With injuries up and down the Mets' roster before the start of the regular season has even arrived, Brett Baty and David Peterson have proven this spring that they are capable of stepping up and are doing everything they can to help carry the load.
Wednesday night's win over the Houston Astros was no different as both players had a significant impact on the outcome of the game.
Baty, playing second base as he continues to get comfortable at a new position, went 2-for-3 with a double and a triple to raise his batting average to .333 and his OPS to 1.010. He also made a fine defensive play in the field, showing off some range and his arm in the process.
With Jeff McNeil starting the season on the IL with a low-grade right oblique strain, Baty and Luisangel Acuña (and some others) have been battling it out for the starting second base job. While Acuña is the superior defender (and versatile, too), he hasn't hit much so far this spring or in his career at Triple-A.
And even after coming up to the majors late last season -- in the middle of a playoff race, no less -- and providing an offensive spark, it's still too small of a sample size to hang on to. On the other hand, Baty has been the exact opposite.
In his career, Baty has destroyed Triple-A pitching which has earned him a promotion to the big leagues on numerous occasions, but the 25-year-old has been unable to convert his success to the majors. However, unlike Acuña, Baty is having a phenomenal spring training offensively which is why he's currently leading the pack to start the season as McNeil's replacement.
While it's impossible not to take notice of Baty's offense so far, manager Carlos Mendoza is also liking what he's seeing out of Baty's defense lately.
"I thought he’s gotten comfortable as we’re progressing in camp," Mendoza said after Wednesday's win. "There was a really good play today to his right. Really good first step, the angle, he ended up diving for the ball, and then just having the awareness of who the runner was [and] knowing that he had time.
"Making the routine plays, going to the right places when he needs to. The communication between him and [Francisco] Lindor or some of the other infielders has been great so, like I said, I think he’s gotten comfortable."
If Baty keeps getting more comfortable at second base and is able to finally hit in the majors like he has this spring and in Triple-A, he may not give up the starting job even when McNeil returns.
As for Peterson, the lefty has been nothing short of brilliant in four spring outings so far, owning a 0.57 ERA over 15.2 innings in his first spring training without any hiccups in over two years. Against Houston on Wednesday, the 30-year-old went five scoreless innings and struck out four against an Astros lineup filled with starters.
"It was good to get the five ups, get the pitch count up and felt like we were able to work everything and see what we wanted to," he said. "... Having an offseason where I was able to get all my strength back and feel like I was 100 percent coming into camp was awesome and it’s been good to have a normal spring again."
With the Mets already down two starters in Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea to begin the season, Peterson is reminding everybody of what he did in 2024 and how important he can be to New York's rotation when fully healthy.
"Just trying to build off the good stuff mechanically that I had last year and get the pitches where I want to," Peterson said.
In an Opening Day preview, the Mets beat the Houston Astros, 8-2, with timely hitting and excellent pitching on Wednesday night.
Here are the takeaways...
-With the start of the regular season drawing near, manager Carlos Mendoza, in an away game, didn't hold any punches with his lineup that featured starters and likely starters and could potentially be New York's Game 1 lineup when these two teams meet in Houston next Thursday.
-Among the likely starters, with Jeff McNeil starting the season on the IL, is Brett Baty who batted eighth and played second base. The 25-year-old has been stellar with the bat this spring and continued to impress Wednesday night with a 2-for-3 performance, including a triple and a double, and added an RBI and run scored. He is now up to .333 with his batting average to go along with a 1.010 OPS.
In the field, Baty made all three plays his way, including a diving stop to his right on a sharply hit ball by Yordan Alvarez before firing from one knee to get the out at first. The former third baseman has looked shaky at times at second base, but he looked the part on Wednesday as he gets more comfortable with his super-utility role, which certainly makes him more valuable to the team.
-David Peterson made his fourth appearance and third start this spring and the lefty picked up right where he left off, going five scoreless innings. He now has a 0.57 ERA (0.89 WHIP) in 15.2 innings after having the best season of his career in 2024 (10-3, 2.90 ERA in 21 starts).
The 6-foot-6, 240-pounder allowed just two hits, walked three and struck out four on 75 pitches (42 strikes). Aside from Clay Holmes, Peterson has had the most impressive camp and figures to be a big weapon for New York again in 2025.
-Edwin Diaz entered the game in the sixth inning after Peterson and managed to get through the inning unscathed despite allowing two hits. Ryne Stanek looked great in his inning of work, striking out two, but it was A.J. Minter who had a rough outing. Making his third appearance of the spring, the left-hander allowed two runs on two hits, including a home run, and walked one. He also struck out two. They were the first runs allowed by Minter this spring.
Reed Garrett finished things off in the ninth and struck out the side.
-Scuffling a bit at the plate, Pete Alonso hit his first spring training home run this season in the sixth inning off former Met Miguel Castro who had just entered the game. The three-run bomb to left field got out in a hurry and broke the game open, making it 7-0. Alonso finished 1-for-4 with a walk.
