Every play is the “Play of the Year.” Every new prospect or rookie is a generational talent. And every great player gets inevitabely put into the discussion of “Greatest of All Time.”
But trust us, it might be tough to top this goal as far as the title of “Goal of the Year.”
It comes to us from the KHL, and the clash between Moscow heavyweights Dynamo Moscow and Spartak Moscow. The game advanced to a shootout, and that is when former Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Semyon Der-Arguchintsev lined up for his attempt.
Der-Arguchintsev breaks towards Spartak goalie Artyom Zagidulin, before slowing the play and getting Zagidulin to drop down to his pads. That’s when Der-Arguchintsev pulls the puck around his back, lifting a shot around his back and into the top shelf for the game-winning goal.
Toronto drafted Der-Arguchintsev in the third round of the 2018 NHL Draft, and the forward worked his way through the team’s developmental system. He spent three seasons with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, scoring 25 goals. He appeared in one game with the Maple Leafs, but did not score a goal.
He opted to return to Russia for the 2023-2024 season, joining Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL.
But this shootout goal is good enough, that it might just get him another look.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 16: Venezuelan fans celebrate the victory during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Semifinals between Italy and Venezuela at loanDepot park on March 16, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gene Wang - Capture At Media/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MIAMI, FL, March 16 — When I decided to plan a trip to Miami centered around the knockout stage of the World Baseball Classic a few weeks ago, I did so with the expectation that the tournament would see a steady rise in popularity over the next couple of decades. In a world where almost everything is on the verge of falling apart, the WBC presents a refreshing opportunity to invest in something that’s fun and has its best days clearly in the future.
Well, I was wrong. The future is now!
The World Baseball Classic isn’t just a story of slow and steady growth for tomorrow — it’s a love letter sent down from the baseball gods addressed to everybody on planet Earth, and in most places, it already arrived yesterday. (Some folks just haven’t checked their mailbox yet.)
Simply put, there is nothing like the World Baseball Classic. I keep looking for some combination of words I can string together here to try and communicate what I’ve seen and experienced the last four days, and nothing is going to do it justice.
In less than 100 hours, I’ve gone from never being more impressed by a singular fanbase than I am for Team Japan, to never being more impressed by a singular fanbase than I am for the Dominican Republic, to never being more impressed by a singular fanbase than I am for Venezuela. And as silly as this may sound after that last sentence, I’m not somebody who is easily impressed.
Team Japan brought an armada of fans from the other side of the planet. They wore creative costumes and face paint, brought flags, expectations, and a deep knowledge of the game, donned a million Shohei Ohtani jerseys, and flooded Miami with an obsession for baseball I haven’t seen in a city since Boston in 2004. These folks are everywhere!
Ohtani is like a God to them. When he comes to the plate, the entire background state of the stadium changes. Side conversations evaporate, unrelated chanting stops, focus maximizes, and anticipation builds. Everybody in the park knows they might be about to witness something extraordinary on any given pitch, and in the bottom of the first inning Saturday, we did.
In what felt like a direct counterpunch to Ronald Acuna’s solo home run in the top of the first inning, the greatest player in the world instantly answered and set the stage for Japan to eventually jump out to a 5-2 lead.
But oddly enough, it was an Ohtani strikeout with two men on and a chance to extend that three run lead later in the game that ultimately served as the turning point. If Ohtani can be beaten, well then so can team Japan, and that’s exactly what happened later that night, powered largely by Wilyer Abreu’s three run homer:
Willyer Abreu’s most iconic moment of his life so far. This guy is such a stud. Such an underrated hitter.
Then on Sunday night, there was the United States against the Dominican Republic, and a full 90 minutes before first pitch, the DR fans were doing this:
They only got louder as the evening progressed, and as a group, they turned a night at the ballpark into a five-hour party with enough electricity to light up the Miami skyline for a week. And of course, all this was happening while perhaps the greatest collection of talent ever assembled on a baseball diamond in a game that mattered faced off in a nerve-wracking 2-1 battle. It just doesn’t get any better than this! (Except it does, because Roman Anthony ended up hitting what turned out to be the game winning home run.)
But despite all of this, the fanbase that’s taught me the most about how to act as a human being is the Venezuelans. From now on, when I think of the word joy, I’m going to think of them.
Their manager Omar Lopez said something to the effect of “we just want to bring some happiness to our country” in this tournament. And, well, they’ve already done that and more, despite still being one win away from the championship.
