AFL/Offseason Update: Nov. 4, 2026
Another day, another 6-0 lead blown. The Rafters batters tried to keep up but couldn’t outhit the mistakes of their relievers for an 11-10 loss in 10 innings.
Three Nationals appeared in the game:
- Kevin Bazzell doubled, homered, and drove in three and went 3-for-10 throwing out baserunners as the Salt River catcher. He also allowed his fourth passed ball.
- Teo Banks went 1-for-3 with a run scored and and an RBI on a sac fly as the Rafters right fielder. He also struck out twice.
- Noah Dean walked three of six batters over an inning and a 1/3rd and was charged with two runs – both of which were let in by his successor.
Salt River (12-12) visits Scottsdale (12-11) tonight and will not return home until next Tuesday (*gasp*)
As noted in the comments, Washington made a series of moves dated on Monday but not released until yesterday morning:
OUTRIGHTED, ELECTED FREE AGENCY – Washington Nationals sent LHPs Ken Waldichuk, Richard Lovelady, and PJ Poulin
CLAIMED ON WAIVERS – LHP Mitchell Parker (Atlanta), RHP Paxton Schultz (Cincinnati)
DESIGNATED FOR ASSIGNMENT – IF José Tena
MiLB FREE AGENTS – SS Kevin Made, RHP Sam Broderson
That last one is only the beginning of what is usually a longer list, though it should be noted that usually by now there are a handful of re-signs of OG’s and 4A’s. I’ll leave the inferences to a repeat of ’95 to folks smarter than me about this. I only mention it because those players would be the pool from which the owners would draw.
Banks and Bazzell have been so impressive. It’s hard to temper excitement, as the AFL is such an outrageously hitter friendly league. But even among AFL hitters, they’re performing exceptionally well.
Bazzell’s inability to catch baserunners caught my attention, but apparently there’s something of a league-wide base-stealing apathy at play. CS% usually sits around 20% depending on the league, but in the AFL this season it’s at 13% (and Peoria is uniquely bad, having only caught 2 of 37 attempted base stealers as a team). Still, Bazzell’s 4 for 40 rate isn’t good. But that 1.169 OPS sure is.
On the roster management side of things, Irvin, Varland, Bird, Palmquist, Waldron, Simpson, Yean, Beeter, Sinclair, Nicolas, Nunez, Vivas, Pinckney and Millas have so far survived on the roster. So there’s still plenty of space for R5 additions, should they be necessary, and free agents, before the team has to make any tough decisions.