH, first base, third base, depending where Nolan ends up, are open areas for us right now,” Hazen told me. “Those are the most natural ways that we can fit that in.” 

Whether Arizona trades second baseman Ketel Marte — a rumored possibility last season — also remains to be seen. But the D-backs appear open to change as they try to get back to being playoff contenders. 

“I just think I have to be open to adjustments to what the roster looks like,” Hazen said. — RowanKavner

4.

Astros Finalizing Manager Search

The Astros filled their general manager opening two weeks ago by hiring former Cardinals assistant GM Randy Flores. Soon, Flores hopes to have the team’s manager opening filled as well. 

That decision could happen by the end of this week. 

“I’m hopeful,” Flores told me. “Now, hope and fact are two different things. But I’m hopeful.” 

Albert Pujols is among the names in the Astros manager search. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Flores assumed the rule previously held by Dana Brown, who was let go in August. The Astros ultimately won a weak AL West despite winning just 81 games before losing both games of the wild-card series. They did not renew the contract of manager Joe Espada last month. 

Among the candidates for the manager vacancy are a trio of former players in three-time MVP Albert Pujols and former Astros Brad Ausmus and Morgan Ensberg, though Flores said playing experience is not necessarily a prerequisite to getting the job. Owner Jim Crane and senior adviser Jeff Bagwell have also been involved in the interview process. 

“I want to be open-minded to whatever personality and profile that person is,” Flores said. “That’s what I want to do. Just look at our track record in the draft, with the Cardinals. There wasn’t a certain type of profile. It’s being open to whatever the board presents to you.” — Kavner 

5.

Yankees Hitting Group Still In Limbo

On Tuesday, Yankees GM Brian Cashman did not commit to what his coaching staff will look like next season, and that includes the fluid situation among his hitting group. As of now, the club is still deciding how to handle hitting-coach duties. James Rawson has served as the Yankees’ hitting coach since the 2024 season, but his contract expired after this season.

“James Rawson is a free agent,” Cashman said on Tuesday. “He’s talking to other clubs at the same time. We’re also engaged in the marketplace, and also internally determining what’s next and best for us. So it’s not resolved yet.”

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner pointed his finger at the Yankees offense as the reason for their early playoff exit following their 93-win season this year. Late last month, Steinbrenner expressed deep disappointment with the hitters, stating the unit was “inconsistent for long periods of time” and “detrimental to accomplishing numerous things, including the ultimate goal of winning a championship.” 

It’s not the first time Steinbrenner has blamed the Yankees offense for falling short of their championship goals, but nonetheless, his criticism brought a spotlight onto Rawson and the rest of the Yankees’ hitting-coach staff. With Giancarlo Stanton missing almost the entire season with calf strains and Aaron Judge playing in just 66 games due to a rib fracture and a calf strain, the Yankees offense recorded a 101 wRC+ this season, which indicates they were just one percent better than the league average. 

“I know one thing we’ll do is we’ll be instantly better if we have a healthy Aaron Judge,” Cashman said, stating the obvious. “That’s a clear statement. That’ll lengthen and deepen our lineup. But it’s my job to improve all aspects of it and not just count on him coming back to fix everything.” — Thosar

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United States men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino appears to be Manchester bound.

Manchester United are finalizing a deal to hire Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach, if the club decides to sack club legend Michael Carrick following his 1W-5D-4L start to the Premier League season as manager, according to a report from The Athletic on Wednesday.

The move comes less than three months after Pochettino signed a four-year contract extension with U.S. Soccer in August, following the USA’s run to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup on home soil.

To get him out of that deal, United is expected to trigger Pochettino’s buyout clause, which is reportedly worth around $10 million. United and U.S. Soccer have yet to make official contact, according to The Athletic’s reporting.

Pochettino inherits a club in crisis. United sit in the Premier League’s relegation zone after a dismal start to the season under Carrick. United has not been relegated since the 1973-74 season. 

