#roster-construction

#roster-construction

The Tigers hired Scott Harris as president of baseball operations in September of 2022. The team was in a rut at that point, having not made the playoffs since 2014. They finally pulled out of rebuilding mode by making the playoffs in 2024 and 2025.

Christian Parker may be the coach who changes the narrative. When I went back and looked at Parker's coaching history, from the Green Bay Packers (2019-2020) to the Denver Broncos (2021-2023) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2024-2025), I don't just see the schemes. The thing that stood out to me the most was the types of players these defenses deployed throughout the front seven. I see a consistent blueprint that could shape the Dallas Cowboys defense in 2026.

I have conflicted feelings on these comments. A guy like Chris Bassitt would have made this roster better on paper. That's not really something disputed. I think there is an argument if you think that Bryce Elder and/or Joey Wentz are 1-1.5 fWAR/162 starting pitchers, then adding a 2-2.5 fWAR/162 starter for just under $20 million isn't good return on investment and doesn't substantially improve depth when it results on the likely loss of a guy like Elder from the roster entirely.

For fans, the 2026 season was pronounced over on Dec. 12, when Pete Alonso signed a five-year, $160 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles. For David Stearns, the winter was just beginning. Stearns, to the dismay of many fans, built a competitive roster that balanced talent and a positive work ethic. But still, questions remain. With a team as fresh as it is on paper, fans may have a plethora of questions to ask

It's crunch time in Major League Baseball, the last days before the start of spring training for teams to make additions to their rosters. While there are still some interesting free agents left on the market -- most notably starting pitchers Zac Gallen, Chris Bassitt and Justin Verlander -- the recent three-team deal involving the Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays showed that trades might still be in the works,

At 1:46 PM on Tuesday, February 4th, the entire direction of the Wizards' franchise changed. Washington made the move to acquire future NBA Hall-of Famer Anthony Davis, a deal that came out of nowhere in the NBA world. There has been little to no connection between the Wizards and Davis in recent weeks, with Washington largely expected to make smaller moves at the deadline.

New general manager Ian Cunningham is stepping into a less-than-ideal situation in Atlanta. On one hand, he has some terrific pieces on both sides of the ball, a reasonable amount of cap space, and a fanbase that knows that 2026 is not a year where we're going to place outsized expectations after eight straight losing seasons. On the other hand, it's a roster with a ton of holes, some very expensive commitments, and a thorny quarterback situation.

They continue to be road warriors as they are 14-7-4 on the road but just 11-7-7 at home. One of the reasons for their success this season is deeper scoring. While they are not an elite offense, they have received more contributions throughout the lineup than they did last season. Forwards Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazzeau have provided that secondary scoring, adding a combined 60 points and both have been a breath of fresh air.

They're in the Super Bowl because they made every right move in constructing their roster. And the Commanders should take notes. The Seahawks have been led primarily by their defense, which leads the league in fewest points allowed. This is despite a unit that lacks big-name superstars or high-profile draft picks, aside from cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Mainly, it's been elite scheming by Macdonald and the youth of Seattle's roster, allowing them to fly around the field.

After spending 12 of his 18 Major League seasons with the Pirates, Andrew McCutchen said back in August that he wanted to return for another season in the black-and-gold, while acknowledging that his shortcomings during the 2025 season. " I have to do what I need to do to...show that I was able to have a good year and still can play the following year," McCutchen said, noting that he didn't want to be just " filling in a spot " and not contributing.

The Cubs made a major splash over the weekend by landing star third baseman Alex Bregman on a five-year deal. As a multi-time All-Star who reliably offers Gold Glove defense at third base and posts offense in the 125 wRC+ range, Bregman is sure to provide a major lift to the club headed into 2026. Strong as the signing is for the team, however, it also creates questions about the future of some of their other players.

According to NBA insider Zach Lowe, there have been teams calling the Heat about Bam's availability via trade. The response has been a resounding "no" from Miami. Even though the Heat continues to have an uneven first half of the season, it does suggest that the team still feels Bam is a huge part of what they're building for the future.