Until you experience a game with the Venezuelans, you will never believe an atmosphere could be both so tense and so friendly at the same time. It was as if I was back in a ballpark with all the passion of Red Sox vs. Yankees of the early 2000s, but none of the hostility. And of course, this is only more amazing when you consider I experienced this while wearing a U.S hat, the very country that bombed their homeland a mere two months ago.
Whenever anything good happened for their team, they wanted to include me in their celebrations, which included dancing, specialized chants, and a joy you barely see anywhere in the world right now. Here I am, as white as Christmas snow equipped with zero dancing ability, and these folks are grabbing my hand and teaching me how they do it.
Perhaps I’ll have better luck at retaining their chants. My favorite of which is when they yell “Ponche! Ponche!” while swinging their right arm anytime their pitcher gets two strikes on a hitter. It actually comes from the English word strikeout or punch out, but it’s clearly pronounced with a delightful Spanish flair. Perhaps we should try to bring this thing to Fenway whenever Venezuelan native Ranger Suarez is on the mound this summer. It’s so much fun!
You know what else was fun? Watching this Venezuelan team celebrate after punching their ticket to the WBC final.
I have no idea how this tournament manages to keep topping itself every single day, but with the U.S. and Venezuela set to match up for all the marbles tonight, it just might do it again. But regardless of who gets crowned champion, this has already been an enormous win for the sport of baseball on a scale of global proportions, and that’s something we can all celebrate.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Gunnar Henderson #11 and Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of Team United States celebrate after the 2-1 victory against Team Dominican Republic at loanDepot park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Morning everyone!
The WBC finally comes to an end tonight with the finale set up between the USA and Venezuela. While many expected the US national team to be here, this is Venezuela’s first time reaching the final round of the competition. And of course with world events going on right now you can’t help but feel the added sense of importance for players on both squads.
The Americans are set to send Mets right-handed Nolan McLean to the bump this evening for what’ll be his second start of the tournament. His first one didn’t go all that smoothly as he got tagged for three runs in three innings of work. Team Italy seemed to get the jump on the young righty so he’ll be hoping to turn his and his squad’s fortunes around in this winner-take-all matchup. This is likely going to be the biggest game of the 24-year-old’s young career so let’s hope he got a good night’s rest as is ready to take on the impresses Venezuela lineup.
Team Venezuela meanwhile has Diamondbacks lefty Eduardo Rodriguez getting the nod for the final game of the tourney. Like McLean he also got hit hard in his lone start during the WBC, but unlikely McLean Rodriguez is a seasoned veteran. This is going to be for all the marbles now. Let’s see who wants it worse.
And of course we have some A’s baseball to look forward to this afternoon as well when the Athletics take on the Chicago White Sox. Opening Day is fast approaching and it’s nearly time to start getting the roster officially set. The A’s don’t have seemingly as many roster questions as they’ve had in recent years but there’s always tough decisions to be made around this time of year. Let’s hope manager Mark Kotsay makes the right calls early and gets our team started strong for what could be a surprising year for people not familiar with our group of guys.
Venezuela vs. USA. Tomorrow.. The game of baseball has long been intertwined with politics whether we like it or not. The current climate of our world & specifically the relationship between these 2 countries recently ramps that up on an international scale. Goes without saying…
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - MARCH 7: Peyton Pallette #63 of the Cleveland Guardians gets set to throw a pitch during a Spring Training game against the San Diego Padres at Goodyear Ballpark on March 7, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Stephen Vogt said Jose Ramirez’s shoulder is already feeling better and he won’t need imaging on it, so nothing else matters.
Venezuela beat Italy to advance to tonight’s final against the USA. Brayan Rocchio had one at-bat for team Italy, flying out to left.
The Guardians didn’t look good losing to the Cubs yesterday but the important thing is we are closer to Opening Day and Jose is ok. Peyton Pallette looked sensational again in two spotless innings and Tim Herrin had a clean inning as well.
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It’s undeniable, the excitement that the World Baseball Classic brings to baseball fans around the world. Legends are made, fan and player customs become more familiar, and players off of our MLB-centric radar lunge to the fore.
But there are downsides to the tournament, particularly with regard to injuries. Our White Sox, with just five active players involved in the WBC, were snakebitten, as platoon-starting catcher Kyle Teel strained a hamstring that will likely keep him out of the regular season until May.
It’s unlikely that the WBC will be going away any time soon (although you haters do have a voting option below), so when is the best time to hold this world tournament?
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 14: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers reacts after hitting a two-run home run against the San Diego Padres during the third inning of the spring training game at Surprise Stadium on March 14, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning.