Before that, the Mets' offense had scored four times thanks to shoddy play by Houston's defense. The first run came on a wild pitch in the third inning before a second run came around to score on Juan Soto's sacrifice fly, which was also an error by Jose Altuve in left field as the experiment of the former second baseman in the outfield continues to leave much to be desired.
New York scored another run in the fifth inning after Brandon Nimmo took advantage of a two-out error by third baseman Isaac Paredes, hitting an RBI double to score Mark Vientos.
-The Mets banged out 12 hits with Baty, Nimmo and Tyrone Taylor each getting two hits apiece.
Carlos Carrasco strengthened his case to make the Opening Day roster but the Yankees' bats were silent as they fell to the Braves, 4-0, in split-squad action.
Here are the takeaways...
-Carrasco put the finishing touches on what was a fantastic spring in Yankees camp. The non-roster invitee shut out the Braves for five innings, allowing just one walk while striking out three batters. He threw 54 pitches (33 strikes) and made it look easy against a Braves lineup that had most of their regulars.
Across 16 innings pitched, Carrasco has pitched to a 1.69 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. The veteran right-hander has an opt-out on Saturday if he doesn't make the roster, but the Yankees, with their injuries, may not have a choice but to bring him on.
-After Carrasco left the game, the Yankees bullpen struggled especially Fernando Cruz. Cruz, who the Yankees obtained from the Reds in the Jose Trevino deal this offseason, started the sixth inning with a throwing error before allowing a two-run shot to Austin Riley. After a four-pitch walk to Matt Olson, and a mound visit, Cruz spiked a wild pitch before getting Bryan De La Cruz to strike out. But that would be it for Cruz who allowed two runs (one earned) across 0.1 innings (22 pitches/10 strikes).
Wednesday was not the best audition for Cruz who is looking to capture a spot in the bullpen. The hard-throwing right-hander has allowed at least one run in three of his last four appearances.
-Luke Weaver allowed a solo shot on the first pitch he threw in the eighth inning to Patrick Clohisy who jumped on the first-pitch cutter to put the Braves up 4-0.
Devin Williams dominated the ninth inning, getting the Braves in order, including two strikeouts on his patented Airbender changeup.
-Despite the stellar starting pitching, the Yankees bats just could not get to Braves starter Spencer Schwellenbach. The young right-hander allowed just two hits, walking one while striking out 10 batters across six innings.
-Austin Wells led off again on Wednesday, finishing 1-for-3 with a strikeout. It's looking more and more likely Wells will be the Yankees leadoff hitter on Opening Day.
Aaron Judge's tough spring continued as the reigning AL MVP went 0-for-2 with a strikeout and is hitting a paltry .120. Oswaldo Cabrera (0-3) and Trent Grisham (0-2, BB) were the other notable hitters who went hitless in this one.
What's next
The Yankees hit the road to take on the Baltimore Orioles. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.
Will Warren will take the mound in what could be his final audition for a roster spot.
PHOENIX — Milwaukee infielder Joey Ortiz will move over from third base to shortstop as the Brewers alter their infield following Willy Adames’ departure.
One of the Brewers’ main concerns this spring was how to handle the shortstop position as they adapt to life without Adames, who signed a seven-year, $182 million contract with the San Francisco Giants in the offseason. The Brewers were pondering whether to give the job to Ortiz or have Brice Turang move over from second base.
Manager Pat Murphy settled the matter Tuesday by telling reporters that Ortiz would be the shortstop. That means Turang will remain at second base, where he won an NL Platinum Glove last season as the league’s best overall defensive player regardless of position.
Turang has been dealing with a right shoulder issue the last few days, though an MRI revealed no structural damage, and he told reporters he expects to be ready for the start of the season.
Ortiz primarily played third base last season while appearing in 10 games at shortstop and six at second base. He mostly played shortstop in Baltimore’s minor league system before coming to the Brewers last year in a trade that sent 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes to the Orioles.
Ortiz batted .239 with a .329 on-base percentage, 11 homers, 60 RBIs and 11 steals as a rookie last year. Turang hit .254 with a .316 on-base percentage, seven homers, 57 RBIs and 50 steals.
TOKYO — The Los Angeles Dodgers selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Matt Sauer and optioned left-hander Justin Wrobleski to the minors Wednesday.
To make room on the 40-man roster, pitcher Clayton Kershaw went on the 60-day injured list as expected.
The 26-year-old Sauer, a non-roster invite to spring training, had eight strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings over four appearances this spring. He made his major league debut last year with Kansas City and was 0-0 with a 7.71 ERA in 14 games.
Wrobleski made four appearances for the Dodgers this spring, going 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA.
As expected, Kershaw is starting the season on the IL. The 36-year-old left-hander is beginning his 18th season with the Dodgers. He is 36 strikeouts from reaching 3,000.
Last year, the three-time Cy Young Award winner was 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven games before missing the rest of the season with a left big toe injury. He’s rehabbing after offseason surgeries.
ATLANTA — Nine-time All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel is attempting to revive his career with the Atlanta Braves, his original team.
