June 2026 - Baseball Wiretap

The White Sox are in agreement on a one-year free agent contract with outfielder Austin Hays, sources told ESPN on Saturday.

The deal is reportedly worth $6 million plus incentives, according to MLB Network and confirmed by ESPN.

Infielder Vinnie Pasquantino agreed to a two-year contract Friday with the Royals, pending a successful physical, that will keep him in Kansas City through the 2027 season.

Financial terms of the deal were not released.

The Minnesota Twins and president of baseball and business operations Derek Falvey have mutually decided to part ways, the club announced Friday.

The 42-year-old Falvey spent nine seasons with the Twins, hired to run the baseball department in October 2016 and elevated a year ago to oversee the business side as well. The Twins made the postseason four times during Falvey's tenure, winning three division titles, but the two years since their last one have been rocky for the organization on and off the field. The team finished 70-92 in 2025.

All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson and the Oakland Athletics reached agreement on a seven-year contract that includes a club option for an eighth season, the team announced Friday. The contract is worth $70 million, sources told ESPN.

The extension adds another premium young player to an impressive core as the franchise prepares to move to Las Vegas. Wilson finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting last season after hitting .311/.355/.444 with 13 home runs and 63 RBIs in 125 games.

The award went to teammate Nick Kurtz, the centerpiece of the offensive machine the A's have quietly built. In addition to Wilson and Kurtz, All-Star designated hitter Brent Rooker and outfielders Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler are under contract until at least 2030.

Wilson and Soderstrom are under team control through 2033, Butler through 2032 and Rooker through 2030. Though Kurtz has not signed a contract extension, the A's have secured their core position players for the foreseeable future.

The A's selected Wilson with the sixth pick in the 2023 draft out of Grand Canyon University, where his father, longtime big league shortstop Jack Wilson, coached. Wilson dominated minor league pitching, hitting .393/.439/.601 and debuting barely a year after being selected.

With exceptional bat-to-ball skills, Wilson spent much of last season atop the AL batting average leaderboard. His power output surprised evaluators, who were concerned his desire for contact would limit home runs. Wilson struck out just 39 times in 523 plate appearances last year.

Wilson's all-fields approach fits perfectly in an A's lineup that has plenty of power. Five players hit at least 20 home runs last season. The A's added second baseman Jeff McNeil via trade and signed reliever Mark Leiter Jr. to a one-year deal this winter.

The team enters its second year in Sacramento, where it plans to spend three seasons before its new Las Vegas stadium's planned opening in 2028. Owner John Fisher expanded this year's payroll to an estimated $90 million. The highest A's Opening Day payroll ever was $92.2 million in 2019.

The New York Mets signed reliever Craig Kimbrel to a minor league contract Thursday with an invitation to big league spring training, giving the nine-time All-Star an opportunity to pitch for his 10th different team should he make the club.

The 37-year-old Kimbrel was 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA while pitching in 14 games for the Braves and Astros last season. He also spent time in the Rangers organization, appearing in 24 games for their Triple-A affiliate before being released without a call-up.

Kimbrel is 56-48 over 16 seasons, including stints with the Padres, Red Sox, White Sox, Cubs, Dodgers, Phillies and Orioles. The former NL Rookie of the Year ranks fourth among relievers with 1,282 career strikeouts and fifth in saves with 440.

The Mets also signed Austin Barnes to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. The 36-year-old catcher hit .214 over 13 games with the Dodgers last season, then spent most of the rest of the season in the Giants minor league system.

Bo Bichette turned down a seven-year, $200 million offer from the Philadelphia Phillies to sign a three-year, $126 million contract with the New York Mets that includes multiple opt-out clauses. The deal provides Bichette with the flexibility to return to free agency after the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

The agreement gives Bichette one of the largest average annual salaries in baseball history at $42 million per year. Phillies executive Dave Dombrowski called Bichette's decision a gut punch.

Bichette is not alone in choosing shorter contracts with higher annual values. Earlier this month, outfielder Kyle Tucker reportedly rejected a $350 million, 10-year offer from the Toronto Blue Jays to sign a four-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers at $60 million annually with two opt-outs.

