The Baltimore Orioles will be different in 2026, and not just because of roster additions that already include Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward, with more almost certain to follow. They’ve hired a new manager (Craig Albernaz), replaced a few coaches, and done some reshuffling at the executive level. In a sport where remaining stagnant can be deleterious, the O’s are moving forward on the heels of a disappointing 2025 season.

A precipitous dip in the win column — 91 in 2024, just 75 last year — accentuated the need for changes, but that isn’t the only reason. According to Mike Elias, progress is an ongoing endeavor.

“We’re constantly evolving, having to respond to other teams’ getting better in areas,” Baltimore’s president of baseball operations told me during last month’s GM Meetings. “We make changes every year. We’re actually undergoing quite an overhaul at the major league level right now with our staff. We’ve done some reformatting in the front office, although certainly not to the degree we did when we came in.”

Things changed markedly after Elias arrived in November 2018 and began rebuilding the organization. Analytics — an area in which the Orioles had been well behind the times —- was of course a major focus. But while giant strides have been made, there is no finish line to reach. Moreover, an old Satchel Paige adage applies: “Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.” Read the rest of this entry »

ORLANDO — Congratulations, everybody. We made it. It’s now Thursday, and the Winter Meetings have officially concluded. It’s time to reflect on the state of effort in Major League Baseball, and I am pleased to report that it is strong. At this time last year, we had seen 22 We Trieds (though a few more would be added retroactively due to a rule clarification). As of now, we’re sitting at 24, so let’s take a moment to congratulate all the agents, the anonymous sources, and the reporters who took us this far. As always, I invite you to peruse this vast bounty on the official We Tried Tracker.

Before we break down the last couple days, I should start with an important update on the most recent entry of this series. When news broke that the Giants asked for Tatsuya Imai’s medicals even though they didn’t plan on pursuing him, I gave it an intentionally cumbersome moniker: We’re Not Even Going To Try, So Don’t Bother Getting Your Hopes Up. This was a classic defense mechanism. I went with the big, long name to deflect from the fact that I couldn’t come up with a clever, pithy one. But the right name came to me this week. In the future, such a move will be known as a Pre-Tried. I have spoken.

Since that last update, Bob Nightengale took a new angle on this exercise, packaging the news that the Reds “were hoping to sign” Devin Williams with the news that they had actually re-signed Emilio Pagán. It’s a brilliant maneuver. You sign a lesser player while also announcing that you were also thinking even bigger. We Trieds are all about partial credit, but here are the Reds, breaking out the razzle dazzle and running an end-around in a bid for double credit!

This strategy is also something of a double-edged sword, though. Some fans might give the Reds the double credit they want, but it’s also easy to take the information in the other direction. The Reds held onto a good reliever, Reds fans! Let’s celebrate! Oh, also, they only got him because they tried and failed to get an even better reliever? Do you still want to celebrate? Try pulling that move with a child. Take them to an ice cream shop and get them a kid’s cone. Once they’ve given it a big lick and smiled their adorable little smile, lean over and say, “You know, I was hoping to get you a giant ice cream sundae, but you’ll have to settle for this little one because the New York Mets ordered it first.” Read the rest of this entry »

The following article is part of Jay Jaffe’s ongoing look at the candidates on the BBWAA 2026 Hall of Fame ballot. For a detailed introduction to this year’s ballot, and other candidates in the series, use the tool above; an introduction to JAWS can be found here. For a tentative schedule, and a chance to fill out a Hall of Fame ballot for our crowdsourcing project, see here. All WAR figures refer to the Baseball Reference version unless otherwise indicated.

Because of his size — officially 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds, but by his own admission, a couple inches shorter — Dustin Pedroia was consistently underestimated. Though he took to baseball as a toddler and excelled all the way through high school and at Arizona State University, scouts viewed him as having below-average tools because of his stature. He barely grazed prospect lists before reaching the majors, but once he settled in, he quickly excelled. He won American League Rookie of the Year honors while helping the Red Sox win the 2007 World Series, then took home the MVP award the next year, when he was just 24.