Carrick, a former United midfielder, was named permanent manager this past offseason after impressing as interim boss following Ruben Amorim’s sacking in January. His permanent tenure lasted less than six months.

Pochettino’s first match in charge could be one of the toughest on the calendar. United return from the international break against Liverpool on Nov. 22.

The 54-year-old Argentine is no stranger to the Premier League. He led Tottenham Hotspur to the 2019 Champions League final and later managed Chelsea for the 2023-24 season. He also won a Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain. 

Pochettino took over the national team in September 2024. His departure leaves U.S. Soccer searching for a new coach ahead of the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals, with matches against Haiti on Nov. 14 and 17 in the United States.

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Jonathan Taylor may be the most talked-about name ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, but the market is already shifting. With rumors swirling around the Colts star running back, one team has officially pulled its offer out of the running. 

FOX NFL insider Jay Glazer appeared on FOX NFL Kickoff’s pre-game show and gave the latest update on trade deadline rumors. He revealed that the Giants have officially withdrawn the offer they made weeks ago for Taylor.

“The Giants had offered a second-round pick and fifth-round pick for Jonathan Taylor,” Glazer said. “That was a couple weeks ago. Now that offer is off the table. So, unless the Colts come down for it, I don’t see that happening.”

The Giants were viewed as one of the front-runners for Taylor over the past few weeks. It’s unclear if the Colts have overplayed their hand, but other teams reported to be in the mix include the Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, and Denver Broncos.

With the trade deadline set for Tuesday, the Colts could end up keeping Taylor after all if they don’t receive the “Christian McCaffrey trade package” they were initially seeking. His final game with Indianapolis might be on Sunday in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Through eight games this season, Taylor has remained productive. He has carried the ball for 610 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 4.1 yards per carry, adding 21 receptions for 202 yards through the air.

Whether Taylor is moved by the deadline remains to be seen, but with a full fire sale seemingly underway, a deal is well within the realm of possibility. The main focus now is identifying which suitors are genuinely in the mix and whether any team will meet the Colts’ steep asking price.

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Now that the Milwaukee Brewers proved to be MLB’s best team behind flame-throwing ace Jacob Misiorowski and bazooka-blasting World Series MVP William Contreras, we can turn our attention to what should be a pivotal offseason. 

All 30 teams will have things to address this winter, some more than others. Whether you’re the mighty Brewers, the revenge-seeking Los Angeles Dodgers, or a slew of AL contenders like the Tampa Bay Rays or New York Yankees, each team has one glaring issue to tackle before Opening Day. 

Let’s break it all down:

Click on a team below to navigate this post.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

NATIONAL LEAGUE

AL EAST

Baltimore Orioles

Biggest Need: Starting Pitching

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Starting pitcher Trevor Rogers. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

The lineup was a disappointment last year, but it’s easier to envision that group being better in 2026 (a bounceback from shortstop Gunnar Henderson, a healthier year for third baseman Jordan Westburg, etc.) than it is to see their rotation being good enough to contend in the AL East as currently constructed.

Shane Baz, Kyle Bradish and Brandon Young are fine pieces to fill out a rotation, and top pitching prospect Anthony Eyanson provides plenty of intrigue, but they need another top dog if Trevor Rogers doesn’t accept his qualifying offer. 

Boston Red Sox

Biggest Need: Power

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Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

For long stretches, this lineup was first baseman Willson Contreras, outfielder Wilyer Abreu Jr. or bust. The Red Sox were far too reliant on Contreras to be their power threat last season. Obviously, the injury to Roman Anthony played a part, and the midseason additions of catcher Adley Rutschman and infielder Curtis Mead could help them going forward. But the Red Sox could still use offensive upgrades at a number of spots after ranking 26th in home runs and 20th in slugging percentage last season.