Kimbrel and catcher James McCann have agreed to minor league contracts, the team confirmed on Wednesday. Kimbrel will remain at the Braves spring training site when the season opens March 27, then will report to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Kimbrel, a 36-year-old right-hander, was released by the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 24 with a 5.33 ERA and six blown saves in 29 chances. The right-hander has pitched in 837 games and his 440 saves rank fifth. If added to the 40-man roster, he would get a $2 million salary while in the major leagues.
Atlanta is hoping to find the version of Kimbrel who posted a 2.80 ERA with all of his 23 saves and 53 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings before the All-Star break for the Orioles last season. Kimbrel faded after the break with a 10.59 ERA in 10 games.
“Hopefully he can replicate what he did the first half of last year,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said Wednesday. “It would be awesome if he could come in and do that.
“Talking to some of the Baltimore guys, they thought he might make the All-Star team. Like I said, hopefully he can be one of those guys like I talked about three weeks ago, somebody could have a big influence on our team who’s not even in camp yet. That would be great if he was that guy.”
The Braves are set to open the season with 35-year-old right-hander Raisel Iglesias as their closer. Iglesias had 34 saves in 38 chances with a 1.95 ERA last season.
Kimbrel was drafted by the Braves in 2008 and made his major league debut in 2010. He led the National League in saves in four consecutive seasons, beginning with his 46 in 2011 when he was voted Rookie of the Year and capping that stretch with 47 in 2014. He set a career high with 50 saves in 2013.
Kimbrel also has pitched for San Diego, Boston, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia, where he made his last NL All-Star team in 2023.
Atlanta also confirmed a minor league contract with McCann, a 34-year-old who hit .234 with eight homers for the Orioles last year in the final season of a four-year, $40.6 million contract he signed with the New York Mets. If added to the 40-man roster, he would get a $1 million salary while in the major leaguers.
McCann was a 2019 AL All-Star with the Chicago White Sox. He made his major league debut with Detroit in 2014. He has a .241 career batting average in 11 seasons, including the 2021-22 seasons with the Mets.
The Braves released 38-year-old left-hander Jake Diekman, who had a 4.91 ERA over 7 1/3 innings in seven spring training appearances. Diekman, who had a 5.63 ERA with the Mets in 2024, was competing for a bullpen spot.
Before the Mets take on the Houston Astros on Wednesday, manager Carlos Mendoza spoke briefly on a couple of topics, including what the plan is for Edwin Diaz this week and the health of some of his injured players.
Diaz to pitch back-to-back
It's been a bumpy spring so far for the Mets closer who owns a 7.71 ERA and 2.57 WHIP in 2.1 innings across three appearances so far in Grapefruit League action. In those outings, Diaz has combined to throw 64 pitches (36 strikes) while striking out four and walking three.
While those numbers seem unsightly, it's still a small sample size for a pitcher coming into the middle innings of exhibition games who is used to closing out games that actually count. And after a rough outing in his spring training debut, Diaz has pitched two scoreless innings in his last two appearances.
Less concerned about the results, the next thing Mendoza and the Mets want from Diaz is to throw on back-to-back days which he will at some point this week, Mendoza said on Wednesday. Although, it won't necessarily come in spring training action -- something New York also plans to do for some other pitchers scheduled to go back-to-back this week.
"It’s probably not gonna be back-to-back in our games," the skipper said. "So if he’s pitching today it may be the next day for a hitter in a minor league game where it’s more of a controlled environment."
As for what he's seen from his 30-year-old closer so far in camp, Mendoza isn't worried.
"The first couple [he] was inconsistent with his mechanics and we saw it with some of the walks," he said. "But I was very encouraged with his last outing in the minor leagues where he attacked better, the velo was better.
"Look it’s spring training games, these guys are so used to that getting the last three outs [with] the adrenaline. It’s different. It’s something that’s hard to replicate here in spring training, but as long as he’s feeling good and bouncing back well, there’s no issues there."
Sean Manaea and Jesse Winker injury updates
With a lot of injuries sustained before Opening Day, the Mets got some positive news on the injury front regarding Manaea and Winker.
Regarding Manaea (right oblique strain), Mendoza told reporters that the left-hander is continuing his throwing progression and is up to 90 feet. New York's ace last season, Manaea figures to be out until mid-to-late April but appears to be progressing well with his rehab.
The Mets also got good news surrounding Winker who left Monday's game with cramps in his calf, but appears to be fine.
"I talked to him today, he was feeling good," Mendoza said. "He was gonna go through his workout, I gotta talk to the trainers in a little bit to make sure he’s okay and hopefully he’s playing, whether it’s the night game with us or maybe some at-bats in the minor leagues. I’m anticipating him getting some at-bats tomorrow."
Mendoza also mentioned that Dedniel Nuñez and Jose Butto are feeling good after throwing on Tuesday.
The Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 9-7, on Wednesday afternoon in Clearwater, Fla.
Here are the takeaways...
-Marcus Stroman, who now figures prominently into the Yankees rotation plans with the injuries to Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil, had a nice afternoon. The right-hander allowed just one hit, and while he did put a couple of batters on with walks, he struck out three and did not allow a run over his 3.0 innings.