Over the course of his 14-year career, Pedroia played a pivotal role in helping the Red Sox win one more World Series, made four All-Star teams, and banked four Gold Gloves. Understandably, he became a fan favorite, not only for his stellar play but because of the way he carried himself, radiating self-confidence to the point of cockiness, and always quick with a quip. “Pedie never shuts up, man,” Manny Ramirez told ESPN Magazine’s Jeff Bradley for a 2008 piece called “170 Pounds of Mouth.” Continued Ramirez, “He’s a little crazy. But that’s why we love him. He talks big and makes us all laugh.” Read the rest of this entry »

The following article is part of Jay Jaffe’s ongoing look at the candidates on the BBWAA 2026 Hall of Fame ballot. For a detailed introduction to this year’s ballot, and other candidates in the series, use the tool above; an introduction to JAWS can be found here. For a tentative schedule and a chance to fill out a Hall of Fame ballot for our crowdsourcing project, see here. All WAR figures refer to the Baseball-Reference version unless otherwise indicated.

For the past several election cycles, as a means of completing my coverage of the major candidates before the December 31 voting deadline, I’ve grouped together some candidates into a single overview, inviting readers wishing to (re)familiarize themselves with the specifics of their cases to check out older profiles that don’t require a full re-working because very little has changed, even with regards to their voting shares. Today, I offer the first such batch for this cycle, a pair of elite hitters who would already be enshrined if not for their links to performance-enhancing drugs: Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez. Read the rest of this entry »

The Red Sox and Pirates made a roster-balancing deal Thursday night as a prologue to Winter Meetings, with a five-player swap headlined by outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia (who heads to Pittsburgh) and pitchers Johan Oviedo and Tyler Samaniego (who head to Boston). Here’s the complete trade:

Pittsburgh receives:
OF Jhostynxon Garcia
RHP Jesus Travieso

Boston receives:
RHP Johan Oviedo
LHP Tyler Samaniego
C Adonys Guzman Read the rest of this entry »

A lot has happened since we launched the 2026 version of the We Tried tracker a few weeks ago. With the Winter Meetings about to kick off, we’ve seen 14 We Trieds from 10 different teams concerning eight different free agents. (As always, you can keep track of them all at this link.) That may sound like a lot this early in free agency, but it’s worth noting that 10 of our Top 50 free agents are already off the board (though three of those players accepted the qualifying offer, which means nobody had the chance to try). I suspect we’re a bit behind last year’s pace. Hopefully more news about teams’ pursuits will leak out in the coming months. The big number we’re shooting for here is 100: Last year, the offseason closed with 99 We Trieds. Let’s make it to triple digits!

More will certainly come. Raisel Iglesias is currently leading the pack with four We Trieds, but don’t be surprised if Ryan Helsley overtakes him. Multiple reports said that fully half the teams in the league were interested in Helsley, but we only have two actual We Trieds so far, and one came from Helsley himself. Helsley told reporters that the Tigers were particularly interested in signing him as a starting pitcher, which isn’t a surprise, but his phrasing was particularly fun. He said the Tigers were “in on me heavy.” Honestly, I don’t have any jokes here. It’s just a slightly odd grammatical construction that I will probably think about twice a day for the next few years of my life. Before this week, you could be in on something. You could maybe even be heavily in on it. But now you can be in on it…heavy. Sometimes language evolves just like lifeforms, one mutation at a time. Read the rest of this entry »

2026 Baseball Operations Summer Intern

POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Baseball Operations Internship program offers hands-on experience across the operations domain. Interns will contribute to both daily functions and longer-term growth of the department. The program will look to enhance candidate expertise and help build strong foundations across the broader baseball operations infrastructure. Interns will support a wide variety of day-to-day processes and projects within the operations domain.

