Clayton Kershaw is bringing his stellar career to an end. The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Thursday that the starting pitcher will retire at the end of the 2025 season.

Kershaw, who has spent his entire career with the Dodgers, retires after 18 years in the league. He will make his final regular-season start at Dodger Stadium on Friday, per the team.

“On behalf of the Dodgers, I congratulate Clayton on a fabulous career and thank him for the many moments he gave to Dodger fans and baseball fans everywhere, as well as for all of his profound charitable endeavors. His is truly a legendary career, one that we know will lead to his induction in the Baseball Hall of Fame,” Dodgers owner Mark Walter said in a statement.

Dodgers teammate Freddie Freeman later told reporters that Kershaw informed him of his retirement plans about a month ago.

Kershaw later explained his decision in a news conference at Dodger Stadium, tearing up as he talked about his teammates and his family:

When asked about his decision to retire, Kershaw said he and his wife Ellen went into 2025 thinking it would be his final season:

“We had talked about it basically all year, Ellen and I going back and forth. Usually we wait until the offseason to make a final call, but almost going into this season, we kinda knew this was going to be it. 

“Didn’t want to say anything in case I changed my mind, but over the course of the season, how grateful I am to have been healthy and out on the mound, being able to pitch, I think it just made it obvious that this was a good sending-off point.”

The 37-year-old lefty has been well-decorated throughout his career, earning three Cy Young Awards (2011, 2013 and 2014) and 11 All-Star nods, including this season. He was the NL MVP in 2014 after an incredible season that included a no-hitter.

[Get more Los Angeles news: Dodgers team feed]

Kershaw won a World Series championship with the Dodgers in 2020, pitching in Games 1 and 5 of the Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. In July of this year, he became one of 20 MLB pitchers ever to record 3,000 strikeouts.

Friday will be Kershaw’s 21st start this season, with the veteran having thrown 102 innings thus far in 2025. He has a 3.53 ERA with 71 strikeouts.

Kershaw, who has been open about his desire to stay with L.A. for the entirety of his career, will retire as a Dodger, with just enough time for ceremony before the end of the season.

“I don’t think I put enough merit on it at times, what it means to be able to be in one organization for your entire career,” Kershaw said ahead of the season, via MLB.com. “You look at people throughout all of sports that have been able to do that, and it is special, it is. I don’t want to lose sight of that.”

The future Hall of Famer heads into Friday’s matchup with 3,039 career strikeouts across 2,844 2/3 innings, with a career ERA of 2.54.

Will Clayton Kershaw even start a playoff game?

While Kershaw is riding into the sunset, the question remains if he will do so as a member of the team’s postseason rotation.

Even at age 37, Kershaw has been an effective pitcher this season, but he also happens to pitch in the most overstocked rotation in baseball. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are all locks to make the postseason rotation if healthy. Shohei Ohtani should be too, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts all but shutting down a speculated move to the bullpen.

That’s already four starters, and the team also has Emmet Sheehan, a third-year player who has posted a better ERA, FIP and strikeout rate than Kershaw in fewer innings this season. Roberts acknowledged the uncertainty on Thursday, but insisted Kershaw would still be pitching for the Dodgers this postseason.

Kershaw obviously has a much more mixed legacy in the postseason, but it appears his team will give him one more chance to add a positive note.

Tarik Skubal showed no lingering signs of injury in his first start since exiting his outing Saturday due to discomfort in his rib cage. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner — and frontrunner for this year’s honors — allowed one run and seven hits over six innings versus the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday at Comerica Park.

Unfortunately for the Detroit Tigers, the lineup couldn’t provide Skubal much run support in a 3-1 loss to the Guardians. With the defeat, Detroit’s lead over Cleveland in the AL Central is down to 3.5 games with nine games remaining on the regular-season schedule. The two teams play again in a three-game series next week at Progressive Field. 

[Get more Tigers news: Detroit team feed]

With the loss, the Tigers (85-68) were swept in three games by the Guardians (81-71) in Detroit and have lost six of their past seven games. Detroit now faces the possibility of losing its division lead and settling for making the postseason as a wild card after being one of the best teams in MLB for most of the season.

Skubal did his part to try to end the Tigers’ losing skid, striking out nine batters. That gave him a career-high 233 strikeouts for the season, topping the 228 he compiled last year. Any concerns that he or the team might’ve had after his rib cage issue were likely settled with him throwing 102 pitches on Thursday. 

Skubal’s lone run allowed was a home run by Jhonkensy Noel in the fourth inning that tied the score 1-1. Noel reached low and just outside the strike zone for a 91 mph changeup — Skubal’s best pitch — and launched the ball over the left-field fence. 