Evan Grant offers up a few observations from camp as the Texas Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox in a Cactus League game yesterday.
Kennedi Landry writes about president of baseball operations Chris Young speaking on how the roster is shaping up.
With Opening Day right around the corner, Grant has more from Young’s Q&A, including thoughts on the general vibes of camp.
Jayson Stark writes that more rules changes are coming to the minor leagues, which is often a testing ground for future changes to the big leagues.
Grant writes that the spotlight has been on Corey Seager this spring after the Rangers transitioned away from players that Seager won a World Series with.
Jim Callis checks out the state of the farm for the Rangers in camp, including a couple of youngsters that Texas is trying to develop as two-way players.
Grant notes that, after making it back from spring injuries, Marc Church and Justin Foscue were sent to minor league camp in the latest round of camp cuts yesterday.
Davy Andrews at FanGraphs begins their positional power rankings with a look at catcher where the Rangers project in the bottom third.
Landry writes that Michael Helman is the owner of a brand new Rolex after relinquishing No. 24 to Brandon Nimmo.
Grant writes about Cal Quantrill trying to remain in the mix for a spot on the staff after performing for Team Canada in the WBC.
Shawn McFarland believes Winston Santos could pitch in the big leagues this year which lands him at No. 8 on the DMN’s top 30 list.
Every year, there is one prospect in the Yankees system in whom I am irrationally invested. Sometimes it pays off. For example, I was along for the ride with 2016 Dustin Fowler. Other years, not so much … everyone take a moment please for all the seasons I spent conducting the Luis Medina Hype Train.
This year, for my money, it’s the man they call Elmer. Acquired from Boston in December 2024 along with international bonus money in exchange for catcher Carlos Narváez, Rodríguez climbed all the way from High-A ball to get a cup of coffee at Triple-A by season’s end. His results were enough that he comes into 2026 firmly ensconced in sundry top prospect lists. MLB Pipeline has him at #82, while Baseball Prospectus (#60) and Baseball America (#59) are even higher on the right-hander.
Although he may not appear in the Bronx at all this season, he is right on the doorstep. After a great 2025 and an excellent 2026 spring—including a nails outing at the World Baseball Classic—Rodríguez won’t sneak up on anyone.
A few things jump out about Rodríguez’s performance last season. To begin, it was almost impossible to drive his pitches in the air. He notched a 54.5-percent groundball rate and allowed only three home runs in 150 innings last season. I suspect that latter is unsustainable but it also suggests he isn’t going to just start allowing gopher balls all the time.
Moreover, the “stuff” is there. He sits in the mid-90s with his fastballs, with the ability to heat it up into the upper 90s. Meanwhile, he features four other offerings: a slider, a curveball, a changeup, and a cutter. FanGraphs, who recently slotted Elmer in as the Yankees’ second-best prospect, are believers in the slider and curve, assigning each of the pitches a 50 on the 20-80 scales, with upward future projections on both.
We’ve gotten good looks at Rodríguez already in 2026. He earned the nod as the starter for the first game of spring training against the Orioles. Three shutout innings later, he was back in the dugout with nary a free pass marring his ledger, the walk having been a bit of a bugaboo for Rodríguez in the past. Backstop Austin Wells said after the game: “He mixed it really well, hit the spots when he needed to, and got some big groundballs. He’s got a lot of really good pitches. He’s got the talent. He’s just got to go do it.”
Elmer made one more appearance for the Yankees then headed to the WBC where he pitched for Puerto Rico. Facing Cuba on March 9th, he tossed three scoreless in international best-on-best, whiffing three.
The Yanks recently optioned Rodríguez back to minor-league camp, but that should be no surprise. Even with the injuries to Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt, the Yankee rotation is basically sorted out to start the season, with Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, Luis Gil, and Ryan Yarbrough on the 26-man roster.
But with attrition rates what they are with pitchers, numbers 6-10 in the rotation depth chart increasingly take on outsized importance. With Elmer already on the 40-man roster, he’s likely pretty darned close to Next Man Up if something happens, and Schlittler demonstrated just last year what can happen when opportunity strikes.
As it stands, Elmer will almost certainly start the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre — potentially even starting their season opener on March 27th in Buffalo. And that’s fine. Only 22 years old, Rodríguez has made a grand total of two starts there (including one in the International League playoffs), after just 11 starts at Double-A. That’s not a whole lot of reps above A-ball. With any luck, the Yankees don’t actually need him this season and he’s able to spend the majority of 2026 working on his pitches and refining his mechanics. If there is one point of concern in his scouting report, it is command.
