Cade Smith gets 41st save vs. Red Sox Thursday

Seems like the Cardinals are really dropping the ball here. Brown was hired following a 2024 season in which the Cardinals ranked 22nd in MLB in scoring. They climbed to 19th in 2025 and 17th this year despite shedding personnel, as Jordan Walker busted out and Alec Burleson and Iván Herrera continued their steadier climbs. On the other hand, guys like Nolan Gorman, Masyn Winn and Victor Scott II have regressed. Aside from Brown, the rest of the Cardinals’ coaching staff is expected to remain intact, though that could change if bench coach Daniel Descalso gets interviews for managerial openings.

Marsh had a 4.96 ERA in 33 starts and 10 relief appearances for the Royals in 2023 and ’24 before missing the last two years with shoulder issues that resulted in labrum surgery in Oct. 2025. While the idea at the time of the surgery was that he’d be ready for 2027, there were absolutely no updates on his recovery over the course of the year. The Royals will probably look to re-sign him to a minor league deal if he’s healthy.

As per usual, Kansas City is the first organization to start its offseason roster purge. Seabold and McGee have already opted for free agency, and Lange will soon become a free agent, too. Lange picked up 10 saves for the Royals between June and July, but he was never very effective at any point, and he ended the year with a 6.75 ERA and a 60/33 K/BB in 60 innings. He’ll likely have to take a minor league deal this winter.

That’s a rare pitching performance in the AFL, especially coming from a 20-year-old. McKenzie was the Braves’ fourth-round pick in 2025, though it took first-round money to lure him away from LSU. He has a 5.79 ERA in four starts in Arizona after posting a 2.08 ERA in 26 innings over seven starts in the minors this year. He probably won’t be a factor in the majors in 2027, but his is definitely a name to know.

Peck, who finished out this year as the Tigers’ primary shortstop, was off to a horrid start in Arizona, going 2-for-35 until busting out yesterday. He’s due some Triple-A time at the start of next year, but he should eventually fit back in with the Tigers as at least a utilityman.

McCoy is hitting .256/.348/.641 with four homers in 11 games. The 24-year-old, who went undrafted out of Hofstra in 2024, finished the regular season at .278/.355/.467 with 19 homers between High-A and Double-A. A corner outfielder and first baseman, he faces an uphill climb to reach the majors, but tearing up the AFL will get him some attention. He’s one of only two players with four homers to date.

Four straight games with a triple is pretty cool. It’s a feat pulled off only once in MLB this century, that by Nomar Garciaparra in 2003. Peete is batting .348/.423/.674 and is 7-for-9 stealing bases through 11 games.

The homer was Bryan’s third in six games. He also singled and walked. Bryan was the Royals’ eighth-round pick out of Troy University in 2025. He hit .319/.406/.496 in 33 games in Low-A ball this year before getting hurt at the end of May. He’s back now and thriving offensively, but he’s been limited to playing first base in the AFL.

Brito has played first base in both games. The former Guardians prospect finished this year on the Reds’ roster after being DFA’d and traded at the deadline, and he wound up hitting .309/.339/.509 in 59 plate appearances. He’s out of options, so if the Reds keep him on their 40-man this winter, it’d suggest they see him earning at least a utility spot next spring.

Ramírez, who is playing winter ball for the first time, is 6-for-19 with a homer through five games, all of which he’s started at catcher. He’s definitely been overtaken by Joe Mack in the Marlins’ plans, and he didn’t hit enough in the majors or in Triple-A this season to demand playing time at first base or DH. As a result, he could be a trade candidate this winter.