Had quite the surprise this afternoon to see McCovey Cove Dave metal detecting/digging up the side of the street outside my house in Berkeley.

9. Brandon Lowe, 2B

DOB: 07/06/1994 | B/T: L/R | 2026 bWAR: 5.4

2026 Team: Pittsburgh Pirates

There is no doubt that when Lowe is healthy, he is one of the best power-hitting second basemen in the game. This year, he was healthy and played in a career-high 150 games, belting 29 doubles and 35 homers with a 121 OPS+. Not only did he perform offensively, but he was among the best defensive second basemen, ranking in the 96th percentile in defensive run value.

The Pirates would love him to return and he certainly enjoyed his time there, but it’s more likely he’ll sign elsewhere given the contracts he’ll likely be offered after the season he just completed.

Salary comps: Gleyber Torres (1 year, $22.025 million — Qualifying Offer); Luis Arraez (1 year, $12 million); Tommy Edman (5 years, $74 million); Jeff McNeil (4 years, $50 million)

Best team fits: San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres

Contract prediction: 3 years, $45 million

Agent: Hunter Bledsoe, The Bledsoe Agency

10. Clay Holmes, RHP

DOB: 03/27/1993 | B/T: r/R | 2026 bWAR: 2.0

2026 Teams: New York Mets and Chicago Cubs

Holmes made nine starts with the Mets to start the year, posting an impressive 2.39 ERA. Then he suffered a freak injury when he was hit in the leg by a line drive and missed nearly three months. While he was on the IL, he was dealt to the Cubs at the deadline. With the Cubs, he had a 4.25 ERA in nine starts, finishing the season overall with a 3.29 ERA in 101 1/3 innings.

Holmes throws a bowling-ball sinker almost 50 percent of the time, which netted an impressive 62 percent ground-ball rate. His sweeper was his second-best pitch and his changeup is solid, too. He can start or relieve, which increases his free-agent value.

Salary comps: Seth Lugo (2 years, $46 million); Michael Wacha (3 years, $51 million); Merrill Kelly (2 years, $40 million); Jack Flaherty (2 years, $35 million)

Best team fits: San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox

Contract prediction: 2 years, $44 million

Agent: The-Team

18. Kaima Taira, RHP

DOB: 11/15/1999 | B/T: L/R | 2026 bWAR: N/A

2026 Team: Seibu Lions (NPB)

Taira is one of the most intriguing free-agent pitchers because of his frame. He’s only 5-foot-8 and weighs approximately 225 pounds. He is aptly nicknamed “fire hydrant.” You can’t make this up. He was a dominant reliever in 2025, saving 31 games, and then transitioned back into the Seibu rotation this season. He had a 1.36 ERA, allowing just 95 hits over 146 innings but also walked 45 batters. He won the ERA title this year.

Taira’s fastball ranges from 97-100 mph, and he has a 92-mph cutter with late break plus several offspeed and breaking pitches with lots of different shapes and sizes coming out of his hand, making his repertoire unpredictable. He is capable of starting or relieving.

Salary comps: Cody Ponce (3 years, $30 million); Kenley Jansen (1 year, $11 million); Aroldis Chapman (1 year, $13.3 million); Pete Fairbanks (1 year, $13 million); Ryan Helsley (2 years, $28 million — player option for the second year)

Best team fits: Athletics, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants

Contract prediction: 3 years, $30 million

Agent: Scott Boras, Boras Corp.

27. Hiromi Itoh, RHP

DOB: 08/30/1997 | B/T: L/R | 2026 bWAR: N/A

2026 Team: Nippon Ham Fighters (NPB)

Itoh went 10-10 last year for Nippon with a 3.18 ERA over 172 2/3 innings. He was the Ham Fighters’ first-round selection in the 2020 NPB draft out of Tomakomai Komazawa University. He has a smaller build, standing 5-foot-9 and weighing approximately 180 pounds. He is known for impeccable control and command and has a wide range of pitches with eight to 10 different pitch shapes and sizes, including a heavy sinking fastball. He was part of Japan’s 2023 WBC Gold Medal team and won the Eiji Sawamura Award in 2025, the NPB’s equivalent to the Cy Young Award.

Salary comps: Cody Ponce (3 years, $30 million); Tyler Mahle (1 year, $10 million); Zach Eflin (1 year, $10 million); Anthony Kay (2 years, $12 million)

Best team fits: Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves

Contract prediction: 2 years, $22 million

Agent: Joel Wolfe, Wasserman

A good day today for the Scottsdale Scorpions and the Giants contingent of prospects.  Dalton Wentz hit his first home run of the fall, and the first home run over the wall for any of the Giants hitters, as he knocked in three runs.  Meanwhile, the team-leader in RBI is Dakota Jordan after he knocked in three with a pair of hits.  And Drake George bounced back from a terrible outing to have a good one.  Meanwhile, we highlight a hulking pitcher in the Fall League who hits triple-digits regularly!