"Usually, guys take those shorter-term deals because a longer-term deal hasn't materialized," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said.

The trend reflects a shift in baseball's contract structure. Teams have become more cautious about awarding long-term megadeals with substantial average annual values to anyone besides elite superstars. Players and agents have responded by seeking shorter contracts with astronomical salaries.

"They give you the years, but the AAVs are so low that it's not in your best interest," said Scott Boras, baseball's most prominent agent.

Only nine players have signed contracts worth at least $40 million per year, according to data from Cot's Baseball Contracts. Six were for four years or fewer, including Tucker and Bichette. The exceptions were generational talents Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge.

Third baseman Alex Bregman demonstrated the potential benefits last offseason. He signed a three-year, $120 million deal with the Boston Red Sox with annual opt-outs instead of a six-year, $171 million offer from Detroit. After a strong season, Bregman opted out and signed with the Chicago Cubs for $175 million over five years.

After re-signing Cody Bellinger, the New York Yankees are confident they have a team that can contend for a title, with general manager Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone pointing to the organization's acquisitions last summer and this winter.

"We added a lot of weapons at the deadline and they're all finding their proper slots and how to be utilized and deployed," Cashman said during a Wednesday video call to announce the Bellinger signing.

The New York Yankees added to their bullpen Wednesday by acquiring right-handed reliever Angel Chivilli in a trade with the Colorado Rockies.

They sent minor league infielder T.J. Rumfield to Colorado for Chivilli, a 23-year-old from the Dominican Republic with two seasons of major league experience. He had a 7.06 ERA in 43 relief appearances for the Rockies last year and a 4.55 ERA in 30 appearances with them in 2024.

The Athletic and ESPN released their 2026 baseball prospect rankings this week with consensus agreement on the top three players but significant divergence in evaluations beyond that elite tier. Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin leads both lists, followed by Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle and Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jesus Made.

Griffin earned universal recognition as baseball's premier prospect after dominating both Single-A levels and Double-A as a teenager. The 19-year-old stands 6-foot-4 and demonstrates elite athleticism across all aspects of the game, drawing comparisons to Fernando Tatis Jr. and Bobby Witt Jr.

The consensus extends through the top three positions, but evaluations diverge dramatically starting at fourth overall. Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo ranks fourth on ESPN's list, but eighth on The Athletic's rankings, representing the first major philosophical disagreement between publications.

Texas Rangers shortstop Sebastian Walcott generates the most significant top-10 discrepancy between evaluators. ESPN ranks the 19-year-old Bahamas native fifth overall while The Athletic places him 16th, an 11-spot difference reflecting divergent assessments of his hit-power balance and defensive projection.

Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson and Detroit Tigers center fielder Max Clark also occupy different positions between lists. The Athletic ranks Emerson fourth and Clark fifth, while ESPN drops both prospects to sixth and eighth respectively.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Eduardo Quintero represents the largest evaluation gap among top-tier prospects. The Athletic ranks Quintero ninth overall while ESPN places him 37th, a substantial 28-spot difference suggesting dramatically different projections for the 20-year-old's offensive ceiling.

New York Mets center fielder A.J. Ewing generates even more dramatic disagreement lower in the rankings. ESPN places Ewing 28th overall while The Athletic ranks him 98th, a massive 70-spot differential representing the widest evaluation gap between publications.

Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen falls from 10th on The Athletic's list to 25th on ESPN's rankings. The 15-spot difference suggests ESPN holds more skepticism about catching prospects translating offensive production to the major leagues.

Both publications identify Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler as the top pitching prospect, though at different positions. The Athletic ranks Chandler 14th overall while ESPN places him 12th, reflecting similar evaluations of his front-line starter potential.

Minnesota Twins center fielder Walker Jenkins generates relatively minor disagreement despite durability concerns. The Athletic ranks him 11th while ESPN places him ninth, a modest two-spot difference considering his injury history over the past two seasons.

Boston Red Sox shortstop Franklin Arias demonstrates another significant evaluation gap. The Athletic ranks the 20-year-old 12th overall while ESPN drops him to 36th, a 24-spot difference reflecting divergent assessments of his power projection.