New York Yankees

Biggest Need: Infield Bat

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Infielder/Outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The Yankees probably should have done more at the deadline to address their bullpen, but their relievers in October combined to allow just one earned run in 15.2 innings. Their problem was an offense that looked anemic in the ALDS (.431 OPS) without star outfielder Aaron Judge, and now that group is losing dynamic infielder/outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. to free agency.

Outside of first base, there are a lot of questions about the offensive production of this infield. They need another reliable bat. 

Tampa Bay Rays

Biggest Need: Impact Bat

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Catcher Liam Hicks. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

The addition of catcher Liam Hicks at the deadline was an important one. But even with the offensive upgrade at the backstop, the difference in lineup depth between the Rays and Brewers in the World Series was glaring.

The Nos. 7-9 hitters in Tampa Bay’s lineup went 6-for-49 with one RBI in the series. Overall, in the postseason, the Rays’ lineup produced a .584 OPS — a staggeringly low number for a World Series team. Tampa Bay needs more offensive depth if it wants to finally end its title drought. 

Toronto Blue Jays

Biggest Need: Impact Bat

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First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Blue Jays’ offense regressed in astonishing fashion, going from fourth in runs scored in 2025 to last in 2026. Their on-base percentage dropped from the highest in MLB in 2025 to 26th in 2026, and they produced the lowest hard-hit rate in MLB.

There’s a lot of work to be done to get this lineup back on track (starting with fixing first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.), but at least one more big bat feels like a necessity. 

AL CENTRAL

Chicago White Sox

Biggest Need: Starting Pitching

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Starting pitcher Luis Castillo. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)

How does this group take the next step after a resurgent 2026 season? Start with upgrading the rotation.

The White Sox, who were forced to get creative in the playoffs to account for their starting pitching concerns, now have an offseason to remedy their biggest issue. They can feel good about Sean Burke after a breakout 2026 season, but the questions start immediately after that.

Starter Davis Martin had a strong argument to be an All-Star but regressed significantly in the second half. The deadline move with Seattle for Luis Castillo was a mess, but maybe an offseason can get him right again. Rookie Hagen Smith starred in relief and could take a leap forward as a starter next year. Still, they need another proven starter (or two). 

Cleveland Guardians

Biggest Need: Power

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The Guardians were two wins away from the World Series this past season. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

New year, same story.

The Guardians, largely, were relying on their young hitters to fix their powerless lineup in 2026, and while there are obvious reasons to get excited about rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter and fellow rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana, the emergence of those two wasn’t enough — especially with franchise cornerstone Jose Ramirez not having a typical Ramirez season at third.

Cleveland recognized its need to improve offensively at the trade deadline by adding outfielder Jo Adell and first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, and while Adell is still under team control in 2027, more needs to be done to upgrade an offense that finished 26th in OPS and 27th in home runs and slugging percentage.

Detroit Tigers

Biggest Need: High-Leverage Relief (Pitching In General)

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Reliever Kenley Jansen. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

The Tigers had the same number of saves (32) as blown saves (32), and they declined their option on Kenley Jansen, who has now become a free agent. They should be active in free agency to add at least another bat and a starter after trading former Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and former first overall pick Casey Mize (who struggled with San Diego after the deal) at the deadline, but they also need someone they can rely upon to miss bats late in games.

Pitchers David Bednar, Adrian Morejon, Raisel Iglesias and Bryan Abreu would be among the many reasonable fits.

Kansas City Royals

Biggest Need: Bullpen/Outfield

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Reliever Steven Cruz. (Photo by Edward Monigan IV/Getty Images)

Their bullpen ranked 29th in ERA and 30th in strikeouts and WHIP, so that’s a clear area of need. But how much longer can the Royals continue going without making more of a concerted effort to improve their outfield?

Their moves on the margins last offseason didn’t work. In the 11 years since they won a World Series, the best their outfielders have ranked in OPS is 21st (and 22nd in wRC+). 