Cleveland threatened to take the lead in the sixth on a two-out triple by Brayan Rocchio that outfielder Wenceel Pérez couldn’t quite reach down the right-field line. But after walking Austin Hedges, Skubal struck out Nolan Jones to keep the Guardians off the board.

Troy Melton couldn’t do the same for the Tigers after he relieved Skubal in the seventh. Following a one-out walk to Angel Martínez, he left a cutter in the low middle of the strike zone to José Ramírez, who lifted it over the right-field wall for a two-run homer.

From there, the Tigers couldn’t score against Cleveland relievers Tim Herrin, Kolby Allard and Hunter Gaddis, despite drawing two walks and a single by Spencer Torkelson. Starter Tanner Bibee matched Skubal for six innings, allowing one run and four hits with eight strikeouts. 

The Guardians have won seven consecutive games and 15 of their past 17, whittling a 10.5-game deficit in the AL Central to 3.5 games.

“It was a rough day. We had Tarik on the mound, and he really had to battle,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said after the game. “They did a good job of working him through a lot of tough innings. He finished about as strong as you could finish. … On the big picture, it’s very disappointing.”

Skubal is scheduled to face the Guardians again Tuesday. The left-hander has an 0.40 ERA (one earned run in 22 innings) this season versus Cleveland.

Up next for the Tigers is a three-game home set with the Atlanta Braves (70-83) before next week’s showdown in Cleveland. The Guardians travel to Minnesota (66-86) for a four-game series versus the Twins this weekend before returning home. 

Major League Baseball is instituting a “down period” for teams scouting amateur players, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Thursday. Per Passan, the new provision will ban organizations from collecting data on amateur prospects for a period during the winter.

High-ranking officials of all 30 MLB franchises received a seven-page document on the league’s new Amateur Recovery Period Policy, which covers high school junior and senior players from Oct. 15 to Jan. 15 and college players from Nov. 15 to Jan. 15. While the amateur down period is in effect, team personnel are not allowed to see players covered by this policy in a baseball setting.

The goal of this new provision is to “alleviate the pressure on young players to forego rest and recovery, curb overuse and keep players healthier as they strive for a future in professional baseball,” the memo reportedly stated.

Teams won’t be able to obtain third-party data or video on any player falling under this down period umbrella. If any team employee is caught breaking this rule, they could face fines, suspension or be placed on MLB’s permanently ineligible list.

“MLB encourages players to use this period for rest, recovery and training for next season, rather than for high-intensity, maximum-effort activities,” Passan shared from the league’s memo.

MLB released a report in December on pitching injuries across all levels of baseball, which was prompted by a series of what MLB called “high-profile” arm injuries. The league spoke with more than 200 people involved in the sport, and one recommendation from experts was for MLB to begin regulating the baseball calendar. Many amateurs play baseball year-round from an early age in an industry that has become filled with offseason events.

Under this policy, amateur baseball players won’t be prohibited from competing in offseason/winter events, but restricting MLB team personnel from engaging with players could impact some of these events that occur out of season. Other than meeting players at home with their families, team officials will not be allowed any contact with amateurs during the down period.

This new policy does not, however, cover agents. And if any MLB team receives video or data from players, unsolicited, the organization must notify the league office within 24 hours.

There are just 11 days left in the 2025 MLB regular season. And because postseason baseball is about to dominate our brains, hearts and health over the next month, now is a lovely time to review the upcoming free-agent class one final time. 

Some of these characters will rise or fall based on October performance, but at this point, this list is pretty comprehensive. The sample of data is nearly complete.

Notes: Whenever you see a number, a slash and another number, that’s a reference to contract years and total earnings. For instance, the shorthand for Bryce Harper’s 11-year, $330 million deal would be “11/330.” Ages listed below are for the 2026 season.

Previous free-agent rankings: April | May | June | August

1. Kyle Tucker, Cubs OF, age 29 (previous rank: 1)

It has been a tumultuous month for Tucker. After a horrendous summer, he caught fire in mid-August, with four homers and a 1.040 OPS from the 16th onward. Then, on Sept. 2, he went down with a calf issue and hasn’t played since. Whether Tucker returns in time for October and in what capacity has become one of the most important storylines for Chicago down the stretch. His availability shouldn’t have too large of an impact on his free agency; the lefty slugger is still in line for a historic deal. Still, Tucker’s relatively underwhelming campaign hasn’t moved his stock in either direction. A dominant 2025 might have pushed him above the $500 million mark, but that’s unlikely to happen now.