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Rainiel Rodriguez provides an interesting case study in catching prospect evaluation. ESPN ranks the 19-year-old 19th overall while The Athletic places him 29th, representing a 10-spot difference favoring ESPN's assessment.

Chicago White Sox outfielder Braden Montgomery appears on The Athletic's list at 30th but fails to crack ESPN's top 100 entirely. The discrepancy highlights different evaluations of the 23-year-old's recovery trajectory and offensive ceiling.

Position players dominate both rankings, accounting for approximately 75 percent of names in each top 100. The prevalence reflects modern trends in minor league baseball where pitchers experience injuries at elevated rates while facing strict workload management protocols.

The Dodgers lead all organizations with six players appearing on both lists. The Mariners and Brewers also demonstrate strong organizational depth with multiple representatives scattered throughout the rankings.

The evaluation differences between publications provide insight into varying scouting philosophies. ESPN appears more skeptical of catching prospects while showing stronger conviction in players like Walcott and Ewing whose tools suggest significant upside despite performance questions.

The Athletic demonstrates more conservative evaluations of players with limited track records, particularly evident in lower rankings for prospects like Ewing who posted impressive statistics at lower levels but lack extensive exposure to advanced competition.

Both publications emphasize future potential over recent performance, incorporating statistical analysis, live scouting, video review, and extensive scout consultations. The differing conclusions despite similar methodologies highlight the inherent uncertainty in projecting player development trajectories.

The consensus top three provides clarity for organizations evaluating trade proposals or draft strategies. Griffin, McGonigle, and Made represent the safest bets among prospects entering the 2026 season based on universal evaluator agreement.

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin has been named baseball's top prospect for 2026 by ESPN, leading a list heavily dominated by position players. The 19-year-old stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 225 pounds while demonstrating elite athleticism and skills across all aspects of the game.

Griffin represents the best prospect baseball has seen in several years according to ESPN's evaluation. He was selected ninth overall in the 2024 draft after ranking seventh in a tightly packed top tier of prospects during the pre-draft process.

Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle ranks second despite not being selected in the first round of his high school draft. The 21-year-old left-handed hitter went 37th overall but received the 31st-highest bonus, dramatically exceeding expectations since signing.

Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jesus Made claims third position at age 18. The switch-hitting prospect measures 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds while projecting as a potential superstar with five plus tools by the end of his minor league development.

Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo ranks fourth on ESPN's list, jumping ahead of several highly-touted shortstops. The 21-year-old left-handed hitter recently signed an eight-year extension after making his major league debut.

Texas Rangers shortstop Sebastian Walcott occupies fifth position at age 19. The Bahamas native has filled out his 6-foot-4 frame with massive physical tools including plus-plus power projection and enough quickness to potentially stick at shortstop long term.

Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson ranks sixth on the list. The 20-year-old left-handed hitter has improved defensively at shortstop while projecting for 20 annual home runs with above-average contact and on-base skills.

St. Louis Cardinals shortstop JJ Wetherholt and Detroit Tigers center fielder Max Clark occupy seventh and eighth positions respectively. Minnesota Twins center fielder Walker Jenkins ranks ninth despite durability concerns that have plagued his professional career.

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Aidan Miller rounds out the top 10. The 22-year-old right-handed hitter stole 59 bases last season while demonstrating above-average to plus speed on the basepaths and 25-home run potential.

Position players account for the top 11 spots on ESPN's rankings, reflecting current trends in minor league baseball. Pitchers are experiencing injuries at elevated rates while producing less value due to reduced innings totals and modern workload management strategies.

Pirates right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler ranks as the highest pitcher at 12th overall. New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean follows at 13th, with Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage claiming 14th position.

The rankings emphasize future potential rather than recent performance alone. ESPN's evaluation process incorporates statistical analysis, live scouting, video review, and extensive conversations with scouts and analysts to project player development trajectories over multiple years.

The Los Angeles Dodgers lead all organizations with six players in the top 100. The Dodgers' representatives include Eduardo Quintero, Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Mike Sirota, Emil Morales, and Alex Freeland scattered throughout the rankings.