These processes may include supporting the baseball operations chief of staff and leadership, baseball strategy, baseball initiatives, and both major and minor league operations. This role is designed to build a strong baseball operations foundation, combining curriculum and project-based education, day-to-day project and task execution, and exposure to decision-making processes at the highest level of the game. Prior baseball experience is not mandatory for success in this role.

TIMELINE AND LOGISTICS:
Applications must be submitted by December 16th, 2025 to ensure consideration. This is a Summer Internship program running from late May to early August+, pending candidate availability. The hourly rate for this position is $20.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist with day-to-day baseball operations, including helping with administrative duties, strategic initiatives, content development, logistical management, and research. 
• Prepare and maintain information and materials for key front office decision making and operation. 
• Support content generation for leadership decision making and communication.  
• Provide strategic and logistical support for important baseball events such as the MLB Draft and Trade Deadline. 
• Operate and train critical player tracking and player development technology. 
• Conduct market research relevant to emerging projects for baseball strategy and initiatives groups. 
• Creatively pursue ways to improve operations processes and generate ideas for future team projects. 
• Develop core baseball operations competencies through hands-on experience, education, and mentorship. 

COMPETENCIES DEVELOPED:

• Analytical Thinking: Develop a strong knowledge of modern baseball metrics, development practices, and evaluation skills. 
• Communication & Teamwork: Work effectively across groups, presenting information clearly to varied constituents and collaborating in a fast-paced environment. 
• Task Prioritization & Execution: Proactively manage multiple tasks under pressure with high attention to detail, balancing project urgency and impact.   
• Innovation & Adaptability: Develop proficiency with cutting-edge technology within and outside of baseball, while contributing ideas for process improvement and optimization.  
• Growth Mindset: Show humility, curiosity, and commitment to continuous personal and professional development. 

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Willing to work nights, weekends, and holidays. 
• Ability to multitask in stressful situations. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. 
• Experience with SQL, R, Python is a plus but not required. 
• Fluency in Spanish is a plus but not required. 
• Current undergrad or graduate students entering their final year of studies is preferred, but open to all applicants. 
• Prior baseball or sport experience is not required. 

OUR CULTURE
All Baseball Operations staff are expected to excel across universal competencies related to problem solving, teamwork, communication, and time management, as well as values such as honesty, humility, relentlessness, and a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

This internship is designed as a pathway for motivated individuals to grow skills in preparation for future roles in Baseball Operations. Interns will complete the program with meaningful real-world experience, professional mentorship, tailored education from curriculum and project-based learning opportunities, and the opportunity to contribute directly to the success of the Boston Red Sox.

At the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Sports Management, we go beyond embracing diversity. We’re committed to living by our values, strengthening our community, and creating a workplace where people genuinely feel like they belong.

Too often, job seekers don’t apply to positions because they don’t meet every qualification. If you love this role and are great at what you do, we encourage you to apply. Your unique skills and experiences might just be what we’ve been looking for.

Prospective employees will receive consideration without discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, sex, age, national origin, handicap, disability, military/veteran status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or protected genetic information.

To Apply
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Boston Red Sox.

When the Red Sox traded for Sonny Gray, they knew they were getting an old-school starter with seven pitches. He’s got a sinker and a four-seamer. He’s got a cutter, a traditional slider, and a sweeper. He’s got a curveball and a changeup. The traditional slider is the only one of the seven that Gray doesn’t throw regularly; the others all saw at least 15% usage against righties or lefties in 2025. Gray is 36 years old. He’s a three-time All-Star with 330 starts and 125 wins under his belt, and a career ERA of 3.58. At this point, you might assume that he’s about as finished a product as you could find, but you’d be wrong, and that seems to be part of the reason he’ll be pitching in Boston next year.