-The Yankees’ bats jumped all over Phillies starter Taijuan Walker. In the third, Jazz Chisholm Jr. lofted a towering two-run homer, giving the Yanks a 3-0 lead. The power display continued in the fourth, when both Pablo Reyes and Ben Rice homered off of Walker.
Walker allowed six earned runs on nine hits in just 3.2 innings.
-Jasson Dominguez had a nice day at the plate, hitting a single up the middle in his first at-bat and ripping an RBI double in the third.
Dominguez had three hits, scored two runs, and drove in a run.
-Cody Bellinger looks pretty comfortable hitting in the middle of the lineup. In the top of the sixth, Bellinger hit an absolute bomb of a two-run homer, clearing everything in right field.
Bellinger had two hits on the day and now has three homers this spring.
-The Yankees jumped out to a 9-0 lead before the Phillies battled back. Trailing by two runs, the Phillies loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, putting the potential winning run on base, but Cade Austin struck out Buddy Kennedy to end the game and secure the win.
Who was the game MVP?
Chisholm Jr., who drove in three runs on a pair of hits.
In our last group article, we got a look under the hood at some of the players the Rotoworld Baseball staff has drafted the most going into the 2025 MLB season. It was an opportunity to see which players we're planting our flags on for this year. Now, it's time to take things one step further with our fantasy bold predictions for the season ahead.
"Bold" is always a subjective term, so some of these might stand out more than others, but there's a kernel in each of these choices which separates itself from what you'll find in terms of each player's average draft position.
Finding these players — and the value that comes along with them — are what often leads to fantasy championships. Pay close attention if you still have a draft ahead of you.
Crews, the second overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of LSU, stole 12 bases in 31 games in his debut. The 23-year-old struggled at the plate hitting .218 with a .288 OBP. Entering 2024, Crews has been handed an everyday job at the top of the lineup. Sure, he could be sent down if he has a .288 OBP again, but what if he doesn’t? If he gets on base at a reasonable clip, he’s going to steal a lot of bases. Crews’ sprint speed of 29.3 ft/s is in the 93rd percentile and the Nationals were the most aggressive team stealing bases last year, leading the league with 233 steals. - Nick Shlain
Oneil Cruz returns first round value
It's no secret that Cruz has some of the gaudiest raw power in the league. Last season, he was responsible for the four individual hardest hit balls, eight of the 11 hardest, and 15 of the 30 hardest across all batted ball events. He also hit 24 balls in play at least 115 MPH. Giancarlo Stanton had the next most with 17. Cruz also hit four and his 21 home runs further than 450 feet. Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani were the only players with more 450 ft blasts, and they combined for 112 total homers. Any minimal gains Cruz can make with his contact rate will put him squarely in position to exceed 30 or possibly 40 home runs. Moreover, Cruz became a much more willing base stealer over the second half last year as he swiped 15 bags without getting caught after only taking eight attempts before the All-Star break. He's already attempted seven steals this spring and seems primed to run more than his projections would indicate. It's not totally out of bounds to see him hit something like 35 HR with a .270 batting average and 30 stolen bases. That's a first round player. - James Schiano
Emiliano Teodo will lead the Rangers in saves this season
Let’s go completely off the board. I’ll give the Rangers a ton of credit for keeping this one close to the vest this spring, citing a desire to continue developing Teodo as a traditional starter in the upper minors as justification for leaving him off their season-opening roster. The 24-year-old prospect’s triple-digit fastball velocity makes it easy to envision him excelling in the ninth inning down the road, like how the division-rival Athletics recently transformed top prospect Mason Miller from volatile starter to elite stopper. The Rangers haven’t put a ton of roadblocks in his path to a high-leverage role by letting Kirby Yates leave in free agency and failing to re-sign David Robertson. They brought in longtime setup specialist Chris Martin to close, but he’s battled shoulder issues for years and turns 39 in a couple months. I’m willing to roll the dice on the talent here and gamble that the Rangers eventually turn things over to the most talented arm in their relief mix. - George Bissell
Jack Leiter delivers the most fantasy value of any AL rookie and also wins the AL Rookie of the Year Award
This is a bit of a bold prediction since Leiter currently has the 6th-best odds to win AL Rookie of the Year, with guys like Jasson Dominguez, Jackson Jobe, and Coby Mayo, among others, all seen as better bets. I see a path where Leiter produces more fantasy value than all of them. His fastball has been electric this season, sitting at 98 mph in his outings. He also added a sinker to pound the strike zone with and modified his changeup into a kick-change that looks dynamic. I think he starts the season in the Rangers' rotation, which gives him to chance to cement his status for the remainder of the season. He made real strides at Triple-A last year, and the only thing holding him back as been inconsistent command. I think his mechanical tweaks can help him iron that out and he can take off in 2025. - Eric Samulski
Cristopher Sánchez will finish as a top-15 fantasy starting pitcher