FanGraphs notes “some of the markers in his delivery… hint that he’s going to work regions more than hit spots. Perhaps he’ll grow into a half-grade more command than we’re projecting if he stays healthy and accumulates reps…” Getting the chance to accumulate those reps and see if he can elevate his ceiling sounds just fine to me.
If Elmer debuts this season, here’s hoping it’s solely because he’s been too brilliant to hold down any longer. Otherwise, let’s see what he can do with a full season at Triple-A.
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 13, 2026: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles bats during the third inning of a spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark on March 13, 2026 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
For the last four seasons, the story of the Most Valuable Oriole has largely told the story of the Orioles’ entire season. In 2022, a rookie Adley Rutschman took home MVO honors after debuting in May and rallying the O’s to a 67-55 record over the last four months of the season. Another rookie took home the award in 2023, as Gunnar Henderson earned ROY and MVO as the Orioles captured the AL East crown.
Henderson was a back-to-back winner in 2024, as the Orioles’ Country Boy posted the best season in franchise history by WAR (9.1) by anyone other than Cal Ripken Jr. Trevor Rogers denied Gunnar the three-peat last year, as the lefty overcame an early-season injury to post one of the best 18-start stretches in Orioles’ history.
The Orioles will need a concerted effort from the entire 26-man roster if Baltimore is going to reverse its fortunes and return to the playoffs in 2026. But after disappointing seasons from many star players in 2025, the O’s will need their stars to lead from the front of the lineup or rotation if they want to reverse their fortunes in the new season. With that in mind, let’s give sportsbook-style odds for which players are most likely to add their name to the pantheon of Most Valuable Orioles winners.
*Disclaimer: These are not real betting odds. I set these odds myself. Do not actually try and bet them.*
The favorite: Pete Alonso
Beers Sportsbook Betting Odds: -150
Gunnar Henderson has been the Orioles’ best player for some time now, both in terms of on-field production and national recognition. After rising to the No. 10 player in all of baseball on the heels of a record-setting season in 2024, Henderson has slipped to No. 26 in MLB.com’s latest Top 100 Players of Right Now due to a down 2025. That’s still the best ranking of any Oriole, but right behind him at No. 33 is major offseason signing Pete Alonso.
What is often the separator in “Most Valuable” conversations is not solely a player’s stats, but the narrative attached to their season. If the Orioles are going to reach their full potential in 2026, the offense will have to lead the way. Before injuries to Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday, many projection models had the O’s lineup as the best in the American League. Last year, the O’s finished near the bottom of the league in runs scored and toward the middle of the pack in home runs. Alonso will look to help the O’s match or better their 2024 form when they finish Top 5 in both runs and home runs.
Given his track record as a five-time All-Star and perennial 40+ HR hitter, I’m sure a lot of credit will be given to Alonso if the O’s reach their full offensive potential. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t expect big things from Henderson, Rutschman, Taylor Ward, Samuel Basallo and others. However, Alonso is the leader this team will be looking to throughout the season, and the player MVO voters will look to if he leads an offensive revolution.
The leading competition
Trevor Rogers or Kyle Bradish
Beers Sportsbrook Betting Odds: +150
The Orioles’ rotation is full of talent, but also full of uncertainty. The additions of Shane Baz and Chris Bassitt, and the re-signing of Zach Eflin, have made the Orioles’ rotation deeper. And yet, this rotation still lacks a fully-proven, front-line starter. That is, unless Rogers or Bradish prove their best seasons were not one-offs.
When Rogers took home the award last year, a big part of his value came from the unexpected nature of his breakout season. Coming into last season, Rogers wasn’t projected to make the rotation and his only previous experience with the O’s was a disastrous four-start stint after being acquired at the 2024 trade deadline. The southpaw only got a chance last season because Baltimore needed a second starter for a doubleheader in Boston.
What ensued from there was a stretch that put Rogers’ name next to the likes of Jim Palmer and Mike Mussina when it comes to best single-season pitching runs in Orioles history. Rogers’ MVO win last year made him the first pitcher to win the award since closer Randy Myers in 1997, and the first starter since Mike Cuellar in 1974.
Both Rogers and Bradish come into this season with plenty of expectations. The 28-year-old southpaw will get the Opening Day nod, looking to build on his Top 10 Cy Young finish from last year. Bradish slots into the No. 2 spot in the rotation and looks to prove that his dominant 2023 season and spectacular cameo last September are what we should expect going forward. If either can live up to the lofty expectations and put a stranglehold on the ace role, it could be enough to beat out Alonso and the rest of the offense for MVO.