In 2024, the Red Sox made waves for throwing fastballs just 36.6% of the time, the lowest mark ever recorded and almost certainly the lowest mark of all time. That number went up in 2025, in large part because they added Garrett Crochet, who owned a brand-new sinker to go with a four-seamer that was one of the very best pitches in baseball 2024. But it wasn’t just Crochet. Brayan Bello brought back the four-seamer he’d ditched in 2024. A finally-healthy Lucas Giolito threw four-seamers at his highest rate since 2020. With Aroldis Chapman replacing Kenley Jansen, the closer role saw fastballs replace cutters. In all, the Red Sox finished the season with a fastball rate of 48.3%, the 11th-highest in the league. That’s quite a bounce-back. The Red Sox were very explicitly trying to get away from fastballs, but as the 2025 season showed us, the broader goal was to have their pitchers throw their best pitches more often.

That brings us to Gray, who throws the kitchen sink but still throws fastballs 40% of the time. In 2025, he led with his four-seamer against lefties and his sinker against righties, throwing both pitches 29% of the time in those situations. Shortly after the trade went through, Boston’s chief baseball officer Craig Breslow discussed it with reporters. MLB.com’s Ian Brown published a quote: “It will be a great match for Bails [pitching coach Andrew Bailey] and the rest of the pitching group and the philosophies they have in terms of leaning into strength and potentially away from slug and pitching away from fastballs when you have secondaries as your best pitch.” Read the rest of this entry »

This past Sunday’s Notes column led with a look at Sonny Gray, so my joining in on his introductory Zoom session with the Boston media on Tuesday was mostly a matter of practicality. There are always things to learn — typically pieces of information that are useful down the road — when a trade acquisition takes questions from reporters. I wasn’t expecting to feature the veteran right-hander any time soon.

But then I asked Gray a question, and not only did he answer it thoughtfully, his response was meaty. The newest member of the Red Sox starting rotation spoke, uninterrupted, for a full five minutes. What he said is well worth sharing.

Here is what I asked, and — lightly edited for clarity — Gray’s expansive reply.

In April 2023, we talked about how you’ve evolved as a pitcher. Do you think you’ve settled in to who you’ll be going forward, or do you foresee any changes with your repertoire or usage?

Gray: “I hope there are changes, to be honest with you. If you’re not constantly changing, and you’re not consciously adapting, then I think that you’re going to be stagnant. Right? 2023 was a good jump for me. I added a few things. I changed a few things. But I kept the core of me together. I kept who I am.

“I spin the ball. I spin the ball better than anyone in baseball. That’s a fact. I still have enough velo to allow that to play. That’s a fact. I can take my fastball and go both ways with it, just as good as anyone. I still get my strikeouts. Read the rest of this entry »

The Boston Red Sox made a pre-Thanksgiving trade on Tuesday, acquiring Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for 25-year-old right-hander Richard Fitts and hard-throwing prospect Brandon Clarke. How well the deal works out for Craig Breslow’s club is anyone’s guess — my colleague Michael Baumann wrote that he couldn’t “declare this trade to be a robbery in either direction” — but the 36-year-old righty does have a track record of reliability. Gray has graced a big-league mound 92 times over the past three seasons, gobbling up 531 innings and posting a 3.63 ERA as well as a 3.11 FIP. If he can continue to fend off Father Time a while longer, the erstwhile Vanderbilt Commodore will add value to the Red Sox starting rotation.

A Vandy product Boston brought on board as a free agent last winter came to mind when the trade was announced. That would be Walker Buehler, who despite high hopes ultimately proved to be a bust. Unable to return to old form, the veteran righty struggled to a 5.45 ERA over 112-and-a-third innings and was cut loose by the Red Sox in late August.

There are clear differences between the two pitchers — their respective health histories particularly stand out — but they nonetheless have things in common. One is a diverse repertoire. Another is a lack of high-octane heaters.

Buehler was in the 43rd percentile for fastball velocity in 2025, while Gray was in just the 16th percentile. As Baumann pointed out, the latter “has started leaking fastball velocity… [but has] compensated by leaning into a cutter and changeup, making him a legit six-pitch pitcher since 2023.” Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Buehler leaned heavily on a six-pitch mix while compensating for the velocity he lost following Tommy John surgery in 2022. Read the rest of this entry »