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3Bplay · 09-12-2025, 03:56 PM

MLB NEWS WIRE
Red Sox top newest Power Rankings; Mariners extend reliever

By MLB.com staff
09/12/2025

9/8 -- A new number-one atop the Power Rankings: After a huge leap in last week's rankings into the top five, Boston has made another giant leap in this week's Power Rankings to the top spot by finally de-throning the Brewers, who have held the top spot in the rankings since the All-Star break.

Boston, Milwaukee, Detroit, San Diego, and the Chicago Cubs rounded out the top five, with the red-hot Cardinals sitting just on the outside in the sixth spot. Other big risers into the top half of the rankings are the Yankees (8th) and the Royals (13th).

The Dodgers, Mets, Astros, and Phillies were all the biggest droppers, with the first three remaining in the top ten, but the Phillies falling out of the top ten to 12th.

9/9 -- Mariners, Ferguson to agree to extension: Seattle continues to lock up more of their current talent, as they are putting the finishing touches on a three-year extension with recently-acquired reliever Caleb Ferguson. The deal will pay out $13 million over the life of the contract, which also includes a $1 million signing bonus. No other incentives have been confirmed as of yet.

Teams rarely dole out long-term extensions to non-closer relievers, but Ferguson has been so impressive in his Mariners' tenure to date that the team brass has felt compelled to not let him get to free agency this winter. In 9 2/3 innings over six appearances since coming over via trade from the Pirates, Ferguson has allowed just one earned run with a dozen strikeouts to no walks.

Seattle is the fourth team for Ferguson since being traded from the Dodgers, his original team, back in February of 2024. He was then traded from the Yankees to the Astros at last year's deadline, only to hit free agency. He was eventually signed by the Pirates for this season in early February to a $3 million, one-year deal.

The Mariners sent pitcher Jeter Martinez to the Pirates in exchange for Ferguson in July, but the Mariners are going to take a different strategy and not let him get to free agency for the 2026 season.

9/10 -- O's Bradish triumphant in return: Arguably the best starter this side of Grayson Rodriguez on their roster, Kyle Bradish made his first start since June 14th of last season and was dominant over five innings, scattering just four hits with no runs, no walks, and nine strikeouts as the Orioles beat Paul Skenes and the Pirates by a 4-1 score.

Skenes went the distance in a rare complete-game loss, allowing four earned runs in eight innings with ten strikeouts to just two walks. Elvin Rodriguez worked in relief of Bradish, going 3 1/3 innings before Felix Bautista picked up the final two outs to get the save.

"Honestly, it feels good to get back out there on a major league mound instead of the minors," Bradish said with a laugh after the win. "Nothing against the minor leagues as we all came up through them, but the travel just isn't my thing."

It's been a season to forget for the Orioles, but the return of one of their top starters, a still very young roster, and signing one of their young prospects to a lengthy extension should give them some hope that they could return to postseason contention in 2026.

9/11 -- Two Brewers hurlers land on IL in consecutive days: Milwaukee's rotation has taken two major hits in back-to-back days, with both Brandon Woodruff and now Freddy Peralta landing on the 15-day injured list. Woodruff is dealing with a rotator cuff strain, while Peralta was removed from his start last night with a high ankle sprain.

They also lost one of their top relievers in Grant Anderson late last month with elbow inflammation that will keep him on the shelf for the remainder of the season, postseason included.

"We're pretty fortunate to have some solid depth on our big-league roster and in the minors," said manager Pat Murphy. "We have some guys in the pen that have made a significant number of starts even this season, so we're still feeling pretty good about where we're at despite the losses. Still, we'd rather have them as opposed to not, so stay tuned."

Chad Patrick, who made nineteen starts earlier in the season before being optioned to Triple-A, and then recalled a few weeks later to pitch out of the bullpen, is expected to slide back into the rotation.

Robert Gasser, a southpaw who made five starts a season ago with the Brewers, is back in the majors for the first time in 2025 and will hold down the other vacant role in Peralta's absence.

