Josh Krueger

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

How many catchers would you actually take over Dillon Dingler right now?

He's slashing .274/.339/.537 with a 141 wRC+ and 4.8 fWAR.

On defense?

98th percentile Framing.
96th percentile Blocks Above Average.
96th percentile Fielding Run Value.
The list is a lot shorter than most people think.

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

Ryan Waldschmidt's first taste of the majors hasn't gone as planned.

Through 147 PA:

.254/.301/.366
82 wRC+
34.7 K%

But there are still reasons to believe.
72.4 mph bat speed
8.1% Barrel%
54.1% Sweet Spot%
88th percentile Sprint Speed

He's also in his first season handling center field regularly in the majors.

The tools are there. The swing-and-miss is the biggest thing standing between him and becoming the player Arizona believes he can be.

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

@tylermilliken_ That’s about it

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

Taj Bradley always had frontline stuff.

Minnesota may finally be getting it out of him.

3.69 ERA
26.8 K%
97.1 mph fastball
His four-seam has gone from a negative pitch in 2025 to one of the better fastballs in baseball this year (+8 Run Value), and his cutter has become a legitimate weapon.
This is the version of Taj Bradley prospect evaluators envisioned.

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

Joc Pederson's bounce-back season has been a pleasant surprise for Texas.

After posting a 76 wRC+ in 2025, he's back to being one of the Rangers' best bats:

.244/.339/.489
17 HR
130 wRC+
The underlying metrics look much more like the Joc we're used to seeing.
2025:
9.4 Barrel%
44.6 Hard-Hit%
.315 xwOBA

2026:
11.7 Barrel%
49.0 Hard-Hit%
.356 xwOBA

He's also done significantly more damage against fastballs, going from a -6 Run Value in 2025 to +5 in 2026.

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

The Angels should seriously move Reid Detmers.

He's still just 27, under team control through 2028, and finally looks like the frontline starter many expected.

3.27 FIP
27.6 K%
7.5 BB%
3.0 fWAR
The biggest difference? His slider.
It's been one of the most valuable sliders in baseball this season (+14 Run Value), holding hitters to a .174 AVG and .236 SLG. His curveball has taken a step forward as well.

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

@ColeyMick Michael Porter and Julius Randle would like a word

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

Not been enough love for Jake McCarthy this year.

After posting a 60 wRC+ in 2025, he's slashing:

.305/.348/.511 (.860 OPS)
10 HR
17 SB
120 wRC+
The underlying quality of contact still isn't loud (5.6 Barrel%, 25.7 Hard-Hit%), but he's showing more power than ever before and continues to be one of the best baserunners in baseball.

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s 2026 drop-off isn't about strikeouts.

His K% (13.3%) is actually a career low, and his bat speed still ranks in the 93rd percentile.

The problem is the damage.

2024:
54.9 Hard-Hit%
13.8 Barrel%
93.8 mph Avg EV
2026:
43.8 Hard-Hit%
7.0 Barrel%
90.2 mph Avg EV
On top of that, his chase rate has jumped from 21.5% to 30.9%, and he's gone from handling breaking balls to posting negative run values against sliders, cutters, and curveballs.
The expected stats (.287 xBA, .341 xwOBA) suggest he's been somewhat unlucky.

But the decline in quality of contact is very real.

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

Luke Weaver is one of the more interesting potential relief pitchers on the trade market.

His evolution over the last few years has been fascinating:
He's ditched the kitchen-sink approach and now attacks hitters with essentially three pitches:
• 95.3 mph four-seamer (50%)
• Changeup (35%)
• Cutter (15%)
The simplified mix has been a game changer.
Hitters are batting just .152 against him, his hard-hit rate is down to a career-best 32.4%, and he's allowing just 0.66 HR/9.
It's easy to look at the 1.98 ERA and assume it's BABIP luck, but the underlying changes are very real.

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

Jeremy Peña feels like the perfect fit at Fenway.

In 2026:
• .302 AVG
• .362 OBP
• .472 SLG
• 134 wRC+
• 16.2% K rate

• 92nd percentile xwOBA
• 99th percentile xBA
• 83rd percentile xSLG
• 93rd percentile Sprint Speed

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

@uncle_june Christopher

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

@jayhaykid His savant page is bloody

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

@ColeyMick Bello going 7 shut

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

@darealmattjones That makes 2 of us

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

@RafaelaEnjoyer Just waiting till the Langeliers trade is finalized

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

@rockmeannadeus "If you go on Tuesdays before 10, they have the..." oh really that's awesome, medium iced caramel regular

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

@Jared_Carrabis OB’s been on an absolute heater as of late

[Josh Krueger @joshpk35]

@mmayerhq

[Jared Carrabis @Jared_Carrabis]

THIS IS MY FUCKING HOUSE