Gunnar Henderson
Beers Sportsbook Betting Odds: +200
In Henderson’s MVP-level season, he put up a 9.1 bWAR while hitting 37 HRs, collecting 92 RBIs, 31 doubles, 21 stolen bases and 118 runs. The majority of that production came with Henderson as the Orioles’ leadoff hitter. Indications from Sarasota are that new manager Craig Albernaz will put the star SS back in the leadoff role after spending most of last year as the No. 3 hitter.
If the return to the top spot in the lineup brings out the best in Baltimore’s best player, his all-around contributions will make it near impossible for any other Orioles to outpace him in the MVO race. Henderson may also be coming into this season with a chip on his shoulder after having to fight for his spot in Team USA’s World Baseball Classic lineup. And a Gunnar Henderson that’s both pissed off and back in his best spot in the order, that’s an MVO waiting to happen.
The dark horse
Coby Mayo
Beers Sportsbook Betting Odds: +1000
Pretty much everything about Coby Mayo is up in the air as we head toward Opening Day. Has he shown enough defensively in the spring to lock down the starting spot at 3B? Once Jackson Holliday and (maybe) Jordan Westburg get healthy, can he keep his spot in the lineup? Will he get any playing time at 1B or DH with Alonso, Basallo and Ryan Mountcastle all competing for ABs at those spots?
The one thing that becomes less of a question every day is Mayo’s bat. He’s gone 13-for-26 in Grapefruit League play while posting a 1.195 OPS, a team-high 10 RBIs and one absolute moonshot. With his spring training performance and his .941 OPS last September, there’s growing reason to believe that the 24-year-old is starting to make good on his offensive upside. If he can break out like Gunnar did in his second full season, we could see Mayo have a 2021 Cedric Mullins run to an unlikely MVO win.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 20: Trea Turner #7, Alec Bohm #28, Bryce Harper #3, and Bryson Stott #5 of the Philadelphia Phillies look on against the Seattle Mariners at Citizens Bank Park on August 20, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Mariners 11-2. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Good Phight will be previewing the 2026 season by going over each position on the field. We’ll talk about the players that will occupy them, the played behind them, their strengths and weaknesses and give a few takes about how we think the season will shake out.
After the dust settled on the offseason roster churn, the Phillies ended up standing pat with the same starting corps of infielders that they rolled out last year. Along with the re-signings of Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto, this decision to “run it back” again has a significant portion of the fanbase calling for Dave Dombrowski’s seat warmer to be turned up to 11. While it maybe doesn’t carry the same excitement as months of prognosticating how a new dynamic might have performed, it does leave the team with a veteran, battle-tested crew that has won over 90 games in each of the past three campaigns.
The starters: Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm, Trea Turner
Maybe the most infamous controversy surrounding the team this offseason was Dombrowski’s commentary on Harper’s 2025 performance and whether it deserves his being regarded as an “elite” player going forward. Dombrowski since walked it back a bit but Harper took notice and by all appearances looks motivated to prove that he is deserving of that status. Harper started the spring hot with three extra-base hits in four games before departing the club for the World Baseball Classic as part of Team USA. He hasn’t made the impact he or his country would like to have seen, with one more chance for “The Showman” to emerge in tonight’s championship game.
Stott will maintain his role as the team’s everyday second baseman for the fourth straight season. His production early in the season (.233/.305/.340 through July 31st) suffered from a failed experiment as the leadoff hitter, but from August 1st onward he slashed .310/.377/.503. In his 207 plate appearances in the leadoff spot and a few games hitting fifth and sixth, he went .212/.257/.295, while in his 353 PAs batting in the 7-9 spots he slashed .284/.369/.451. Stott, along with most of humanity, will never be the offensive threat at second base that was Chase Utley, but at the back of a deep order, he is capable of keeping the train running while providing consistently elite defense.
Hopefully Nick Castellanos burned his hairshirt before he left for San Diego, but if he gifted it to anyone, it could be Bohm. He seems poised to be the most likely player to draw the fans’ ire should his production not meet expectations, which might be fair when he’s being counted on by the organization to be one of the primary run-producers in the middle of the lineup. 2025 will be remembered as a down season for Bohm, but he still hit .287 and is a year removed from slugging 44 doubles and driving home 97 runs, so it’s not outlandish to think he can be a driving force for this offense.