Minnesota Twins

Biggest Need: Bullpen

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Catcher Ryan Jeffers. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)

The Twins will either need to bring catcher Ryan Jeffers back or find a way to replace his offensive production with another impact bat. But their biggest problem area, even after adding relievers at the trade deadline, is the bullpen.

They haven’t backfilled the losses from their 2025 deadline selloff and will need to do more work to patch up a bullpen that ranked 26th in ERA and 24th in strikeout-to-walk ratio.

AL WEST

Athletics

Biggest Need: Pitching

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Starting pitcher J.T. Ginn. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images)

No mystery here. Their offense underperformed last year, but their starters had a 5.61 ERA and their relievers had an MLB-worst 5.43 ERA.

It’s not going to be easy to convince difference-making arms to go to Sacramento, but the A’s have to open up the checkbook and try.

Houston Astros

Biggest Need: Outfield (Also, Manager And Starting Pitching)

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New Astros general manager Randy Flores. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images)

They have their new general manager in Randy Flores. They still need a manager, too. But, perhaps even more importantly, they need to fix their roster.

There’s still a logjam in the infield, there’s still not much help on the farm to supplement the aging core, and the needs in the outfield and rotation are still glaring. Their outfielders had the lowest OPS in the American League, and if they want to keep superstar slugger Yordan Alvarez off his feet, that position group needs to be addressed. 

Los Angeles Angels

Biggest Need: Make A Statement, Starting At The Top

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New Angels owner Stan Kroenke. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

There’s a new ownership group coming in, but until the other 29 owners give final approval, a roster overhaul might have to wait a bit.

Whenever that ownership approval happens, Stan Kroenke has a chance to make a splash — be it at general manager, manager, in free agency or all three — and announce with authority that there’s a new direction in Anaheim. Hiring the right person to lead them into the future will be vital.

There’s a lot to fix here, particularly with a lineup that had the highest strikeout rate and lowest OPS in MLB, but there is finally hope. Time to show why. 

Seattle Mariners

Biggest Need: Right-Handed Bat

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Outfielder Randy Arozarena. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images)

After hiring Jason Kanzler as their new manager, their first order of business is done. Now, they need to figure out how to ensure last season’s embarrassing 76-win season was only a blip.

For starters, they need to improve an offense that ranked last in the majors against left-handed pitching. Their best hitter against lefties, outfielder Randy Arozarena, is now a free agent. A right-handed corner outfielder feels like a must for this lefty-heavy lineup — whether it’s Arozarena or someone else.

Texas Rangers

Biggest Need: Bullpen

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Rangers closer Jacob Latz. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

All-Star Jacob Latz was a revelation at closer, but that was one of the only positives for the Rangers’ bullpen, which ranked 23rd in ERA and 26th in strikeout rate and will once again need to be rebuilt with a number of key contributors no longer under contract.

NL EAST

Atlanta Braves

Biggest Need: Starting Pitching

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Braves ace Chris Sale (center). (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Veteran southpaw Chris Sale and right-handers Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder represent the only three arms the Braves can say, with certainty, will be a part of their Opening Day rotation.

Other, far less dependable internal options include right-handers Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Didier Fuentes and AJ Smith-Shawver. They all have concerns ranging from effectiveness, workload, health and innings.

Atlanta needs to externally add a starting pitcher with high upside, either through free agency or trade. Free-agent right-handers Freddy Peralta or Michael King could be good fits.

Miami Marlins

Biggest Need: Power

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(Photo by Brendon Baranov/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Miami, after finishing third in the division, has more going for it than people might assume. Right-handers Sandy Alcántara and Eury Perez anchor a strong rotation when healthy, and All-Star shortstop Otto Lopez and second baseman Xavier Edwards give the infield some life.

What’s missing is a true middle-of-the-order slugger. Left fielder Heriberto Hernandez hit 25 homers and first baseman/outfielder Kyle Stowers has power, but neither is a premier masher.

Landing a big bat would likely require more spending than the Marlins usually do, though it’s possible president of baseball operations Peter Bendix could get creative on the trade market.