Sánchez has already displayed excellent run-suppression skills with his extreme ground ball rate while giving plenty of volume with an 181-inning season. The path to him propelling to the top of the pitcher ranks lies in his WHIP and strikeouts. The 28-year-old left-hander appears poised to make that leap. Sánchez has demonstrated outstanding control, walking just 5.8% of batters last season after producing a 4% walk rate in 2023. His 1.24 WHIP was mostly the product of an inflated .313 BABIP that's bound for regression. Still, generating more swing and miss would bode well for lowering his WHIP and getting more strikeouts. He's doing just that this spring with increased fastball velocity, striking out 17 batters over 11 2/3 innings across his four spring starts. If he can maintain his velocity gain into the regular season, he could flourish into a fantasy ace. - Jorge Montanez
Jake Fraley combines for 50 home runs + stolen bases
The dynamic 29-year-old struggled through injury, illness and a complete loss of power during the 2024 season, and he still managed to sock five dingers and steal 20 bases in 382 plate appearances. He'll be a fixture in the Reds' lineup against right-handed pitching and it would shock me if he managed to steal fewer than 30 bases if he avoids the injured list. I'm hoping for a small bounce back in power, so maybe a 15/35 season is in the cards, but 10/40 isn't out of the question either. It's baffling to me that he's still going right around pick 400 through the first 11 NFBC Main Event drafts. He has found his way onto the roster of every team that I have drafted so far. - David Shovein
Austin Riley leads the NL in homers
Shohei Ohtani is the obvious favorite to lead the NL in home runs again, yet he comes with some extra injury concerns this year as he returns to pitching and tries to accommodate his surgically repaired left (non-throwing) shoulder. So, if not Ohtani, why not Riley? The Braves third baseman hit 38 homers in 2022 and 37 in 2023. That he's currently penciled in as a No. 2 hitter for a team that hates giving regulars days off gives him a shot at reaching 700 plate appearances. Riley had a somewhat disappointing 2024 season that was brought to an early end by a broken hamate bone suffered on a HBP, but he was still hitting the ball as hard as ever. In fact, his 96th-percentile average exit velocity and hard-hit rates were career bests. Mostly, he just didn't pull his flyballs quite as often as usual. If he can get back to that, 40 homers should be in the cards and a run at 50 can't be ruled out. - Matthew Pouliot
Dylan Crews will be a top-20 fantasy outfielder
Obviously there's risk in believing a player that is entering his first full MLB season will have this much success, and it's worth pointing out that Crews wasn't great in his first taste of action at the highest level. That being said, this is a player who has the tools to hit for average, power and steal bases while getting a chance to play everyday and hit near the top of the lineup for the Nationals. You don't want to go too crazy with spring training stats, but the fact that Crews hit .324 and stole three bases over his first dozen games in the Grapefruit League doesn't hurt my confidence, either. I wouldn't draft Crews as my second outfielder, I'm just not going to be surprised at all when he finishes in that range. - Christopher Crawford
The fragility of starting pitching was a primary reason why the Phillies didn’t cut ties with Taijuan Walker after his terrible 2024, and although Walker did not pitch well on Wednesday in Clearwater, his role might have already increased.
Ranger Suarez is dealing with mild back stiffness, Rob Thomson told reporters after Wednesday’s game. Suarez had been set to start Friday but will not.
It is unclear how much time off Suarez will need but it has to be a concern after Suarez missed time with a back injury at two different points last summer. He did not pitch in the All-Star Game because of back spasms, then spent a month on the injured list from July 27-August 24 with lower back soreness.
Will Suarez be ready for the regular season? Opening Day is March 27, just eight days away, and you’d figure the Phillies will want to see him face hitters and see how he responds before feeling comfortable that he’s ready to go. Suarez lined up to start the Phils’ fourth or fifth game of the season, which would be at home against the Rockies on March 31 or April 2. There are still two full weeks between now and April 2, but it will depend on how Suarez progresses day by day.
Walker threw 83 pitches on Wednesday in his fourth start of the spring. He would be the next man up to make a spot start in Suarez’ place. Walker’s velocity this spring has been closer to 2023 than 2024, which will be necessary because he couldn’t miss bats or the sweet spot much a season ago, finishing with a 7.10 ERA and allowing opponents to hit .317 with a .975 OPS.
Walker was hit around by the Yankees on Wednesday and allowed three home runs. He’s been taken deep in each spring start, six times total, and struck out just six batters in 13 innings. Here’s how the outings went:
March 2 at Blue Jays: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
March 8 vs. Blue Jays: 3⅓ IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
March 14 at Yankees: 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
March 19 vs. Yankees: 3⅔ IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
If Walker was not owed $36 million total over the next two seasons, he might not still be in this spot, but the Phillies preferred having another starting pitching option over giving him away to another team for maybe $1 million. If he gives the Phils even a few passable starts in 2025, the decision to hold him will have made sense.
Suarez’ injury also helps explain why the four pitchers left in camp fighting for a bullpen job — Tyler Phillips, Nabil Crismatt, Kyle Tyler and Michael Mercado — are all swingmen who can start or relieve. If Suarez and Matt Strahm (left shoulder impingement) aren’t ready for Opening Day, two of them could make the team. Tyler and Mercado can be optioned to the minor leagues while Phillips and Crismatt cannot.