2. Alex Bregman (opt-out), Red Sox 3B, age 32 (2)

Besides a two-month stint on the injured list due to a quad problem, Bregman’s first year in Boston has gone wonderfully, as he has delivered his most productive offensive season in three years while playing stellar defense at the hot corner. The veteran third baseman has also been indispensable in the clubhouse, helping to shepherd a young Red Sox team through a topsy-turvy season. Bregman has two more years on his deal at $40 million a piece, but he’ll likely opt out and retest the market. A bevy of lower-body issues have stunted his speed and overall athleticism, but there’s conviction around the game that Bregman will always make the most of his abilities. He’d make any team better.

3. Kyle Schwarber, Phillies DH, age 33 (3)

By the time you’re reading this, another Schwar-bomb will probably have landed. As of Thursday, the Phillies’ designated hitter has 53 big flies to his name, a tally that only 23 other MLB hitters have ever reached in a single season. Along the way, Schwarber has endeared himself to Philadelphia and entrenched himself as a leader in the clubhouse. The consensus around baseball still points toward a reunion with the Phillies. But don’t forget about the Chicago Cubs, by whom Schwarber was drafted and with whom he won the 2016 World Series. If Tucker leaves town, the Cubs will need to make a splash this winter. Bringing Schwarber home would keep fan frustration at a minimum and add a huge boost of power to an offense that has tailed off in the second half.

4. Bo Bichette, Blue Jays SS, age 28 (7)

Bichette is nursing a sprained knee and hasn’t played since Sept. 6. Yet he’s still leading baseball in hits for a resurgent Toronto team. It has been a reassuring season at the plate for Bichette, whose offensive production completely cratered in 2024. His glove is borderline unplayable at shortstop, which will limit his market somewhat and eventually convince a team to push him to second or third. But this remains a special bat, one that would slot into the middle of any order. Willy Adames’ recent seven-year, $182 million contract feels like a reasonable target.

5. Pete Alonso (opt-out), Mets 1B, age 31 (4)

Alonso might have saved his team’s season from complete disaster last weekend, with a walk-off, three-run smash that snapped a brutal, eight-game skid for the Mets and kept New York ahead in the NL wild-card race. The franchise’s new all-time home run king has made meaningful changes to his already imposing offensive profile this season, but whether that step forward is enough to create a market that didn’t exist last season remains to be seen. Alonso is still a right-handed first baseman on the wrong side of 30. Some teams will be out just because of that. But it feels like he needs to be a Met forever, right?

6. Munetaka Murakami, Yakult Swallows 3B, age 26 (10)

Murakami missed almost the first four months of the NPB season due to an upper-body injury. And yet, remarkably, he ranks third in NPB with 19 home runs, despite having appeared in only 44 games. This outburst is exactly what scouts wanted to see from Murakami, who has outstanding raw juice but wasn’t showcasing it as much over the past two seasons. He comes with a plethora of questions — how will he adjust to big league pitching? Will he make enough contact to let the power play? Is the glove good enough to stick at third base? — but there aren’t many players this young with this much pop and a track record of success in the world’s second-best league. Murakami is about to be a big, big deal.

7. Framber Valdez, Astros SP, age 32 (5)

Valdez made news a few weeks back when he crossed up his catcher and showed absolutely zero remorse for doing so. The incident made waves across the game, and potential suitors will certainly inquire about it. Even more concerning is his recent performance. Long one of the more reliable starters in the sport, Valdez is scuffling through the worst eight-start stretch of his career (6.41 ERA since Aug. 3). That’s bad news for an Astros club clinging to a playoff spot, and it’s bad news for Valdez’s checkbook. He has been good enough for long enough that somebody will overlook this rough patch and pay the man, but Framber’s stock is a downward-pointing, red arrow.

8. Cody Bellinger (opt-out), Yankees OF, age 30 (8)

Entering this season, Bellinger’s first in the Bronx, it seemed unlikely that the bleary-eyed lefty would opt out of the final year of the three-year, $80 million contract he signed with Chicago entering 2024. Now, after a sensational 2025, that has become a near-lock. By wins above replacement, Bellinger has been the Yankee’s second-most valuable player behind Aaron Judge. Offensively, he’s closer to very good than elite, but Gold Glove defense at all three outfield spots pumps up his profile.

9. Dylan Cease, Padres SP, age 30 (6)

The gap between Cease’s expected and actual stats has reached SpongeBob’s-front-teeth levels of wide. Among qualified starting pitchers, only Tampa Bay’s Shane Baz has a larger difference between expected and actual ERA based upon batted-ball data. Thankfully, Cease’s stuff hasn’t backed up at all; he’s still racking up whiffs and punching out hitters at an elite rate. Sure, you’d like to see him post at a Cy Young level before you pay him Cy Young money, but the peripherals are strong enough to convince a rich, analytically inclined team to go for it.

