Baseball America is in the early stages of announcing one by one the top 10 lists for each team, projected future lineups, best tools and a lengthy chat.
Rockies are today's featured team.
I note that Nolan Jones is projected as their LF in 2028 despite his major falloff this summer, which I guess they are attributing principally to one-time injuries.

I would assume Jones would be out of arbitration by 2028. He will be very lucky to still be on a big league team.

Since almost deal the Angels doesn't work out, here's another guy who's probably heading for career threatening surgery

Kikuchi agrees to join Angels on 3-year deal (source)
11:10 AM EST
Rhett Bollinger
Rhett Bollinger

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ANAHEIM -- The Angels have been the most aggressive club in free agency this offseason and kept it up with their first big splash, agreeing to terms with lefty Yusei Kikuchi early Monday. The deal is the largest since Perry Minasian became general manager in 2020, as it’s a three-year, $63 million deal, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

The club has not confirmed the agreement, which was originally reported by MLB Network insider Jon Heyman. But it represents a solid upgrade to the rotation after the Angels also signed right-hander Kyle Hendricks to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million. Kikuchi immediately becomes an ace for the club and can help the Angels compete after their 99-loss campaign in ’24.

Breaking down the Yusei Kikuchi deal from all sides
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The 33-year-old left-hander is coming off an intriguing season in which he put together one of the finest stretches of his Major League career following a midseason trade to the Astros.

Kikuchi, who began his professional career with eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, spent his first three Major League seasons with the Mariners before signing a three-year, $36 million contract with the Blue Jays ahead of the 2022 season. Between Seattle and Toronto, he pitched to a 4.72 ERA with a 1.38 WHIP.

As with many previous Astros acquisitions, Kikuchi improved dramatically after his July 29 trade, making 10 starts down the stretch, posting a 2.70 ERA with a 0.93 WHIP and 76 strikeouts in 60 innings. Among the changes the Astros made to the veteran’s repertoire was a stronger reliance on his slider; by September, he was throwing 38.9% sliders compared to just 36.6% four-seam fastballs, increasing the effectiveness of both pitches.


Kikuchi joins a rotation that includes lefty Tyler Anderson, right-handers José Soriano and Jack Kochanowicz and Hendricks. The fifth spot is up for grabs and the Angels have several internal candidates, such as Reid Detmers, Chase Silseth, Caden Dana and Sam Aldegheri.

It’s been a busy offseason for the Angels, who also traded for slugger Jorge Soler and signed free agent catcher Travis d’Arnaud, utilityman Kevin Newman and Hendricks to bolster their depth. They also traded for infielder Scott Kingery and claimed infielder/outfielder Ryan Noda on waivers. Kukuchi’s signing is the largest for the club since they signed reliever Raisel Iglesias to a four-year, $58 million deal before the 2022 season.

Kukuchi also represents the club’s first Japanese player since the departure of Shohei Ohtani to the Dodgers last offseason. The Angels still retain a large Japanese fanbase because of Ohtani’s six years with the club.

Major Leaguer Yusei Kikuchi Builds Indoor Baseball Facility in Home Prefecture; Star Gives Back to Hometown

HANAMAKI, Iwate — An indoor baseball facility where locals can practice their skills opened in Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture, on Sunday, with its funding coming entirely from major league pitcher Yusei Kikuchi.

Kikuchi is a native of the prefecture’s capital, Morioka.

“Now, we have a place where we can practice baseball to our heart’s content,” 33-year-old Kikuchi, a free agent who formerly played for the Houston Astros, said at the opening ceremony.

Construction on the facility, which is called “King of the Hill,” began in February this year on land leased from Kikuchi’s alma mater, Hanamaki Higashi High School. It was completed at the end of October. The single-story facility has a total floor area of about 1,400 square meters.

The facility houses a bullpen, where up to three people can pitch at the same time, and a two-lane batting area, as well as a training gym, sauna and cafe decorated with items featuring various major league stars. The facility also is equipped with state-of-the-art machines for measuring the quality of pitches and hits.

Over 100 people attended the opening, where Kikuchi threw the ceremonial first pitch to Yusuke Chiba, 33, a catcher who played with Kikuchi when they were on the Hanamaki Higashi team.

According to K.O.H, the company that operates the facility, Kikuchi and other pro baseball players will use it for off-season training. Additionally, it will be used as a baseball school for children from preschool to junior high school. The school is scheduled to open in December and has already received more than 100 applications from children in and outside the prefecture.

“I’ve always wanted to contribute to Iwate through baseball,” said Kikuchi at a press conference. “The COVID-19 pandemic made me even more determined to create a place where we can practice baseball around the clock.”

He went on to say that his initial idea ballooned, eventually leading the facilitate to become a place that would develop young players and act as a local community center.

“I didn’t want to compromise [on the ideas],” Kikuchi said.

A junior high freshman from Kawasaki, who attended the opening ceremony with his family, said: “It’s amazing that Kikuchi has created such an awesome facility on top of doing so well in the major league. I want to be like him someday.”

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