Phillips and Mercado both pitched on Wednesday. Mercado allowed a two-run homer to Cody Bellinger in his inning; Phillips allowed a run over two innings with three strikeouts. Both have ERAs over 8.00 this spring.
The Phillies also have Joe Ross, signed to a one-year, $4 million contract. They intended to build him up as a starter this spring but appear to have him slotted for multi-inning relief or leverage work. He started on February 26 and threw 37 pitches over two innings but all four outings since have come in relief, three of them lasting one inning and 1⅔ for the other.
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones is missing his next spring training start because of elbow discomfort.
Jones went 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA last season, combining with Paul Skenes to form an impressive rookie tandem on the mound in Pittsburgh, but now his status is uncertain just over a week before the season opener for the Pirates.
“He’s not going to make his next start in spring training,” manager Derek Shelton told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday. “That’s for sure. I think with that being said, we’re going to have to look at what happens going into the season.”
Todd Tomczyk, the team’s senior director of sports medicine, told reporters the team is currently awaiting a second opinion on Jones, who has had medical imaging done.
“We’re hopeful we’ll have a resolution in the coming days, at least what the next steps are,” Tomczyk said. “But we are in kind of a hold, in a waiting pattern, until we can get that additional read.”
The last time the Boston Red Sox earned the American League East crown, they won a franchise-record 108 games and went on to capture the World Series title. They won’t need to be historic to reclaim the division in 2025.
This year, the AL East is as open as it has been in years. The reigning division champion New York Yankees lost superstar Juan Soto in free agency and enter the season dealing with a slew of injuries. The Baltimore Orioles lost ace Corbin Burnes and didn’t make minimal upgrades outside of adding ex-Red Sox slugger Tyler O’Neill. The Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays remain question marks, with neither expected to make a major step forward.
Meanwhile, Boston overhauled its starting rotation by acquiring Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler. They bolstered their lineup and infield defense with the signing of All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman, and they should benefit from the arrivals of top prospects Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer. That should be enough to put them on par — or ahead — of their divisional foes.
So, how will the AL East standings shake out by October? Here’s our 2025 season prediction:
1. Boston Red Sox
2024 result: 81-81, third in AL East, missed postseason
2025 prediction: 93-69, first in AL East
Yes, you read that correctly: the Red Sox win their first division crown since 2018, and that isn’t as bold a prediction as it may seem.
Unlike in recent years, there’s no clear-cut powerhouse in the division. The New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles aren’t as intimidating heading into 2025, while the Red Sox made major upgrades across the board.
The starting rotation now boasts a legitimate Cy Young candidate in Garrett Crochet and a two-time World Series champion in Walker Buehler. Offensively, the addition of veteran Alex Bregman adds another elite bat to what could be one of the league’s most dangerous lineups.
Bregman also solves Boston’s defensive woes at third base, one of the team’s biggest weaknesses in 2024. His arrival likely shifts Rafael Devers to designated hitter, a move the slugger may not embrace but one that improves the team overall.
Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images
Two-time World Series champion Alex Bregman will play a significant role in the Red Sox lineup, the infield, and the clubhouse.
Then there’s the youth movement. Top prospects Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer are knocking on the door. If even one of them lives up to the hype, this Red Sox offense could rank among the top three in MLB.
That said, there are concerns, especially in the bullpen. Boston lost Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin, and will rely on veterans Aroldis Chapman and Liam Hendriks to stabilize the late innings. If they falter, the Red Sox could struggle to close out games.
Still, the Red Sox took a step forward last season and with several significant upgrades, they should take an even bigger leap in 2025.
2. Baltimore Orioles
2024 result: 91-71, second in AL East, lost to Kansas City Royals in Wild Card Series
2025 prediction: 89-73, second AL East
The O’s still have arguably the best lineup in the division despite losing slugger Anthony Santander in free agency to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Young shortstop Gunnar Henderson is a perennial MVP candidate and Adley Rutschman is a top-five catcher in baseball. Colton Cowser was the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up and Jordan Westburg made a name for himself as one of the best young infielders in the sport in Year 2 of his career. Jackson Holliday still has superstar potential after a disappointing rookie campaign.
The concern? Pitching. Losing Corbin Burnes was a massive blow, and they didn’t replace him with a true ace. That leaves Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, and 41-year-old Charlie Morton to lead the rotation.
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The Orioles’ young, loaded lineup makes them the Red Sox’ biggest competition in the AL East for 2025.
However, Baltimore’s bullpen could be a strength with closer Félix Bautista returning from injury. If their starting pitching holds up, the Orioles will be the Red Sox’ stiffest competition for the division crown.
3. New York Yankees
2024 result: 94-68, first in AL East, lost to Los Angeles Dodgers in World Series
2025 prediction: 87-75, third in AL East
The Yankees are in rough shape heading into 2025, and not just because they failed to re-sign superstar Juan Soto in free agency.