The reigning NL batting champion is your plug-and-play everyday shortstop, as Turner had his best season in red pinstripes in 2025 and was the team’s most consistent hitter from start to finish. He will be turning 33 midway through the season and already provides middle of the road defense at a physically demanding position, so it will bear watching whether he can continue to stay at shortstop long term or if a contingency needs to be mapped out for the future.
The backups: Edmundo Sosa, Otto Kemp, Dylan Moore
Sosa will be the primary backup again at the middle infield spots, providing above-average defense at both spots as well as a live bat with underrated pop that also gives lineup flexibility as he hits from the opposite side of the plate as Stott and is especially successful against left-handed pitching.
Kemp and Moore seem destined to carry a lot of the same responsibilities in the field, each having recent experience at every infield position besides shortstop as well as left field. Kemp bats right and Moore left, so a lot of their playing time will come down to matchups and who’s hot.
The depth: Liover Peguero, Jose Rodriguez, Christian Cairo, Aidan Miller, Felix Reyes
Of the non-roster invitees projected to end up in Lehigh Valley or Reading, Peguero has the most MLB experience, 106 games over the last four seasons all with the Pirates. Rodriguez had a cup of coffee with the White Sox in 2023 and has experience at both middle infield spots. Cairo has seen more versatile usage in his journey through the minors, but the Phillies have been looking at him mostly at first and second. Anything these guys provide at the plate would be a bonus, but solid if unspectacular defense up the middle is all you should hope for if any short-term injuries befall Turner, Stott or Sosa.
Miller remains the gem of the farm system but a nagging lower back injury has kept him out of game action so far this spring. Barring a significant injury to one of the starters or a doomsday scenario where the team is out of contention early, expect Miller to see most of his action in the minors this year.
Reyes has gotten a lot of time at the corner outfield spots in the last two years, but corner infield depth is an organizational weakness. With Harper away, the organization has gotten a long look at Reyes at first base and he’s making the most of it, leading the team in RBI and tied for the lead in home runs.
Strengths: Continuity
This will be the third straight season all four infield spots have the same starters penciled in from day one. That sort of continuity begets chemistry and familiarity in vital places on the ball field. Each of these starters has a well-defined role carved out in the lineup and there is no uncertainty about the type and level of production the team expects from them. From a human standpoint, they are a close-knit group of leaders in the clubhouse that want to win for one another, which has to count for something.
Weaknesses: Continuity
At the beginning of the offseason, the possibilities seemed endless at what this group would look like this year. Bohm and Stott were the subjects of trade rumors. The Phillies were tied to Ketel Marte as a trade target and Alex Bregman as a free agent acquisition. They had a deal in place with Bo Bichette before he chose violence and went to Queens. After all of that commotion, the same four guys that couldn’t get this team over the hump in the playoffs are back and they’re all a year older.
Hottest take: Bohm makes the All Star Game
Bohm will build on his hot start to spring and play himself into the conversation as one of the top offensive third basemen in the NL with a stellar first half and the numbers will be too potent for voters to deny.
Realistic take: Turner and Harper make the All Star Game
With Citizens Bank Park hosting the midsummer classic, the fans will be stuffing the ballot boxes. Turner and Harper should get their fair share of votes league-wide anyway.
The most stable unit in the team may also be its most crucial for short-term and long-term prosperity. If the Phillies win 90 games and enjoy a playoff run, these guys will have played a huge part. If they don’t, this will be the first place everyone points a finger and demands be torn down. No pressure.
I’ll make this one fairly short because I know most of you were watching Venezuela’s 4-2 win over Italy in the WBC semifinal, closed out by Cubs closer Daniel Palencia. (I was watching it, too!)
While that was going on, Cubs right-hander Cade Horton was mowing down Guardians hitters. Horton struck out 10 in five solid innings of work, half of the 20 hitters he faced. Horton allowed three hits and one run and the Cubs defeated the Guardians 5-2.
But the story of the game was Horton, who was dominant. He threw 72 pitches (50 strikes), efficient for five innings. Here’s more on Horton’s outing [VIDEO].
It’s Spring Training and only about half of Cleveland’s regulars were in the lineup. But this sort of dominant outing from Horton is what we became used to last year, and hopefully is a sign of a great year to come for the right-hander. All 10 of the K’s were swinging and Horton mixed up the strikeout pitches, some on four-seamers, some on changeups, some on curveballs. Good stuff.
