CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 27: Nolan Gorman #16 and Jordan Walker #18 of the St. Louis Cardinals leave the field during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by George Gaza/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
While most are not predicting the St. Louis Cardinals will not be a playoff-caliber team in 2026, the upcoming season is full of compelling storylines including many players who have the most to gain (or lose). There are several players who have a lot on the line in 2026.
The St. Louis Cardinals with the most obvious high stakes for the 2026 season are Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker. Both were given a lot of “runway” (there’s that word again) last season, but neither impressed with their results. I won’t say that it’s necessarily a last chance for either Gorman and/or Walker, but it would be hard to imagine the team moving forward with them if the 2026 results resemble what they didn’t accomplish in 2025.
JJ Wetherholt looks primed to possibly make the opening day roster for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2026 barring a performance problem in Spring Training. I view JJ as only having something to gain by establishing himself as a part of the future St. Louis Cardinals core. Even if he performs below the potential rookie of the year level some are predicting, I think he’ll be allowed to have time to make the adjustments needed to be a centerpiece for the Cardinals for the foreseeable.
I think the one Cardinal who stands the most to gain financially is Dustin May. If he bounces back from his injuries and becomes a solid mid-rotation starter again, he’ll be a valuable free agent if he declines the mutual option after the season with the Cardinals. Depending on how the St. Louis season goes, he could also be a prime trade deadline candidate for a contender if the Cardinals aren’t.
Masyn Winn could be viewed as a player that stands a lot to gain in 2026. For the first time in a year or two, Masyn is expected to start the season healthy. If he adds more offensive pop to his gold glove defense, he has the opportunity to be considered for a valuable long-term extension if he doesn’t seek more wealth in the free agent market a few years from now.
Alec Burleson is another player that could gain elevated status on the roster if he backs up his Silver Slugger performance of 2025. He signed a one-year $3.3 million dollar deal with the Cardinals for 2026 to avoid arbitration and is set to become a free agent after the 2028 season. The 2026 season could lead to several outcomes for Alec. He could be a trade deadline target, an extension possibility for the Cardinals or cash in on a nice free agent deal a few years from now if his bat continues to improve.
Matthew Liberatore has the chance to establish himself as a top of the rotation starter if he takes his game to the next level during the upcoming season. Riley O’Brien could develop into one of the NL’s top closers with a great 2026 although the mild calf strain he’s experienced already during Spring Training isn’t a great start. I could go on and on as the St. Louis Cardinals 2026 season is nothing if not a fertile field for opportunities. Who on the St. Louis Cardinals roster do you think has the most to gain or lose in 2026? The possibilities are nearly endless.
TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 13: Mitch Garver #18 of the Seattle Mariners hits a triple against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning in game two of the American League Championship Series at Rogers Centre on October 13, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The offseason may be officially over, with the first slate of spring training games set to begin in just two days (!), but the Mariners aren’t done making moves, and they’ve brought back an old friend for at least the Cactus League.
There has been enough ink spilled about how Garver’s previous two years with Seattle didn’t live up to the expectations of his two-year, $24 million contract he was signed to on Christmas Eve 2023. After spending 2025 as Cal Raleigh’s backup, it was an easy call for the M’s to decline their end of his mutual option, despite a couple of fun moments in the postseason. Seattle brought aboard Andrew Knizner and Jhonny Pereda to round out the 40-man roster, and with the former being out of options, the Garv man looks to be on the outside looking in for the backup catcher gig.
That doesn’t mean he won’t get a good look this spring, though. With Cal Raleigh set to suit up for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, Seattle will find itself in need of extra backstops for a good chunk of the Cactus League. Garver also has a leg up on the rest of the competition when it comes to familiarity with the Mariners’ pitching staff, with prominent hurlers like Andrés Muñoz and George Kirby previously citing his work with them as reasons for their success. While it’s currently unknown if his minor league deal contains an opt-out clause, it’s not out of the realm of possibility he sticks around with the Rainiers should he not break camp – after all, Tacoma needs catchers, too.
It’s a mild surprise that Mitch Garver couldn’t find a big league deal elsewhere. Despite his multi-year struggles, he was still a capable option against left-handed pitching, and settled in nicely as the second-string catcher after the plan of deploying him as a primary DH went off the rails. In any case, he’ll be a solid addition to the club’s catching depth for now, and his previous work with Seattle’s pitching corps could stand a decent chance at rubbing off on Knizner and Pereda.
PHOENIX — Bruce Meyer, the tenacious veteran litigator who has been the Major League Baseball Player Association’s lead negotiator, was voted unanimously Wednesday by the players to be their interim executive director, replacing Tony Clark.
Meyer, who was promoted to be the union’s deputy executive director in 2022, has been MLB’s public enemy since he joined the union in 2018. He frequently has clashed on even small agenda items with MLB, which has accused him of being bad for baseball.