Non-Giant Prospect to Highlight of the Day: Jarlin Susana (MLB #65; WAS #3)

I have to spotlight this pitcher today, as Jarlin Susana did something you don’t often see in the Arizona Fall League, going five full innings, and still taking a loss on the day with no offensive support.  Jarlin Susana was originally one of the international signings from the San Diego system in 2022 for $1.7 million, but was traded to Washington later that year as part of the 6-person package for Juan Soto and Josh Bell.  He has an electric 100+ mph 4-seam fastball, and a 2-seamer that jumps back and forth around 100 MPH, with a mid-80’s slider.  He’s still working on his curve and changeup, but his control is his biggest question mark going forward.  Susana suffered a torn lat late last season, and didn’t get into games this year until August, and struggled this season as he worked his way back.  The hulking 6’7” pitcher has a 4.50 ERA after five starts, easily leading Salt River with 16.0 innings thrown, but has 9 walks to 20 strikeouts.  As Susana figures out his health, it will be interesting to see where he goes.  The Nationals will keep giving him every chance to be a starter, but he has quite the floor of being an intimidating high-velocity late inning reliever.

Scottsdale: Scottsdale Scorpions 11, Mesa Solar Sox 6

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Giants Prospects to Spotlight:

• DH Dakota Jordan (SF #7): 2-5, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 K, 0-1 ABS - After all the walks, Dakota added a couple more hits to his line, and had three RBI for this win, giving him the team lead with 12.  He’s got a slash line of .246/.394/.333 for an OPS of .727 after 15 games.
• 3B Dalton Wentz: 1-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HR (1), 1 E (3) - Dalton Wentz got his first Fall home run.  He did have one in his brief pro debut.  With 11 games played, Wentz has the 2nd-highest OPS (.994) for the Scorpions, as he’s hitting .333 and slugging .556.
• RP Drake George: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K - Drake George bounced back from his rough outing with a nice two innings.  His fall ERA is down to 3.86, but he still has just two strikeouts against three walks in 7.0 innings.

Other Scottsdale Prospect Lines:

• C Nathan Flewelling (MLB #62; TB #3): 1-5, 1 BB, 2 K 0-1 ABS
• CF Zyhir Hope (MLB #26; DET #1): 2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K
• 1B Eric Bitoni (MIL #26): 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP

Mesa Notable Prospect Lines:

• SS Arjun Nimmala (MLB #35; LAA #1): 1-5, 3 K
• CF Jake Casey (TOR #25): 0-5, 1 K
• 2B Mason White (BOS #26): 0-4, 1 K
• RF Breyson Guedez (SAC #9): 1-3, 2 R, 1 BB
• SP Dominick Reid (CHC #28): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 WP

Other Games

Glendale Desert Dogs 1, Salt River Rafters 0

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Salt River Notable Prospect Lines:

• SS Dax Kilby (MLB #83; NYY #1): 0-4, 0-1 ABS
• 2B Demetrio Crisantes (MLB #72, AZ #1): 2-4, 1 2B (2), 1 SB (6)
• 1B Jared Thomas (COL #10): 1-4, 2 K
• SP Jarlin Susana (MLB #65; WAS #3): 5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 3 WP, 1 Balk

Glendale Notable Prospect Lines:

• RF Eduardo Quintero (MLB #18; LAD #3): 1-3, 1 K, 1 SB (5)
• SS Tate Southisene (MLB #57; ATL #3): 0-3
• 2B Charles Davalan (MLB #84; LAD #6): 0-3
• CF Dillon Lewis (MIA #11): 0-2, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K
• 3B Chase Harlan (LAD #9): 0-3, 1 K
• 1B Jhonny Severino (PIT #28): 0-2, 1 BB
• LF Isaiah Drake (ATL #29): 1-3, 1 2B (1)
• C Easton Carmichael (PIT #8): 0-3, 1 K, 1-1 ABS

Peoria Javelinas 11, Surprise Saguaros 3

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Surprise Notable Prospect Lines:

• 1B Cole Mathis (NYM #13): 1-4, 1 BB
• DH Aroon Escobar (PHI #6): 1-4, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K
• 2B Luke Hill (CLE #16): 2-5, 1 R, 2 RBI, 2 K, 1 HR (2)
• CF Angeibel Gomez (MLB #81; KC #2): 2-5, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 2B (3), 1 SB (4)

Peoria Notable Prospect Lines:

• RF Alex McCoy (SD #26): 1-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 K, 1 2B (4), 1 SB (5), 1 E (2)
• LF Carter Graham (CIN #22): 1-2, 2 R, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 1 2B (4)
• DH Boston Smith (SEA #13): 0-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K
• C Ty Harvey (SD #4): 0-4, 1 E (2), 1-4 ABS

If the season ends tonight are the agents/players who file for free agency tomorrow morning? Is there likely to be a flurry of quick signings because of the imminent lockout or just the opposite?