Unusually, the Cubs used just two pitchers in this game. The other was Colin Rea, who relieved Horton and threw four innings, allowing two hits and one run (a two-out homer in the ninth). He walked two and struck out four, throwing 58 pitches (34 strikes). That should get him good and stretched out for long relief.
The Cubs will play another evening contest Tuesday. It starts one hour after the WBC championship game. So … I’ll have game threads here for both, but I’m pretty sure not many of you will be paying attention to the Cubs game, especially since there’s no TV. The Angels visit Sloan Park for Tuesday’s night game, scheduled for 8:05 p.m. CT. Shōta Imanaga will start for the Cubs and Mitch Farris goes for the Angels. As noted, no TV for the Cubs game, there will be a radio broadcast on the Angels flagship station, KLAA 830.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Roman Anthony #3 of Team United States runs around the bases after hitting a solo home run against Team Dominican Republic during the fourth inning at loanDepot park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello and happy Tuesday, folks. Happy World Baseball Classic title game day, too!
Team USA will be going for their second WBC title in Miami this evening, while Venezuela is trying to become the fourth nation to win the tournament. It’s the culmination of what’s been a fantastic few days of baseball (well not if you appreciate the established parameters of the lower half of the strike zone in the ninth inning), a perfect way to lead us right into the MLB season.
So, simply put: who ya got tonight? I think it’s gonna be the Stars and Stripes at the end of the night, but who can say for sure? Especially when you consider that Nolan McLean is getting the ball again after his rough opening start against Italy in pool play, anything could happen.
No matter what happens, though, let’s just hope that Roman Anthony keeps on cookin’. Lets’ keep our boys healthy and let’s get ready to have a great 2026, huh?
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 5: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with Drake Baldwin #30 after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Truist Park on June 5, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Once again, Monday was a reminder that many parts of the Braves offense have been on fire so far this Spring. Drake Baldwin had another outstanding showing in the Braves Spring Training Victory over the Rays. Ronald Acuna Jr. was a big reason as to why team Venezuela will be facing Team USA in the WBC Finals. This could potentially be the first two hitters in the Braves lineup, but regardless of where they hit, could also be two of the biggest reasons the Braves find their way back to winning at the level they want.
SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory! Drop in SB Nation’s March Madness Feed all week long and we’ll have both on hand! (All times ET)
On this day 51 years ago, Cy Acosta’s extraordinary White Sox career came to an end. | Topps
1901 The White Sox (and their American League counterparts), busy raiding National League teams to bolster talent for their first season in the majors, suffered a rare setback by losing their player-manager, second baseman Dick Padden. Padden cut against the trend lines and joined the NL’s St. Louis Cardinals, making him one of a handful of players whose only White Sox experience came in 1900, the one season in team history when the club was in the minor leagues.
Of course, it’s like Padden had seen the writing on the wall, as Clark Griffith had jumped from the NL to the AL to become the White Sox pitching ace and manager.
1903 The White Sox left for what would become a disastrous Spring Training in New Orleans. Two straight weeks of rain would permit just two games to be played. The club would break for home early, yet still encounter some rain on the way back north.
1910 Construction begins at 35th & Shields on the stadium that would eventually be called Comiskey Park. Architect Zachary Taylor Davis laid a lucky green foundation brick to set off the festivities.
The ballpark would be completed by late June, and officially open on July 1 with a 2-0 loss to the St. Louis Browns.
Think about that one: a new, steel stadium in a little more than three-and-a-half months!
1923 Appropriate for an Irishman, White Sox slugger Pat Seerey is born on St. Patrick’s Day in Wilburton, Okla. The 5´10´´, 200-pound slugger was dubbed “Fat Pat” and served as a precursor to a three-outcomes players like Rob Deer or even Adam Dunn.
Though his seven-year career was largely undistinguished, Seerey had a memorable four-homer game for the White Sox on July 18, 1948, just six weeks after being acquired from Cleveland. Seerey became just the fifth player in major league history to accomplish the feat. He finished the 1948 season with 18 homers for the White Sox in 95 games, but would see action in just four more MLB games after that.
1975 Reliever Cy Acosta was sold to the Phillies. He would appear in just six games for Philadelphia, in what would end up as his final season in the big leagues.
That said, Acosta had authored a breathtakingly-good season for the White Sox in 1973, his sole full, healthy season in the majors. Over 48 games, Acosta threw 97 innings and held batters to 66 hits. The native of Mexico had 18 saves and 10 wins, all adding up to 4.1 WAR — tied for the seventh-best reliever season in White Sox history.