10. Trent Grisham, Yankees OF, age 29 (9)

Hidden beneath Grisham’s inspiring offensive breakout are a few signs of defensive decline. Obviously, you’d take the dude with 31 taters and a .347 OBP over a strong-gloved strikeout machine. I’m not saying Grisham hasn’t supercharged his free-agent stock, but the defensive metrics are somewhat concerning. Grisham was never a burner, even when he ranked superbly in the grass, but his sprint speed has fallen down to the 30th percentile league-wide, making him the league’s slowest every-day center fielder. I think that will scare a few teams away and keep Grisham’s number under $100 million.

11. Ranger Suárez, Phillies SP, age 30 (16)

Suárez is a true throwback, a crafty lefty who relies on deception, guile and movement over raw fuzz. The southpaw’s heater ranks in the seventh percentile league-wide, yet he has the 12th-lowest ERA among starters with at least 140 innings. That’s because he conjures a ton of soft contact and rarely walks batters. On top of that, the Venezuelan has an abnormally calm demeanor that has helped him build quite the impressive postseason résumé. The stuff isn’t eye-popping — and it never will be — but Súarez is an out-getter.

12. Zac Gallen, D-backs SP, age 30 (24)

There he is! The real Zac Gallen finally stood up. The bespectacled righty was so underwhelming in the first half that the Diamondbacks opted to hang on to him at the trade deadline, believing that a recouped compensation pick would be more valuable than the prospects available. But since the deadline, no free-agent starting pitcher has made more money. Gallen still isn’t striking guys out — his 21.4% K rate is a career low — but the results have been light-years better. Because he isn’t overpowering, Gallen needs to rely on pinpoint command, and for whatever reason, that has come back with aplomb. I’m fascinated to see how teams value him.

13. Shane Bieber (opt-out), Blue Jays SP, age 32 (19)

The Biebs has made five starts for the Blue Jays after a deadline deal sent him from Cleveland’s IL to Toronto. Four of those outings have been strong, with the only stinker happening in Cincinnati, a brutal place to pitch. Bieber will probably start Game 2 of the ALDS for Toronto, giving him an opportunity to showcase his return on a big stage. It’ll be interesting to see how his market develops. There’s a chance teams are skittish to commit big years to a player who made only 10 starts this season coming off a long-term injury, especially because the fastball velocity isn’t all the way back yet. Still, it has been a good stretch for Bieber.

14. Edwin Díaz (opt-out), Mets RP, age 31 (NR)

There was so much money left on Díaz’s current contract — $18.5 million for the next two seasons, a huge number for a reliever — that I believed he wouldn’t opt out after this season. But from chatting with people around the game, it seems to have become a near certainty that Díaz will. The Mets will surely work hard to keep their closer in Queens, but they might need to craft a new contract to get it done. I’d be shocked if Díaz is pitching elsewhere next season, but he’s ranked this highly as the market’s most effective reliever.

15. Lucas Giolito (vesting team option), Red Sox SP, age 31 (18)
16. Brandon Woodruff (2026 mutual option), Brewers SP, age 33 (17)

Giolito’s contract has a vesting opt-out that activated when he reached 140 innings, which happened with his start Wednesday. That, in and of itself for a pitcher who missed all of last year due to Tommy John surgery, is a notable accomplishment. The peripheral numbers are less bullish on Giolito, but he has the third-lowest starter ERA in MLB since June 9, behind only Trevor Rogers (!!) and Paul Skenes. At this point in his career, Giolito is a solid mid-rotation starter who rarely misses time (besides the elbow surgery) and will get paid as such.

Woodruff, who also missed all of 2024, has shined since returning from the IL. His numbers are similarly strong, even though his fastball velocity is down about two ticks from pre-injury levels. That, plus his advanced age relative to Giolito and the other top arms on the market, has him a smidge lower on this list. But the under-the-hood numbers absolutely adore Woodruff, despite the drop in heat, which should make him a hot commodity this winter even with the concerning injury history (shoulders are much scarier than elbows).

17. Josh Naylor, Mariners 1B, age 29 (13)

According to Baseball Reference’s Stathead search, Naylor has broken the all-time single-season record for stolen bases by a player shorter than 6 feet and heavier than 225 pounds. Arbitrary? Yes, but the point is pure: No player shaped like this has ever swiped so many bags. No one knows how sustainable this bit is, but it’s certainly impactful. And the more important thing about Naylor is that he’s having basically the same offensive season he has had each of the past four years.

18. Gleyber Torres, Tigers 2B, age 29 (11)

Torres has tailed off since he led off for the American League in the All-Star Game, but the core of his profile remains unchanged: Gleyber doesn’t chase. Only two qualified hitters, Juan Soto and Trent Grisham, have lower swing rates on pitches outside the zone. That’s a strong base for any player and helps Torres overcome his brutal defensive numbers at the keystone. Given his age and track record of hitting, a club will absolutely offer him a multi-year deal.

19. Tatsuya Imai, Seibu Lions (NPB), age 28 (NR)

Murakami’s impending stateside jump has been expected for a while, but Imai’s dominant 2025 might motivate an MLB move as well. Listed at a slight 5-foot-11, 154 pounds, Imai has absolutely blown NPB hitters away this year, punching out 162 in 145 2/3 innings with a microscopic 1.67 ERA. Granted, Japanese baseball is experiencing something of a deadball era, but Imai’s talent is good enough for him to have success in The Show. He leans heavily on his fastball (94-95 mph) and slider (85-86ish) but has a changeup, a splitter, a sinker and a curveball as well. He’s not a free agent until next year, which means his team doesn’t have to make him available to teams this winter. But given his relatively sudden breakout, there’s a growing sense that the Lions, who would get a percentage cut of Imai’s MLB contract, want to capitalize on the opportunity to cash in.

20. J.T. Realmuto, Phillies C, age 35 (20)

Once the best catcher in baseball, the Oklahoman icon has had a relatively admirable aging curve. Realmuto has been a league-average hitter this season, which, alongside his strong catch-and-throw skills and veteran experience, makes him a very helpful player. He can’t lead an offense anymore, and the framing numbers have declined, but in a light class of catchers, Realmuto will find a market for a multi-year pact, probably to remain in Philly.

21. Eugenio Suárez, Mariners 3B, age 34 (14)
22. Luis Arraez, Padres 1B, age 29 (12)
23. Jorge Polanco, Mariners IF, age 32 (NR)

Geno was considered the most impactful bat available at the deadline, and while there’s still ample time for him to make a mark in Seattle, the veteran third baseman has been horrendous as a Mariner. He has cranked nine homers but managed just 15 other hits, leading to a rough .165/.240/.373 line in navy and teal. This is who Suárez has always been — a streaky slugger with strikeout problems — but he’s hitting the schneid at an unfortunate time.

Arraez’s contact-heavy schtick has real value when he’s hitting .315, less so when he’s hitting .287, as he is this year. He remains a phenomenally entertaining character, genuinely unique and a wonderful change of pace from the league’s modern, slug-happy style. It’s just that his blend of low juice and poor defense won’t earn him the type of contract old heads might expect.

We have enough of a sample on Polanco now to feel certain that he has become a meaningfully different hitter. He’s striking out significantly less and squaring up the ball significantly more. Coming off various injuries, Polanco was mostly DHing at the beginning of the season, but he has seen more time at second base recently. He’s not very good over there, but having any level of defensive value should help his free-agent case. Polanco is also, far and away, the top switch-hitter on the market, if you care about such things.

24. Michael King (2026 mutual option), Padres SP, age 31 (15)

I’m officially worried about King. He was brilliant in April but then missed nearly three months due to a nerve issue. He came back in August but lasted just two innings before hitting the shelf because of a knee injury. King returned again on Sept. 9, with a decent outing against the Reds, but delivered a stinker this week against the Mets. San Diego is light on starting pitching, which means King should get a playoff start barring another injury. But he still needs to prove that he’s healthy for a team to go all-in. I wouldn’t be shocked by a short-term, high-value deal with opt-outs.

25. Jack Flaherty (opt-out), Tigers SP, age 29 (23)

Flaherty probably still opts out, right? He’s relatively young, which should help him, but he flat-out hasn’t been very good this season. Every smart team will think they can fix him, but it’s not like the Tigers are a bunch of dunderheads when it comes to pitching development. Flaherty remains a supremely frustrating character, one who flashes brilliance but lacks consistency.

The next 25

26. Harrison Bader, Phillies OF, age 32

27. Ryan O’Hearn, Padres 1B/DH, age 32

28. Max Kepler, Phillies OF, age 33

29. Devin Williams, Yankees RP, age 31

30. Robert Suárez, Padres RP, age 35

31. Luke Weaver, Yankees RP, age 32

32. Merrill Kelly, Rangers SP, age 37

33. Chris Bassitt, Blue Jays SP, age 37

34. Zack Littell, Reds SP, age 30

35. Cedric Mullins, Mets CF, age 31

36. Willi Castro, Cubs UTIL, age 29

37. Mike Yastrzemski, Royals OF, age 35

38. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers SP, age 38

39. Jose Quintana, Brewers SP, age 37

40. Max Scherzer, Blue Jays SP, age 41

41. Justin Verlander, Giants SP, age 42

42. Germán Marquez, Rockies SP, age 31

43. Tyler Mahle, Rangers SP, age 31

44. Zach Eflin, Orioles SP, age 31

45. Griffin Canning, Mets SP, age 30

46. Rhys Hoskins, Brewers 1B, age 33

47. Ryan Helsley, Mets RP, age 30

48. Marcell Ozuna, Braves DH, age 35

49. Paul Goldschmidt, Yankees 1B, age 38

50. Walker Buehler, Phillies SP, age 31

2025 season: Eliminated Sept. 17

With Baltimore eliminated from the 2025 postseason, let’s take a look at the season that was for the Orioles, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for next year.