New York Mets

Biggest Need: An Ace

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Mets starter Nolan McLean. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

You can argue that the Mets already have an ace on their starting-pitching staff with right-hander Nolan McLean, but president of baseball operations David Stearns already made that mistake heading into their disastrous 2026 season, and he’s extremely unlikely to put all his faith there again.

That being said, their young trio of arms is promising. McLean, Zac Thornton, Christian Scott (and even Jonah Tong) have shown flashes of potential and brilliance. But that established ace escapes them.

Except the Mets to be heavily in the mix for elite left-hander Tarik Skubal this winter.

Philadelphia Phillies

Biggest Need: Run-Producing Bats

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Bryce Harper (left) and Kyle Schwarber. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The Phillies ranked 23rd in the majors with a .312 on-base percentage in 2026. Their team power was slightly worse, ranked 24th with a .395 slugging percentage that was anchored mostly by sluggers Kyle Schwarber (45 HR) and Bryce Harper (29 HR), but for now Philly just need to focus on drawing more walks and getting on base.

In 2026, the Phillies left much to be desired offensively from their catcher, left fielder, third baseman and shortstop. The hot corner is wide open for an upgrade, and whoever they go with must also be a sharp defender. The Phillies ranked 30th in Defensive Runs Saved with -51 this past season.

Washington Nationals

Biggest Need: Bullpen

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Nationals reliever Clayton Beeter. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Nationals are coming off a brutal season in which their relievers blew an MLB-record 42 saves, 11 more than the next-worst club, and five more than the previous league record. Washington’s bullpen ranked 28th in the majors with a 4.99 ERA.

Paired with the offense’s strong season, led by breakout years from their emerging young core, an effective bullpen could have changed their 2026 outlook and plunged the Nats into a playoff race. Major reinforcements are needed in the bullpen, but it’s hard to imagine they’ll be super aggressive via free agency, where closer David Bednar (35 saves with the Yankees) leads this year’s relief class.

NL CENTRAL

Cincinnati Reds

Biggest Need: Multiple Big Bats

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Third baseman Eugenio Suarez. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)

It’s almost hard to believe, after catcher Sal Stewart crushed 32 home runs with 112 RBI and shortstop Elly De La Cruz enjoyed his first career 30-30 season, that the Reds scored the fewest runs 666) in the National League this year.

With third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who produced 25 home runs in 2026, and catcher Tyler Stephenson hitting free agency, Cincinnati will need to add multiple big bats to support Stewart and De La Cruz in the lineup.

Chicago Cubs

Biggest Need: Starting Pitching

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Right-hander Kevin Gausman. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

Right-handers Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes and southpaw Shota Imanaga are all exploring free agency. On top of that rotation dearth, the Cubs bullpen was inconsistent all year, which only adds to Chicago’s precarious pitching situation.

Left-hander Justin Steele and, eventually, right-hander Cade Horton are returning from injury, but no one profiles as the ace the Cubs would want in October. The lineup has enough depth to absorb losing outfielders Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki, so president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer can focus on pitching, in particular paying for a top arm in a thin class.

Milwaukee Brewers

Biggest Need: Power

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First baseman Jake Bauers. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

I know, I know. The reigning champions don’t need power to inflict pain on their opponents thanks to their dynamic lineup depth and MLB-leading on-base skills.

But their 2026 leader in home runs just hit the open market, and unless first baseman Jake Bauers accepts Milwaukee’s qualifying offer to remain a Brewer for one more season, the club will have to find a way to replace his pop, which featured 26 home runs and an .874 OPS.

The Brewers are looking to repeat in 2027, and improving their power should be a top priority.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Biggest Need: Retain Brandon Lowe Or Pivot

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Second baseman Brandon Lowe. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

Second baseman Brandon Lowe may have been the best trade of the 2025 offseason, hitting 35 homers with 96 RBI while playing strong defense. And he led a lineup that ranked sixth in MLB in runs (767) and OPS (.734). Lowe is now a free agent at 32, and keeping him figures to be expensive.