Meyer, 64, is considered the union’s most fierce litigator since the days of Don Fehr and Gene Orza, and once again Wednesday expressed his deep resentment towards MLB’s hopes for a salary cap, believing that a lockout Dec. 1 is inevitable when the collective bargaining agreement expires.
“A lockout is all but guaranteed at the end of the agreement,’’ Meyer said Wednesday afternoon after meeting with the Chicago Cubs, and spending the morning with the Kansas City Royals. “The league has pretty much said that. Their strategy in bargaining has always been to put as much pressure on players as they can to try and create divisions and cracks among our membership.
“It never worked. I don’t think it will ever work.’’
Meyer, who said he will continue to be the lead negotiator, said that he and his staff have a duty to the players to listen to whatever MLB offers, but showed his disdain towards even entertaining a salary cap.
“Our position and the historic position of this union for decades on the salary cap is well known,’’ Meyer said. “It’s the ultimate restriction. It is something that owners in all the sports have wanted more than anything, and in baseball in particular. There’s a reason for that, because it’s good for them and not the players.’’
Meyer, even with the sudden resignation of Clark over an inappropriate relationship with a union employee, insisted Wednesday morning there is no disarray among the union ranks, and its resolve remains strong.
“I think anybody who's going to assume that and act on that,’’ Meyer said, “is really making a mistake. I'm not going to say (the timing of Clark’s resignation) is a great thing. This is unforeseen. There have been some issues hanging over (him), and in some respects, it's good to get them out of the way sooner rather than later.’’
Who is Bruce Meyer?
Meyer, while respected for his fierceness, does have his detractors. There was an attempt to remove him from the office two years ago, an effort led by attorney Harry Marino, who organized the efforts to have minor leaguers unionized. It failed when Clark came to Meyer’s defense.
The eight-person executive subcommittee pushed for Meyer to be voted as the executive director in their meeting Tuesday, but after pushback by at least three players on the call, no vote was taken. The larger group of 72 players, including player representatives from all 30 teams, decided to reconvene at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday after polling their own teammates. If Meyer didn’t receive enough support, they likely would have turned to Matt Nussbaum, the union’s general counsel who was promoted to interim deputy executive director, Meyer’s previous title.
Now, Meyer, who previously worked as a senior adviser at the NHL players union and was a partner at the law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges, will be running the whole show, much to MLB’s fear.
When the 99-day lockout ended in 2022, and the rank-and-file voted to accept MLB’s last proposal, Meyer sympathized with the executive council who wanted to continue negotiations, even if it meant losing games.
“Some players emerged from bargaining disappointed that we did not accomplish more,’’ Meyer said in a letter to players two years ago, “and in particular that we did not miss games to see if more gains could be made. To be clear, I sympathized and still do with these players and this position.’’
Meyer, who becomes the seventh executive director of the union, expects negotiations with MLB to begin in April on the next CBA, and just like the last round, tranquility will not be on anyone’s bingo card.
“I'd say I'm known as a tough litigator who also knows how to make deals when necessary,’’ Meyer said in a Q&A with the MLBPA newsletter. “In the sports area I've been involved in just about every type of issue, including labor, antitrust, licensing, collective bargaining and others. But the common thread is I have a passion for player advocacy and defending player rights.’’
Let the negotiations, with plenty of rancor, begin.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 13: Logan Webb #62 and Patrick Bailey #14 of the San Francisco Giants high-five during Spring Training at Scottsdale Stadium on February 13, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cactus League is upon us! Baseball is here!
It’s an especially exciting time for San Francisco Giants fans. Not only do we get our first glimpse of how the team will perform under the leadership of trailblazing manager Tony Vitello, but we also get to see tons of exciting prospects in action. The Giants farm system is stronger than at any point in recent memory, and opportunities will be in abundance, given that the organization is sending a cavalry — including their entire starting outfield — to the World Baseball Classic.
Thankfully, preseason baseball is modernizing. Not only is every Cactus League stadium now equipped with Statcast gear, but there are more televised games that starved-for-baseball Giants fans have grown accustomed to. So here’s the complete schedule for the preseason, with dates, times, and, most importantly, TV schedules. Some of the games listed as being broadcast by the Giants will be available to those with access to NBC Sports Bay Area, while others will be a webcast online. The games broadcast by the opposing team can be watched on MLB TV (subscription required, with exceptions noted) or, depending on the broadcast, online.
So here it is, friends! All the baseball!