The Mariners and Brewers each place multiple prospects on the list, demonstrating strong organizational depth. The Mariners' group includes Colt Emerson, Kade Anderson, Ryan Sloan, Michael Arroyo, Lazaro Montes, Felnin Celesten, and Jonny Farmelo.

Players must retain Rookie of the Year eligibility for 2026 to qualify for the rankings. The list excludes players with experience in Japanese or Korean professional leagues and international free agents who signed in January 2026.

Griffin addressed swing issues immediately in his first professional season while demonstrating clear shortstop capabilities. He dominated both Single-A levels and Double-A as a teenager, representing at least a 95th-percentile developmental outcome for prospects from the 2024 draft class.

ESPN evaluators consider Griffin the top prospect in baseball by a significant margin. The publication nearly placed him in the 70 FV tier, which represents expectations of MVP ballot appearances with five-plus WAR seasons annually.

The Pirates could potentially start Griffin at shortstop for opening day 2026. Teams typically bring superstars to the majors ahead of schedule, as Juan Soto demonstrated by playing just 122 career minor league games before his teenage debut with Washington.

Griffin joins pitcher Paul Skenes and Bubba Chandler as cornerstone prospects capable of electrifying Pittsburgh. The combination of elite talent suggests the franchise could experience significant competitive improvement in coming seasons after years of struggles.

ESPN's TOP 100 MLB PROSPECTS:

1. Konnor Griffin, SS/CF, Pittsburgh Pirates (Age: 19)
2. Kevin McGonigle, SS, Detroit Tigers (Age: 21)
3. Jesus Made, SS, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 18)
4. Samuel Basallo, C/1B, Baltimore Orioles (Age: 21)
5. Sebastian Walcott, SS/3B, Texas Rangers (Age: 20)
6. Colt Emerson, SS, Seattle Mariners (Age: 20)
7. JJ Wetherholt, SS, St. Louis Cardinals (Age: 23)
8. Max Clark, CF, Detroit Tigers (Age: 21)
9. Walker Jenkins, CF, Minnesota Twins (Age: 20)
10. Aidan Miller, SS, Philadelphia Phillies (Age: 21)
11. Leo De Vries, SS, Athletics (Age: 19)
12. Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates (Age: 23)
13. Nolan McLean, RHP, New York Mets (Age: 24)
14. Trey Yesavage, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays (Age: 22)
15. Carson Benge, OF, New York Mets (Age: 23)
16. Kade Anderson, LHP, Seattle Mariners (Age: 21)
17. Sal Stewart, 3B/1B, Cincinnati Reds (Age: 22)
18. Thomas White, LHP, Miami Marlins (Age: 21)
19. Rainiel Rodriguez, C, St. Louis Cardinals (Age: 19)
20. George Lombard Jr., SS, New York Yankees (Age: 20)
21. Josue De Paula, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers (Age: 20)
22. Payton Tolle, LHP, Boston Red Sox (Age: 23)
23. Travis Bazzana, 2B, Cleveland Guardians (Age: 23)
24. Ryan Sloan, RHP, Seattle Mariners (Age: 20)
25. Carter Jensen, C, Kansas City Royals (Age: 22)
26. Luis Pena, SS/2B, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 19)
27. Andrew Painter, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies (Age: 22)
28. A.J. Ewing, CF, New York Mets (Age: 21)
29. Alfredo Duno, C, Cincinnati Reds (Age: 20)
30. Josuar Gonzalez, SS, San Francisco Giants (Age: 18)
31. Jonah Tong, RHP, New York Mets (Age: 22)
32. Jett Williams, SS/CF, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 22)
33. Ralphy Velazquez, 1B, Cleveland Guardians (Age: 20)
34. Caleb Bonemer, SS/3B, Chicago White Sox (Age: 20)
35. Bryce Rainer, SS, Detroit Tigers (Age: 20)
36. Franklin Arias, SS, Boston Red Sox (Age: 20)
37. Eduardo Quintero, CF, Los Angeles Dodgers (Age: 20)
38. Eduardo Tait, C, Minnesota Twins (Age: 19)
39. Carson Williams, SS, Tampa Bay Rays (Age: 22)
40. Zyhir Hope, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers (Age: 21)
41. Eli Willits, SS, Washington Nationals (Age: 18)
42. Gage Jump, LHP, Athletics (Age: 22)
43. Chase DeLauter, OF, Cleveland Guardians (Age: 24)
44. Josue Briceno, 1B/C, Detroit Tigers (Age: 21)
45. Parker Messick, LHP, Cleveland Guardians (Age: 25)
46. Trey Gibson, RHP, Baltimore Orioles (Age: 23)
47. Robby Snelling, LHP, Miami Marlins (Age: 22)
48. Connelly Early, LHP, Boston Red Sox (Age: 23)
49. Seth Hernandez, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates (Age: 19)
50. Liam Doyle, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals (Age: 21)
51. Moises Ballesteros, C/1B, Chicago Cubs (Age: 22)
52. JoJo Parker, SS, Toronto Blue Jays (Age: 19)
53. Cam Caminiti, LHP, Atlanta (Age: 19)
54. Connor Prielipp, LHP, Minnesota Twins (Age: 25)
55. Mike Sirota, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers (Age: 22)
56. Tyler Bremner, RHP, Los Angeles Angels (Age: 21)
57. Dylan Beavers, RF, Baltimore Orioles (Age: 24)
58. Travis Sykora, RHP, Washington Nationals (Age: 21)
59. Bryce Eldridge, 1B, San Francisco Giants (Age: 21)
60. Jamie Arnold, LHP, Athletics (Age: 21)
61. Joe Mack, C, Miami Marlins (Age: 23)
62. Michael Arroyo, 2B/SS, Seattle Mariners (Age: 21)
63. Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks (Age: 23)
64. Logan Henderson, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 23)
65. Emil Morales, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers (Age: 19)
66. Ethan Holliday, SS, Colorado Rockies (Age: 18)
67. Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Boston Red Sox (Age: 21)
68. Khal Stephen, RHP, Cleveland Guardians (Age: 23)
69. Justin Crawford, OF, Philadelphia Phillies (Age: 22)
70. Cooper Pratt, SS, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 21)
71. Braylon Doughty, RHP, Cleveland Guardians (Age: 20)
72. Rhett Lowder, RHP, Cincinnati Reds (Age: 23)
73. Brandon Sproat, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 25)
74. Jarlin Susana, RHP, Washington Nationals (Age: 21)
75. Jeferson Quero, C, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 23)
76. Arjun Nimmala, SS, Toronto Blue Jays (Age: 20)
77. Owen Caissie, RF, Miami Marlins (Age: 23)
78. Edward Florentino, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates (Age: 19)
79. Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Minnesota Twins (Age: 23)
80. Angel Genao, SS, Cleveland Guardians (Age: 21)
81. Jacob Melton, CF, Tampa Bay Rays (Age: 25)
82. Harry Ford, C, Washington Nationals (Age: 22)
83. Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Chicago Cubs (Age: 24)
84. Jhonny Level, SS, San Francisco Giants (Age: 18)
85. Johnny King, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays (Age: 19)
86. Brody Hopkins, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays (Age: 24)
87. Elmer Rodriguez, RHP, New York Yankees (Age: 22)
88. Didier Fuentes, RHP, Atlanta Braves (Age: 20)
89. J.R. Ritchie, RHP, Atlanta Braves (Age: 22)
90. Juan Valera, RHP, Boston Red Sox (Age: 19)
91. Bishop Letson, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers (Age: 21)
92. Theo Gillen, OF, Tampa Bay Rays (Age: 20)
93. Joshua Baez, RF, St. Louis Cardinals (Age: 22)
94. Charlee Soto, RHP, Minnesota Twins (Age: 20)
95. Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Seattle Mariners (Age: 22)
96. Noah Schultz, LHP, Chicago White Sox (Age: 22)
97. Emmanuel Rodriguez, CF, Minnesota Twins (Age: 22)
98. Leonardo Bernal, C, St. Louis Cardinals (Age: 21)
99. Caden Scarborough, RHP, Texas Rangers (Age: 20)
100. Billy Carlson, SS, Chicago White Sox (Age: 19)