But Pittsburgh hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2015, and the club finally has a core that could put them over the hump. Re-signing Lowe could make the Bucs a legitimate threat, but it would be stunning if ownership committed to that kind of major investment.

If not, they’ll need to pivot to an offensive second or third baseman.

St. Louis Cardinals

Biggest Need: Bullpen

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Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien. (Photo by Colten Strauss/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

The Cardinals are still rebuilding in 2027 while focusing on next steps forward from their emerging young players. Understanding that president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom is not going to be aggressive on the open market, practical upgrades, likely through trades or the waiver wire during the season, is the team’s likeliest approach to improving the bullpen.

Expect another Ryne Stanek-type pickup to address their relief needs – the 34-year-old had a 4.02 ERA in 70 appearances – as well as giving their prospects some decent runway to find out where they fit into their future.

NL WEST

Arizona Diamondbacks

Biggest Need: First Base

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First baseman Ildemaro Vargas. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

Arizona’s lineup is loaded with talent between second baseman Ketel Marte, catcher Gabriel Moreno, center fielder Corbin Carroll and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, but first base left much to be desired this year.

D-backs first basemen ranked last in the majors with a .636 OPS in 2026. Give credit to Arizona for trying to fix the problem: the club saw 15 first basemen occupying the corner infield spot throughout the course of the season.

Arizona must focus on adding a legitimate power bat at first base, and free agent Jake Bauers (26 HR, .864 OPS) could be their best fit, although he’ll have multiple suitors.

Colorado Rockies

Biggest Need: Get A Haul For Hunter Goodman

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Catcher Hunter Goodman. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

It would be a disappointment if the Rockies didn’t find a trade partner for catcher Hunter Goodman, who’s coming off a 41-homer season and is under team control through 2029, which is exactly why now is the time to trade him. His batting average and on-base percentage declined this year, and his defense behind the plate is subpar, but power-hitting catchers are unicorns, and it’s hard to imagine a contender would struggle that much to strike a deal for the 27-year-old.

With a limited number of power bats in free agency, Goodman’s market should be strong.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Biggest Need: Get Younger

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Outfielder Josue De Paula. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

The Dodgers had the oldest position-player group in the majors this year, and their collective age showed throughout the regular season, leading up to getting swept in the NLCS by the Brewers. How can the Dodgers get younger?

They can start by making room for 21-year-old outfielder Josue De Paula. With Shohei Ohtani occupying designated-hitter duties and Kyle Tucker cemented in right field, Los Angeles will have to trade or platoon Teoscar Hernandez to free up space for De Paula, and injecting that youth into an aging lineup should create a necessary spark.

San Diego Padres

Biggest Need: Starting Pitching

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Right-hander Michael King. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

San Diego’s rotation is depleted.

Trade-deadline pickups Robbie Ray and Casey Mize struggled and have since hit free agency. Right-hander Michael King declined his player option, and the Padres declined Nick Pivetta’s club option, so both are now free agents. And Walker Buehler is also exploring the market. Veteran starters Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove carry major health concerns, and the depth beyond them is practically non-existent.

The new owners’ willingness to spend will determine just how aggressively general manager A.J. Preller can rebuild the starting-pitching staff.

San Francisco Giants

Biggest Need: Starting Pitching

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Starting pitcher Logan Webb. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Three thrashings away from a 100-loss season, the Giants have plenty of needs to pick from, but the rotation tops the list.

Right-hander Logan Webb, entering his age-30 season, is still the ace of the staff. Right-hander Landen Roupp had a solid enough year, but there’s little reliability beyond those two rotation arms. Right-hander Adrian Houser pitched his way out of the rotation, and southpaw Matt Wilkinson completed five innings just twice in six starts.

The Giants realistically need to add at least two starters to stabilize the rotation, and they have the prospect capital to be aggressive with trades.

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