Draft Pod: Excitement For The 2026 Class & A Farewell To Peter

After a holiday hiatus the Baseball America Fantasy podcast is back with our final positional ranking podcast of the offseason. We start the show discussing the trio of Japanese players that signed from NPB. We then discuss the Cubs and Marlins trade before diving into the top 200 pitchers.(3:00) Is the market reacting too much to Murakami's swing and miss concerns?(6:30) Tatsuya Imai ready to succeed state side?(11:00) Is Kazuma Okamoto the best of the three in 2026 only?(14:00) Owen Caissie traded to Miami. What are your expectations for Caissie in 2026?(17:00) Why Shohei Ohtani No. 1?(19:00) Is Yamamoto just outside the top tier of pitchers?(25:00) Is Joe Ryan Tier 2 or Tier 3?(27:00) Explaining the Aggressive Eury ranking(29:00) The Yesavage ranking is more than the playoff bias.Our Sponsors:* Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s a bittersweet episode of the draft podcast, as Peter bids farewell to Baseball America and embarks on a new journey as a scout with the Nationals. Carlos and Peter reminisce on their time together covering the draft over the last few years, talk about what they’ve learned and how their processes have changed. As always on the draft pod, there is still player talk. The two express their excitement about the strength of the upcoming draft class and highlight a few names who could move up draft boards this spring. Time Stamps:(0:00) Peter ditches the scribes and joins the scouts(7:00) Our outlook on the 2026 class(14:00) The variety inherent in amateur coverage(17:00) Potential sleepers who could rise(24:00) Lessons we’ve learned from previous drafts Our Sponsors:* Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On the second of our Prospect Deep Dives, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper take a look at the Chicago Cubs farm system. It's perfect timing, as we get a chance to analyze the Cubs-Marlins Edward Cabrera/Owen Caissie trade.(01:00) Analyzing the Edward Cabrera trade. What did the Cubs give up?(09:00) No. 1 prospect Moises Ballesteros. How tough was the choice and who were the other candidates?(13:00) Comparing the Cubs system now to where it was a year ago.(16:00) Who do we think will be the No. 1 prospect a year from now?(25:00) What do the Cubs do well in development?(29:45) Are the Cubs in danger of having prospects go stale?(43:30) This system is thin on pitchersOur Sponsors:* Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper are back to start our series of 30 MLB Farm System Deep Dives. We are beginning with the Cincinnati Reds, a team that has produced a lot of pitching, plus Elly De La Cruz, in recent years. What does the farm system have in store for 2026 and beyond?(02:00) Who is No. 1 and how easy was that choice?(10:25) How is this system better/worse than last year?(17:00) Who do we project to be No. 1 next year?(21:10) What are the Reds good at developing?(25:30) Diving deeper into how the Reds have succeeded at developing pitching prospects.Links: Reds Top Prospects:https://www.baseballamerica.com/teams/2006-cincinnati-reds/prospects/?season=2026&ranking=preseasonSal Stewart's throwing issues:https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/sal-stewart-can-really-hit-but-throwing-is-a-problem/Our Sponsors:* Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Baseball America national college reporter Jacob Rudner and national writer Peter Flaherty examine the resumes of the top contenders for preseason No. 1 with the college baseball season nearing. Rudner and Flaherty also break down the rise of the Big 12 and the ACC's race against the SEC.(1:36) Peter Flaherty's personal news(4:41) UCLA's case for No. 1(18:24) Can LSU repeat as champions in 2026?(31:02) The state of the Big 12(41:26) How the ACC is working to challenge the SEC(49:07) Two college players who excite us heading into 2026Our Sponsors:* Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Ben Badler and Scott Braun discuss a number of topics, including the potential for an Edward Cabrera trade in Miami, Ben's latest international bonus board update and BA Hall of Fame ballots.We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction (1:20) Edward Cabrera on the move from Miami? (8:00) Ben's latest international bonus board grows to 50 players (10:45) How did Wandy Asigen flip from the Yankees to Mets? (12:30) How might the turmoil in Venezuela affect signings? (14:30) Lack of pitching on the bonus board (17:00) Where would Roch Cholowsky rank in the White Sox system? (19:00) J.J. and Ben's Hall of Fame ballots (23:50) Could the White Sox go underslot at 1-1?Our Sponsors:* Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In last week's Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper talked about some of the best developments in 2025. Now we look into 2026 to predict who will be the No. 1 prospect in the game and which farm system will be the best a year from now.(02:30) Who Will Be The No. 1 Farm System Heading Into 2027(06:30) Another No. 1 Farm System Candidate(10:00) Two other long shot but interesting candidates(13:00) The No. 1 prospect in baseball heading into 2027 will be ...(21:00) Two bold predictions for 2026Our Sponsors:* Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this week's Baseball America Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper take a look at which farm systems and which prospects were the most improved in 2025, and we also look at a couple of predictions we'd like to have back.(00:00) The Prospect Handbook Is Complete(02:30) The Most Improved Farm System In 2025 Is ...(08:00) The Most Improved Prospect In 2025 Is ...(16:30) The Predictions We Would Like To Do Over ...Our Sponsors:* Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In the final College Podcast episode of 2025, Baseball America national college reporter Jacob Rudner and national writer Peter Flaherty offer an inside look at Japanese righthander Genei Sato's recruitment and subsequent signing with Penn State. Rudner and Flaherty also assess what kind of player the Nittany Lions are getting and take a look back at their favorite college baseball moments from 2025.(1:01) Greetings(5:13) Sato signs with Penn State(7:04) Who is Masanosuke Ono and why does he matter?(12:17) Why is Sato in the 2027 class?(13:13) Scouting Sato(22:12) Could more Japanese players follow Sato?(32:09) Favorite moments from 2025Our Sponsors:* Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Geoff Pontes, Jacob Rudner and Scott Braun discuss a number of topics, including a pair of key AL East trades, new MLB homes for Munetaka Murakami and Song Sung-mun and Genei Sato's committment to Penn State.We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction(0:45) Reacting to the Mets/A's Jeff McNeil trade(3:45) Shane Baz headed to the Orioles(8:15) Rays/Pirates/Astros three-team trade(12:30) Red Sox acquire Willson Contreras for three pitchers(15:30) Scouting Song Sung-mun(17:45) Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami signs with the White Sox(19:00) Genei Sato is headed to... Penn State?(21:00) How could can Sato be?(25:45) Don't forget to order your 2026 Prospect HandbookOur Sponsors:* Check out Aura.com: https://aura.com/remove* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy