If you're weighing where to spend
MLB 26 stubs after the October 11 update, start with the outfield. George Springer's Diamond Quest card earns an S tier spot because its bat does the heavy lifting. Maxed contact and huge power matter more here than average speed and fielding. You aren't picking him to chase everything down. You're picking him to punish mistakes. Michael Harris II offers a different fit in A tier, pairing speed and defense with serious power. Garrett Mitchell also lands in A tier, though his clearest role is covering center field and protecting late leads.
Build the rotation around command
Andy Pettitte is the pitching addition I'd look at first. His S tier case comes down to control and a mix that gives hitters several movements to track: sinker, cutter, circle change, and a 12 to 6 curveball. That matters when you can't afford another pitch drifting over the plate. Gerrit Cole sits a step lower in A tier, with five offerings and strong numbers against lefties. Michael King has five pitches too, including a sweeper, but variety alone doesn't settle the argument. His less reliable control leaves him in B tier. Pick the arm you can locate with, not just the longest pitch menu.
Leave room for a flexible bench
Enrique Hernandez makes roster decisions easier. His coverage across almost every position except catcher lets you carry a specialist elsewhere without leaving yourself short. Add strong vision, useful defense, and a swing players like, and you've got an A tier starter who might be even more valuable coming off the bench. Joe Morgan belongs in that tier at second base. Contact, vision, speed, and fielding give him several ways to contribute. Third base is less convincing because of his arm. Ryan Vilade stays in B tier; defensive limitations and weaker contact against righties make his positional flexibility less appealing.
Defense needs enough offense beside it
Ivan Rodriguez gives you a reason to rethink catcher. The listed 95 pop time and defensive attributes that reach their ceiling through parallels support his A tier placement. His contact, vision, and clutch help, although this evaluation stops short of putting his right handed swing among the best options. Manny Machado presents a tougher choice at third. The glove is there. The speed and offensive ratings aren't persuasive enough to lift him above B tier, especially if your lineup already struggles to produce runs.
Keep relief upgrades in perspective
Ray Kerr's B tier placement reflects concerns about his predictable breaking ball pairing, while Bryan Baker's limited three pitch selection leaves him lower. Neither looks like the priority over a starter or everyday bat. If you're comparing
MLB The Show 26 buy stubs options while planning upgrades, decide which roster spot needs help first. A useful reserve or dependable starter can offer more than another reliever you rarely trust.