Their ace Gerrit Cole will miss the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. While prized offseason addition Max Fried should help pick up the slack atop the rotation, Cole’s injury is the tip of the iceberg.
Right-hander Luis Gil, the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year, is expected to be sidelined until June with a lat strain. Veteran slugger Giancarlo Stanton has torn tendons in both elbows and will start the year on the injured list. Infielder DJ LeMahieu will miss time with a calf strain.
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The Yankees will need another historic season out of Aaron Judge in 2025.
Even when healthy, this Yankees’ lineup isn’t exactly Murderers’ Row. Two-time MVP Aaron Judge is the only player on the projected Opening Day roster who posted an OPS above .800 last season. Plenty will be put on his shoulders as he looks to carry the group without Soto and Stanton.
Offseason additions Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt could help, but both are coming off down seasons. If Goldschmidt continues to decline at age 37, he could be more of a liability than an asset.
The Yankees still have enough talent to compete for a Wild Card spot, but their injuries and roster turnover will likely keep them from contending for the division title.
4. Tampa Bay Rays
2024 result: 80-82, fourth in AL East, missed postseason
2025 prediction: 84-78, fourth in AL East
The Rays missed the postseason last year for the first time since 2018, largely due to injuries and the Wander Franco scandal. This season, their success hinges on ace Shane McClanahan returning to All-Star form after Tommy John surgery, offseason additions Danny Jansen and Ha-Seong Kim adding offensive production, and top prospects Junior Caminero and Curtis Mead making an impact.
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Two-time All-Star southpaw Shane McClanahan rejoins the Rays rotation after missing the entire 2024 season.
The biggest issue? The lineup. Tampa Bay scored the second-fewest runs in MLB last season and didn’t make major offensive upgrades.
The Rays could sneak into a Wild Card spot if everything breaks right, but another fourth-place finish seems more likely.
5. Toronto Blue Jays
2024 result: 74-88, fifth in AL East, missed postseason
2025 prediction: 79-83, fifth in AL East
The Blue Jays improved in the offseason after their last-place AL East finish, signing ex-Orioles slugger Anthony Santander, All-Star middle infielder Andres Gimenez, future Hall-of-Fame righty Max Scherzer, and stud reliever Jeff Hoffman in free agency. But will that be enough?
Their two best players Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette are scheduled to become free agents after the season. If the club gets off to a slow start, it won’t be long before we start talking about a fire sale in Toronto.
To avoid that scenario, the Jays will need a bounce-back year out of Bichette while newcomers Santander and Gimenez add pop to the lineup. Scherzer must stay healthy while Bowden Francis builds off a breakout 2024 campaign behind Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, and Chris Bassitt in the rotation.
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Vladimir Guerrero could be on the trade block this summer if Toronto struggles in the first half.
Toronto’s performance over the first two months will determine the organization’s short and long-term fates. While there’s enough talent on the roster to rebound from their lackluster 2024, we’d bet on the Blue Jays being among the more active clubs at the July trade deadline. That makes them our pick to place last in the division for the second straight year.
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani waves to fans as he leaves the field after a 6-3 win over the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome on Wednesday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
In Tokyo, you can't miss Shohei Ohtani. His picture is everywhere, in advertisements above street crossings and at the airport, on television and in magazines. He endorses shoes and skin care products, airlines and watches and so much more.
Those marketing deals have become so lucrative that Ohtani will make an estimated $100 million in endorsement revenue this year, without a penny from the Dodgers.
In its annual list of highest-paid major leaguers, Sportico reported Ohtani and Juan Soto of the New York Mets are poised to be the first MLB players to make $100 million in a season.
For Soto, the breakdown includes $7 million in endorsements, plus a $75-million signing bonus and a $47-million salary this season. None of his salary is deferred. The total for this season: $129 million.
For Ohtani, the breakdown includes $100 million in endorsements, plus a $2-million salary this season. He agreed that the Dodgers could defer $68 million of his $70-million salary during each year of his 10-year contract. The total for this season: $102 million.
No other MLB player comes close to Ohtani in endorsement revenue. According to the Sportico rankings, Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies ranks second to Ohtani — with an estimated $10 million in endorsements this season.
Sportico ranks the Dodgers' Blake Snell as the third-highest-paid player in MLB this season. His breakdown: $52-million signing bonus, plus $12.8 million in non-deferred salary, plus $750,000 in endorsements. The total for this season: $65.6 million.
TOKYO — Shohei Ohtani hit a solo homer in his return to the Tokyo Dome, Roki Sasaki threw three eventful innings in his big-league debut and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 6-3 to sweep the two-game series in Japan.
Kiké Hernández hit a two-run homer and Tommy Edman added a solo shot. Ohtani’s homer in the fifth barely cleared the right-center fence and the call was reviewed by umpires before being confirmed, giving the Dodgers a 6-2 lead.
Sasaki gave up one run and one hit while striking out three, but also walked five batters, including a free pass that forced in a run. Landon Knack (1-0) got the win, pitching two scoreless innings of relief.
