Robbie Ray, Taj Bradley, Reese Olson, AJ Smith-Shawver and Marcus Stroman

The Nationals have eliminated interim manager Miguel Cairo from their managerial search, with former Twins manager Rocco Baldelli and Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann emerging as candidates. Both Baldelli and Lehmann have not confirmed interviews, while the Nationals are undergoing significant organizational changes, including potential staff shake-ups, following a disappointing season. Want More Context? 🔎

The San Diego Padres are down to four managerial finalists: Albert Pujols, pitching coach Ruben Niebla, and Nick Hundley, with an unknown fourth candidate. All three are first-time MLB manager candidates, with Niebla praised for his pitching expertise, while Pujols and Hundley bring extensive playing backgrounds but lack coaching experience in the majors. Want More Context? 🔎

The White Sox announced that first baseman Tim Elko underwent surgery for a torn right ACL, with an expected recovery time of eight months, sidelining him for at least half of the 2026 season. This marks Elko's second ACL tear, having previously suffered the same injury in college; he struggled in his MLB debut with a .134 average and had been vying for a role following Andrew Vaughn's trade. Want More Context? 🔎