Some players and teams have pretty obvious points of focus in looking ahead to 2026 <\/p>\n
Photo:\u00a0Rich von Biberstein\/Icon Sportswire<\/p>\n
Are New Year\u2019s Resolutions on your mind? They\u2019re on ours, though we\u2019re not usually successful at keeping them. Since we were thinking about them, we made a few for baseball players and teams, using our stats as the basis. See what you think.<\/p>\n
Joey Ortiz: I resolve to stop chasing pitches<\/p>\n
Joey Ortiz had a full plate in Milwaukee last year, moving to shortstop to replace fan favorite Willy Adames. Ortiz\u2019s offensive numbers cratered as his OPS dropped from .726 in 2024 to .593 in 2025. Though his batting average dropped only 9 points, his on-base percentage dipped 53 and his slugging percentage fell 81.<\/p>\n
Ortiz had issues with his swing decisions. His chase rate increased from 27% to 36%. That 9 percentage-point increase (9.5 when not rounded) was the largest for anyone with at least 300 plate appearances in 2024 and 2025.<\/p>\n
If we were to give Ortiz a point of focus, that point would be \u201cEverywhere!\u201d
Here are Ortiz\u2019s chase rates by our slicing of pitch locations.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Chase Rate By Location<\/p>\n
2024<\/p>\n
2025<\/p>\n
Inside<\/p>\n
36%<\/p>\n
46%<\/p>\n
Middle<\/p>\n
32%<\/p>\n
45%<\/p>\n
Outside<\/p>\n
19%<\/p>\n
28%<\/p>\n
Low<\/p>\n
23%<\/p>\n
33%<\/p>\n
Middle<\/p>\n
31%<\/p>\n
44%<\/p>\n
High<\/p>\n
30%<\/p>\n
38%<\/p>\n
Tigers outfielder Riley Greene had the second-biggest jump in chase rate. He also had a 4 percentage-point climb in strikeout rate and struck out 201 times in 2025.<\/p>\n
Nick Martinez: I resolve to get my chases back<\/p>\n
Nick Martinez accepted the $21 million qualifying offer from the Reds after coming off a career-best season in 2024. His ERA jumped from 3.10 to 4.45 in 2025. One potential culprit: His chase rate dropped by 7.5 percentage points, the biggest dip for any pitcher that threw at least 80 innings in both 2024 and 2025.<\/p>\n
Martinez wasn\u2019t missing bats much to begin with. With fewer chases also came more walks, fewer strikeouts, and more home runs allowed. His chase rate dropped by 7 percentage points on his four-seam fastball (which got clobbered in 2025) and 14 percentage points on his changeup (his primary secondary pitch). He\u2019s probably not going to get a lucrative deal this offseason.<\/p>\n
Nick Martinez \u2013 2024 vs 2025<\/p>\n
2024<\/p>\n
2025<\/p>\n
K per 9<\/p>\n
7.3<\/p>\n
6.3<\/p>\n
BB per 9<\/p>\n
1.1<\/p>\n
2.3<\/p>\n
HR per 9<\/p>\n
0.8<\/p>\n
1.2<\/p>\n
ERA<\/p>\n
3.10<\/p>\n
4.45<\/p>\n
Marlins pitchers and catchers: We resolve to be better at limiting baserunner advancement<\/p>\n
The Marlins allowed 191 stolen bases last season. That was the most in the league by 34! They also had the second-fewest caught stealings (24) and fewest pickoffs (3). And to top it off, they had the most combined wild pitches and passed balls (90).<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a lot to fix.<\/p>\n
The primary pitcher culprits were Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera, who each allowed an MLB-high 35 stolen bases. At catcher Agust\u00edn Ram\u00edrez, who allowed 83 stolen bases and had only 8 caught stealings, and also led the majors in errors by a catcher (10) and wild pitches and passed balls allowed (55). He did all of this while ranking 30th in innings caught.<\/p>\n
Most Stolen Bases Allowed \u2013 2025 Season<\/p>\n
Team<\/p>\n
SB Allowed<\/p>\n
Marlins<\/p>\n
191<\/p>\n
Astros<\/p>\n
157<\/p>\n
Braves<\/p>\n
152<\/p>\n
Rays<\/p>\n
152<\/p>\n
White Sox<\/p>\n
147<\/p>\n
\u00a0C.J. Abrams: I resolve to be better at finishing plays<\/p>\n
If we were just judging shortstops at their skill at getting to balls, CJ Abrams would be pretty good. Only five shortstops had more Runs Saved from range than Abrams\u2019 7 last season.<\/p>\n
But Abrams finished with -6 Runs Saved overall because of the things that happened after he got to a ball, either his bobbling it or his not being able to throw a runner out when it was expected he\u2019d do so.<\/p>\n
His -12 Throwing* Runs Saved were the worst of anyone in MLB last season. By our count he had an MLB-high 18 throwing errors and 5 Defensive Misplays related to throws (plays that were not errors but with a negative consequence). The 23 combined led MLB.<\/p>\n