Read more: MLB offseason previews 2025: What’s next for the White Sox, Pirates, Twins and more?

Things that went right

You have to squint to find things that went right for the 2025 Orioles, who were arguably the most disappointing team in baseball. After five straight losing seasons from 2017 to ‘21, Baltimore’s deep rebuild was supposed to yield a long-term contender. Instead, the 2025 Orioles followed three straight winning seasons and two consecutive postseason appearances by being the worst team in the AL East.

A pair of veterans, Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano, exceeded expectations and gave the organization valuable trade chips at the deadline. And after a slow start in April, Gunnar Henderson was solid from May through the end of the season, albeit without the power skills that helped him finish fourth in 2024 AL MVP voting.

On the mound, Félix Bautista made a successful return from Tommy John surgery and reestablished himself as a reliable closer, but he missed most of the second half due to a shoulder strain. Finally, Trevor Rogers became a major bright spot in an otherwise disappointing rotation. He leads the majors with a 1.53 ERA since his return to the big leagues on June 18.

Things that went wrong

The Orioles started slowly and were unable to climb out of the basement. They were 15 games below .500 at the end of May and were never able to put together the kind of winning streak necessary to get out of that hole.

The pitching staff was not only the biggest problem but also an issue most observers saw coming. The organization did little last winter to account for the loss of Corbin Burnes in free agency, and to make matters worse, the team’s top remaining starter, Grayson Rodriguez, couldn’t get past an elbow injury. The likes of Dean Kremer, Zach Eflin, Tomoyuki Sugano and Charlie Morton all had brutal stretches at one point or another this season. And the bullpen was only marginally better, as it spent most of the season ranked among the bottom 10 in ERA.

There were nearly as many disappointments at the plate as there were on the mound. Adley Rutschman was the highest profile letdown. He was supposed to rebound from a poor second half in 2024 and return to being one of the best young catchers in baseball. Instead, Rutschman regressed further, a huge problem when factoring in that he usually hit second in the lineup. Ascending youngsters Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser both missed a significant portion of the first half due to injuries, free-agent signee Tyler O’Neill was a massive bust, and Ryan Mountcastle’s contributions were virtually nonexistent. Former prospects such as Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo did not take the next step, and with that, a lineup that was supposed to be among the best in baseball was full of holes from top to bottom.

[Get more Baltimore news: Orioles team feed]

Offseason outlook

The Orioles are set at most infield spots, assuming they can count on some key players to improve. Rutschman is the biggest wild card, as he could be anything from one of baseball’s most productive catchers to an afterthought who hits low in the lineup. Jackson Holliday is locked in at second base, though he didn’t reach base often enough when given the leadoff spot and likely belongs in the bottom half of the lineup until he improves. Henderson is set at shortstop, and Westburg will handle third base. Ideally, they’ll be the two best hitters on the team. Mayo received opportunities at first base after the trade deadline and could battle Mountcastle in spring training for a regular role. Top prospect Samuel Basallodebuted down the stretch and could spend 2026 rotating among catcher, first base and DH.

The outfield is in rough shape. Corner infielders Cowser and O’Neill will try to bounce back from inconsistent, injury-impacted seasons. Cowser is the better bet there, as O’Neill has a long track record of enigmatic campaigns. Cowser also benefits from being able to play center field. Dylan Carlson played more often after Cedric Mullins was traded at the deadline, but he hasn’t shown enough to be considered for anything more than a backup role. The same can be said of Kjerstad, who once again looked overmatched when given opportunities. Prospects Dylan Beavers and Jeremiah Jackson showed enough down the stretch to receive strong consideration for the Opening Day lineup.

The Orioles figure to lose some rotation members to free agency (Eflin, Sugano), which might not be a bad thing. Rogers will be counted on to continue the upward trajectory he started this summer. The hope is that Rodriguez will be fully recovered from his elbow woes by the start of spring training. The team will also hope for a full season from Kyle Bradish, who logged a 2.83 ERA across 30 starts in 2023 before undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer. Bradish fared well when he returned down the stretch this season, which raised optimism for 2026. Kremer should fit well as the fourth or fifth starter. Former prospect Cade Povich has struggled thus far in the majors, but he’s still just 25 years old and will get more opportunities. Overall, this group could really use at least one more dependable member.