Alex Vesia handled the ninth to earn the save after working out of a two-out jam. Shortstop Miguel Rojas made a stellar defensive play for the final out, ranging far to his right to grab a grounder from Matt Shaw before making a strong throw to first.
Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (0-1) was tagged for five runs over four innings, giving up the homers to Hernández and Edman. Jon Berti had three of Chicago’s eight hits.
The Dodgers were without Freddie Freeman (ribs) and Mookie Betts (illness) for a second straight game. Dave Roberts is hopeful that Freeman and Betts will both be ready for the domestic season opener on March 27.
Key moment
Ohtani’s homer was the moment all of Japan was waiting to see. The 30-year-old once again delivered in a big spot and had three hits in the two games in Tokyo.
Key stat
The first six pitches of Sasaki’s MLB career registered 99.5, 99.5, 100, 100.5, 99.4 and 98.9 mph on the radar gun.
Up next
Both teams return home, though the Dodgers will go directly to Los Angeles while the Cubs return to their spring training home in Mesa, Arizona. The Dodgers open the domestic regular season schedule at home against the Detroit Tigers on March 27 while the Cubs are on the road at the Arizona Diamondbacks on the same day.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Whether it’s in the bullpen or an exhibition game, there’s one question that comes to mind when watching Joel Peguero pitch.
Why is he in Giants camp as a non-roster invitee?
The 27-year-old stunned coaches by hitting 101 mph in his first bullpen session last month, which led to a few extra teammates filtering over for every subsequent session. In the Cactus League opener, Peguero started out in the 94-to-96-mph range, and for a moment it seemed like those bullpen sessions were outliers. And then Peguero settled in, reaching 101.7 mph by the end of his outing. He hasn’t slowed down at all over the past month; on Monday, he hit triple-digits five times.
The velocity is not the only reason Peguero is so intriguing, though. The Giants post a strike-throwing leaderboard on clubhouse TVs and Peguero was the leader through the weekend. Through eight appearances, he has yet to allow a run and has eight strikeouts to one walk.
All of that leads to that question again. In every way, Peguero has looked like someone who should have been locked into a big-league bullpen by now, but he’s in Giants camp hoping to win a job, and pushing for what would be his MLB debut. The Giants aren’t quite sure why that’s the case, but they sure are thrilled that Peguero is wearing their colors.
“I think he has made as much of an impression as anybody in camp,” manager Bob Melvin said. “At first you’re watching bullpens and he’s throwing 101 in the bullpen, and then he comes out and he’s doing the same thing in games. You wonder why this guy hasn’t been in the big leagues at some point in time.”
The fascinating thing about Peguero is that he’s not even coming off a season in which he was on the verge of a debut. He first reached Triple-A in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Rays and pitched at the highest minor-league level with the Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals the next two seasons, but all of 2024 was spent in Double-A with the Detroit Tigers.
Peguero had a 3.14 ERA last year, with 56 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings. He has at times run high walk rates in the minors, but it was just three walks per nine innings last season. He struck out more than a batter per inning, but in the minors, the strikeout rates have not matched the raw stuff the Giants have seen this spring.
The Giants brought Peguero in this spring as a minor-league free agent, which they had hoped to do years earlier. Latin American development coordinator Hector Borg has coached Peguero in the Dominican Winter League and first recommended him to superiors when Peguero was with the Rays. Current general manager Zack Minasian kept a close eye on him last season, noting that his velocity ticked up every month and he started throwing more strikes with a slider that has reached 93 mph this spring. The Giants made Peguero a priority as they put together their non-roster list, and that mattered to the hard-throwing right-hander, who had several opportunities to be in a big league camp.
“Their interest was different,” Peguero said through interpreter Erwin Higueros. “There was something about that interest that I just decided that the Giants are the best fit. It was a little bit more secure and there was more opportunity here.”
When asked about finally taking the big step to the big leagues, Peguero said the key will be consistency. That has been missing at times as a professional, but this spring he has focused on pounding the strike zone. When you’re doing that and sitting in triple digits, you’re going to draw a lot of eyeballs, and Peguero said there might be more in the tank. He’s been up to 103 mph in the minors.
The Giants have seen enough to know they might have added a special arm to their bullpen mix, although Peguero might have to wait a bit longer for that debut. There’s a big crowd fighting for the final spots in the bullpen, and most involved have thrown well. Peguero does not have an opt-out in his minor-league deal, so he could begin the season in Triple-A.
“We’ll see where we go with that,” Melvin said. “But at some point in time, if he continues to pitch like this, he’s going to be in the big leagues with us.”
If he gets there this year with the Giants, it’ll make all the sense in the world to those who have watched him throw this spring, and those who have been eyeing him for years. Borg said Peguero’s arm is matched by his work ethic and makeup, and he’s hopeful that it’s finally his time.
“Sometimes some players are different and take different routes to make it to the big leagues,” Borg said. “Sometimes it takes a little longer to make it to The Show. I think he’s on the right track right now. He made an adjustment and is throwing strikes, and his arm is special.”
Matthew Pouliot
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