Acosta returned to the Mexican League in 1976, and he remained active there (as a starting pitcher) as late as 1984, his age-37 season.
2012 Carlos Quentin receives his MRI results for a knee injury and will undergo surgery. The good news? This injury, for once, does not affect the White Sox, as Quentin had been traded on New Year’s Eve to the San Diego Padres. The deal, a modern-day salary dump, as the White Sox dealt the defensively-limited and oft-injured slugger for two pitchers who would end up only appearing in five total games for the White Sox.
Quentin would recover well enough to produce 1.6 WAR in half a season, and then put up 2.1 WAR for the Padres in 2013. But from there, his career was toast.
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - FEBRUARY 19: Drew Rasmussen #57 of the Tampa Bay Rays poses for a photo during the Tampa Bay Rays photo day at Charlotte Sports Park on Thursday, February 19, 2026 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Opening Day is right around the corner the Tampa Bay Rays starting rotation plans have been made official.
We already knew that Drew Rasmussen had been selected as the team’s Opening Day starter but we now know how the rest of the starting rotation will fill out.
Here is the Rays plan every five days
Drew Rasmussen
Nick Martinez
Steven Matz
Ryan Pepiot
Shane McClanahan
Drew Rasmussen will serve as the team’s ace while newcomers Nick Martinez and Steven Matz file in behind him. Ryan Pepiot will be counted upon to be a workhorse in the rotation early on in the season as both Steven Matz and Shane McClanahan will have their innings limited with Matz transitioning back into a starters role and McClanahan returing from injury.
With the way the schedule works out, this line up Shane McClanahan to be the starting pitcher when the Rays make their highly anticipated return to Tropicana Field on April 6th when they’ll take on the Chicago Cubs. It will be McClanahan’s first time pitching at Tropicana Field since July 22nd, 2023; only three players to suit up for the Rays that day remain with the team, Yandy Diaz, Kevin Kelly, and McClanahan.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 10: Nolan McLean #26 of Team United States warms up before a World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Italy and the United States at Daikin Park on March 10, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets fell to the Nationals 12-6 as Washington erupted for six runs in the ninth to break a 6-6 tie. David Peterson allowed four runs in his four innings of work, while Christian Scott took the loss after allowing three earned runs in three-plus innings. Carson Benge went 2-for-2, Ronny Mauricio went 2-for-4, and Francisco Alvarez went 1-for-3, while Mark Vientos struggled, taking an 0-for in his four at-bats.
Huascar Brazoban returned from the WBC and will be part of the team’s bullpen on Opening Day so long as he remains healthy to close out the spring.
Tim Britton made the case for Benge to start on Opening Day in the latest edition of “This Week in Mets”.
Britton and Will Sammon shared some notes on the final spot in the team’s bullpen, their fascination with the cutter, and more.
As Benge competes for a spot on the team, his goal is to help the team win any way that he can.
Nolan McLean will start tonight’s championship game for Team USA, and he confidently exclaimed, ‘I’m built for this’ as he looks to fulfill his patriotic duty and delivery a win for Team USA.
All signs point to McLean being ready for his big moment on the big stage tonight.
Carlos Mendoza has mixed feelings about McLean starting tonight’s WBC final.
Needless to say, Juan Soto was not happy with how the WBC ended for the Dominican Republic.
Vientos struggled again last night, but Mendoza had a simple message for him: “You’re on the team. You’re not trying to make a team here.”
Phillies’ outfielder Johan Rojas tested positive for Boldenone, resulting in an 80-game suspension. He became the third player from Philadelphia’s 2025 roster to receive a suspension for performance enhancing drugs.
Braves’ star Ronald Acuña Jr. is making up for a lost World Series with this year’s World Baseball Classic participation.
Christina De Nicola discussed who might grab the final spots on the Marlins’ roster ahead of Opening Day.
Around Major League Baseball
Venezuela put up a three-spot in the seventh inning to rally past Italy and advance to the WBC final against the United States.
Amid the turmoil back home, Team Venezuela is savoring their WBC moment.
Eduardo Rodriguez will start for Venezuela in tonight’s game.
USA’s stars are finding criticism of their play in the 2026 WBC ‘hilarious’.
David Bednar is likely unavailable to pitch tonight for Team USA, but Mason Miller may be an option out of the pen out of closing the team’s semifinal win against the Dominican Republic.
David “Captain America” Wright hit a walk-off, two-run single to lift the United States over Puerto Rico in the WBC quarterfinals on this date in 2009.