Bautista will be back to anchor the bullpen, and he will hopefully enjoy better health next year. But once we look past Bautista, things get ugly in a hurry. Keegan Akin and Yennier Cano have had success in the past but didn’t fare well this year. The rest of the relievers will be doing well just to make the team.

Prospects on the horizon

The Orioles used to have one of baseball’s richest farm systems but now boast just one elite prospect, Basallo. The 21-year-old can play catcher or first base, and he was one of the best hitters in Triple-A this year, prior to his call-up. Basallo could spend all of 2026 in the majors, sliding among catcher, first base and designated hitter. He’s the middle-of-the-order thumper this lineup needs.

The outfield could get some help from Beavers and Enrique Bradfield Jr. After a stellar season in Triple-A, Beavers debuted in August. He could be the answer in center but profiles more as a corner outfielder. Bradfield, who was a first-round draft pick in 2023, is more of a pure center fielder. Unfortunately, he has yet to reach Triple-A, which means his possible contributions in Baltimore are more likely to come in the second half of 2026.

There are a few pitchers in the organization who could debut in 2026, such as Michael Forret, Braxton Bragg and Juaron Watts-Brown. However, they’re long shots to immediately make an impact.

Goals for 2026

The front office needs to turn this team around in a hurry. Orioles fans suffered through several losing seasons in order to build a sustainable contender. The team was supposed to have one of the deepest pools of young hitters in baseball, yet through a combination of poor trades and a lack of development, they now have an average offense at best. This is hardly the outcome David Rubenstein expected when he bought the team in 2024.

And the pitching staff needs major repairs. The Orioles should be significant players in the free-agent market, adding at least one starter and a couple of reliable relievers. There’s also a need in center field, and in the big picture, the organization needs to decide if Mayo and Kjerstad are ready for larger roles. There’s a chance that they have been surpassed by the likes of Basallo and Beavers.

Fantasy focus

Despite the lack of 2025 success, there will be plenty of interest in Baltimore players in 2026 drafts. Henderson will be a second-round pick in most drafts, and some of his lineup mates, including Westburg, Rutschman and Holliday, will be selected in the middle rounds. Basallo could also be a middle-round pick, depending on his projected playing time.

Bautista is the only current member of the pitching staff who will warrant a significant draft investment. He should be tabbed in the range of the 10th closer off the board. Rodriguez profiles as the ideal late-round pick, as he has massive upside if he is finally past his injury woes.

2025 season: Eliminated Sept. 17

With the Athletics eliminated from the 2025 postseason, let’s take a look at the season that was for the A’s, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook for next year.

Read more: MLB offseason previews 2025: What’s next for the White Sox, Pirates, Twins and more?

Things that went right

While some improvements can be attributed to their relocation to a hitter-friendly home park, the 2025 Athletics nonetheless achieved the foundation of an offense that could be productive for years to come. As of Sept. 18, the team ranked among the top 10 clubs in home runs and sat near the middle of the pack in runs scored. That’s a big improvement for a team that finished 26th in runs scored a year ago.

Nick Kurtz opened the season as the organization’s top prospect and will likely finish as the AL Rookie of the Year and the centerpiece of the Athletics’ lineup. The slugger needed time to get acclimated, as he hit .208 with one homer in his initial 23 games. Then he became dominant in late May and stayed that way for the rest of the summer, which included one of the most memorable single-game performances in MLB history.

Kurtz wasn’t the only A’s rookie to make a major impact. After getting his feet wet last season, Jacob Wilson spent 2025 ranked among the sport’s batting average leaders, and he emerged as a lineup sparkplug who rarely strikes out and has a little more pop than some expected. His campaign was interrupted in late July by a fractured forearm, but by that point Wilson had already established his significant upside.

Some established players also keyed the A’s offensive success. Brent Rooker continued to be one of the most consistent sluggers in baseball and is on pace to hit 30 homers for a third straight season. Tyler Soderstrom rode a memorable start to the season (nine homers by the end of April) to become a fixture in the heart of the lineup. Shea Langeliers missed most of June due to an oblique injury but otherwise continued to establish himself as one of the most impactful catchers in the American League, with a memorable performance on Aug. 5.

Things that went wrong

This team ranked near the bottom of the majors in ERA throughout the season, and the blame can be equally shared between the rotation and bullpen. It would be easy but inaccurate to blame the hitter-friendly nature of Sutter Health Park, as the staff was also ineffective on the road.