09-12-2025, 03:56 PM	#16
3Bplay Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 354	MLB News (09/08 -- 09/11) MLB NEWS WIRE Red Sox top newest Power Rankings; Mariners extend reliever By MLB.com staff 09/12/2025 9/8 -- A new number-one atop the Power Rankings: After a huge leap in last week's rankings into the top five, Boston has made another giant leap in this week's Power Rankings to the top spot by finally de-throning the Brewers, who have held the top spot in the rankings since the All-Star break. Boston, Milwaukee, Detroit, San Diego, and the Chicago Cubs rounded out the top five, with the red-hot Cardinals sitting just on the outside in the sixth spot. Other big risers into the top half of the rankings are the Yankees (8th) and the Royals (13th). The Dodgers, Mets, Astros, and Phillies were all the biggest droppers, with the first three remaining in the top ten, but the Phillies falling out of the top ten to 12th. 9/9 -- Mariners, Ferguson to agree to extension: Seattle continues to lock up more of their current talent, as they are putting the finishing touches on a three-year extension with recently-acquired reliever Caleb Ferguson. The deal will pay out $13 million over the life of the contract, which also includes a $1 million signing bonus. No other incentives have been confirmed as of yet. Teams rarely dole out long-term extensions to non-closer relievers, but Ferguson has been so impressive in his Mariners' tenure to date that the team brass has felt compelled to not let him get to free agency this winter. In 9 2/3 innings over six appearances since coming over via trade from the Pirates, Ferguson has allowed just one earned run with a dozen strikeouts to no walks. Seattle is the fourth team for Ferguson since being traded from the Dodgers, his original team, back in February of 2024. He was then traded from the Yankees to the Astros at last year's deadline, only to hit free agency. He was eventually signed by the Pirates for this season in early February to a $3 million, one-year deal. The Mariners sent pitcher Jeter Martinez to the Pirates in exchange for Ferguson in July, but the Mariners are going to take a different strategy and not let him get to free agency for the 2026 season. 9/10 -- O's Bradish triumphant in return: Arguably the best starter this side of Grayson Rodriguez on their roster, Kyle Bradish made his first start since June 14th of last season and was dominant over five innings, scattering just four hits with no runs, no walks, and nine strikeouts as the Orioles beat Paul Skenes and the Pirates by a 4-1 score. Skenes went the distance in a rare complete-game loss, allowing four earned runs in eight innings with ten strikeouts to just two walks. Elvin Rodriguez worked in relief of Bradish, going 3 1/3 innings before Felix Bautista picked up the final two outs to get the save. "Honestly, it feels good to get back out there on a major league mound instead of the minors," Bradish said with a laugh after the win. "Nothing against the minor leagues as we all came up through them, but the travel just isn't my thing." It's been a season to forget for the Orioles, but the return of one of their top starters, a still very young roster, and signing one of their young prospects to a lengthy extension should give them some hope that they could return to postseason contention in 2026. 9/11 -- Two Brewers hurlers land on IL in consecutive days: Milwaukee's rotation has taken two major hits in back-to-back days, with both Brandon Woodruff and now Freddy Peralta landing on the 15-day injured list. Woodruff is dealing with a rotator cuff strain, while Peralta was removed from his start last night with a high ankle sprain. They also lost one of their top relievers in Grant Anderson late last month with elbow inflammation that will keep him on the shelf for the remainder of the season, postseason included. "We're pretty fortunate to have some solid depth on our big-league roster and in the minors," said manager Pat Murphy. "We have some guys in the pen that have made a significant number of starts even this season, so we're still feeling pretty good about where we're at despite the losses. Still, we'd rather have them as opposed to not, so stay tuned." Chad Patrick, who made nineteen starts earlier in the season before being optioned to Triple-A, and then recalled a few weeks later to pitch out of the bullpen, is expected to slide back into the rotation. Robert Gasser, a southpaw who made five starts a season ago with the Brewers, is back in the majors for the first time in 2025 and will hold down the other vacant role in Peralta's absence.