Jeffrey Springs was easily the most reliable member of the rotation, and 27-year-old Jacob Lopez had plenty of effective starts in his first extended major-league trial. Veterans Luis Severino and JP Sears were disappointing, and emerging starters such as Osvaldo Bido, Mitch Spence and Gunnar Hoglund did nothing to stop the bleeding. Sears was traded to San Diego at the deadline.

The bullpen wasn’t any better than the rotation. Mason Miller was an effective closer until he was dealt at the trade deadline, but he was slightly less effective than in 2024. And the setup crew was particularly inconsistent.

The pitching staff wasn’t helped by the Athletics’ defense, which was among the worst in baseball. Of course, the fielders were under constant pressure, thanks to the pitching staff’s inability to retire hitters, but it’s still concerning that a team with so many 20-somethings couldn’t fare better in the field.

[Get more Athletics news: A’s team feed]

Offseason outlook

Going forward, the Athletics have some great assets and some glaring holes around the infield. Langeliers has them covered behind the plate, Kurtz is a budding star at first base, and Wilson is secure as the shortstop. Max Muncy could be the solution at second base or the hot corner, but his offensive contributions were very inconsistent this year. And while the Athletics have a deep farm system, most of their top prospects are pitchers or outfielders.

Two-thirds of the outfield is set, with Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler. Soderstrom will play left field, and Butler will play center or right, depending on who wins the final spot. That job could be handled by Denzel Clarke, who provided dazzling center-field defense but wasn’t much of a hitter in his debut season. JJ Bleday is another option. He was expected to be a lineup centerpiece after going deep 20 times last year but instead got off to a slow start to ‘25 and wound up spending time in the minors. No matter who plays in the outfield, the DH spot is spoken for by Rooker.

There are plenty of options in the rotation, even though they’re less exciting than the ones in the lineup. Springs and Lopez will certainly have starting roles. Severino should as well, but he was at times vocal about his frustrations with the Athletics’ home park and surely wouldn’t mind being traded this winter. The rest of the rotation spots will be contested by many youngsters, including J.T. Ginn, Hoglund, Bido, Spence and Jack Perkins. Although it’s unlikely that the A’s pitching will be a strength next year, there is a scenario in which a couple of young hurlers take steps forward and it’s no longer a weakness.

There are no sure things for the 2026 bullpen. That said, the organization has so many young pitchers that a handful of arms who are unsuccessful in making the rotation could join the relief corps. Hurlers such as Bido and Spence could wind up pitching in relief, and the team’s deep prospect pool has several pitchers who are projected to debut next season. Justin Sterner deserves mention as someone who is wrapping up a successful season and was especially effective down the stretch.

Prospects on the horizon

The prospect pool got a major shot in the arm when Leodalis De Vries was acquired from the Padres at the trade deadline. The 18-year-old shortstop will not debut in 2026, but he projects as a future star and is currently ranked as the No. 3 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline.

The other big summer addition was Jamie Arnold, who was the 11th pick of the 2025 MLB Draft but was ranked much higher than that in most prospect evaluations. A lefty who has a unique delivery with a lower arm slot, Arnold will be 22 years old on Opening Day and could rise through the minors in a hurry.

The organization also has several pitching prospects who either enjoyed brief debuts this season or are on the verge of reaching the majors. Perkins has already impacted the rotation and bullpen, as has Luis Morales. Braden Nett and Henry Baez figure to debut in 2026 after arriving from San Diego in the Mason Miller trade.

Outfield help is also on the way in the forms of Colby Thomas and Henry Bolte. Thomas already debuted in the majors after showing a diverse offensive skill set during his minor-league career. Bolte is a speedster with surprising pop who knows how to get on base.

Goals for 2026

The 2025 Athletics mostly tread water. Sure, they fell from fourth to fifth in the AL West, but their winning percentage will end up being similar to last year. Considering the tumultuous conditions of their departure from Oakland and playing their home games in a minor-league park, treading water while finding a handful of long-term lineup staples can be considered a success for the organization.

To move up in the standings next season, the Athletics need to find some solutions to their pitching woes. To be clear, one skilled hurler won’t be enough. This team needs several of its young arms to emerge as reliable, whether in the rotation or bullpen. Assuming some progress on that front, returning to the 75-win plateau for the first time since 2021 feels like an attainable goal for the 2026 A’s.

Fantasy focus

Although the Athletics are still far from contention, they have plenty of hitters who will excite fantasy managers in 2026 drafts. Kurtz already has 40-homer potential, and he could be drafted as early as the second round. Rooker should hear his name called in the range of Round 5. Wilson and Soderstrom will be popular selections in the middle rounds of drafts, and Butler will fall in the same range for managers who are willing to bet on a bounce-back season.