Saturday, February 21at Mariners(Peoria)
12:10 p.m. PT
Mariners webcast (free on MLB TV)
Mariners radio
Sunday, February 22 vs. Cubs (Scottsdale)
12:05 p.m. PT
Giants webcast
Giants radio
Monday, February 23 vs. Athletics (Scottsdale)
12:05 p.m. PT
No TV broadcast
Giants and A’s radio
Tuesday, February 24 at Angels split squad (Tempe)
12:10 p.m. PT
No TV broadcast
Giants and Angels radio
Wednesday, February 25 at Brewers (Phoenix)
12:10 p.m. PT
No TV broadcast
Giants and Brewers radio
Thursday, February 26 vs. Rockies (Scottsdale)
12:05 p.m. PT
No TV broadcast
Giants radio
Friday, February 27 vs. Dodgers (Scottsdale)
12:05 p.m. PT
Dodgers TV broadcast and Giants webcast
Giants and Dodgers radio
Saturday, February 28 at Athletics (Mesa)
12:05 p.m. PT
No TV broadcast
Giants and A’s radio
Sunday, March 1 vs. Padres (Scottsdale)
12:05 p.m. PT
Giants webcast
Giants and Padres radio
Monday, March 2 at White Sox (Phoenix)
12:05 p.m. PT
No TV broadcast
Giants and White Sox radio
Tuesday, March 3 vs. Team USA (Scottsdale)
12:05 p.m. PT
ESPN broadcast
Giants radio
Wednesday, March 4 vs. Mariners (Scottsdale)
6:05 p.m. PT
Giants and Mariners TV broadcast
Mariners radio
Friday, March 6 vs. Reds (Scottsdale)
12:05 p.m. PT
No TV broadcast
Giants and Reds radio
Saturday, March 7 split squad vs. Rangers (Scottsdale)
12:05 p.m. PT
Giants TV broadcast
Giants and Rangers radio
Saturday, March 7 split squad at Diamondbacks (Scottsdale)
12:10 p.m. PT
No TV broadcast
D-Backs radio
Sunday, March 8 at Cubs (Mesa)
1:05 p.m. PT
Cubs TV broadcast
Giants and Cubs radio
Monday, March 9 vs. Angels (Scottsdale)
1:05 p.m. PT
No TV broadcast
Giants and Angels radio
Tuesday, March 10 at Guardians (Goodyear)
1:05 p.m. PT
No TV broadcast
Giants and Guardians radio
Wednesday, March 11 at Royals split squad (Surprise)
1:05 p.m. PT
No TV broadcast
Giants and Royals radio
Thursday, March 12 vs. White Sox (Scottsdale)
6:05 p.m. PT
Giants TV broadcast
No radio
Friday, March 13 split squad vs. Reds split squad (Scottsdale)
4:05 p.m. PT
No TV broadcast
Giants radio
Friday, March 13 split squad at Reds split squad (Goodyear)
6:05 p.m. PT
No TV broadcast
Reds radio
Saturday, March 14 vs. Diamondbacks (Scottsdale)
1:05 p.m. PT
Giants TV broadcast
Giants and D-Backs radio
Sunday, March 15 vs. Brewers (Scottsdale)
1:05 p.m. PT
Giants webcast
Giants and Brewers radio
Monday, March 16 at Padres (Peoria)
1:10 p.m. PT
Padres TV broadcast
Giants and Padres radio
Wednesday, March 18 at Dodgers (Phoenix)
1:05 p.m. PT
Dodgers TV broadcast
Giants and Dodgers radio
Thursday, March 19 Spring Breakout: Giants prospects vs. Reds prospects (Scottsdale)
1:05 p.m. PT
MLB.com broadcast (not yet announced, but likely)
No radio
Thursday, March 19 at Rockies (Scottsdale)
1:10 p.m. PT
No TV broadcast
No radio
Friday, March 20 split squad at Rangers (Surprise)
5:05 p.m. PT
Rangers TV broadcast
Rangers radio
Friday, March 20 split squad vs. Royals (Scottsdale)
5:05 p.m. PT
No TV broadcast
Giants and Royals radio
Saturday, March 21 vs. Guardians (Scottsdale)
12:05 p.m. PT
Giants webcast
Giants radio
Sunday, March 22 at River Cats [Giants AAA affiliate] (Sacramento)
5:07 p.m. PT
No TV broadcast
Giants radio
Monday, March 23 vs. Sultanes [Mexican League] (San Francisco)
6:45 p.m. PT
Giants TV broadcast
Giants radio
Tuesday, March 24 vs. Sultanes [Mexican League] (San Francisco)
6:45 p.m. PT
Giants TV broadcast
Giants radio
And then it’s off to the races! Less than 24 hours after that final exhibition against Sultanes, the Giants will be hosting the New York Yankees in the first game of the 2026 MLB season.
As always, the broadcast and radio schedule can change. I’ll try to update this article as it does.
NEW YORK — A scheduled spring fraud trial for two Cleveland Guardians pitchers accused of colluding with sports bettors to rig bets and betray “America’s pastime” will likely be postponed until October, a federal judge said Wednesday as the men pleaded not guilty to a rewritten indictment.
Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto left a May 4 trial date on the books for now, but indicated she’ll probably move it to the fall in the coming weeks.
Pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz, speaking Spanish, entered not guilty pleas through a translator to a rewritten indictment in Brooklyn federal court.
No new charges were in the superseding indictment unsealed on Friday, as prosecutors charged a third individual with serving as a middleman between bettors and Clase. That person also pleaded not guilty Wednesday.
The pitchers were first charged in November with accepting several thousand dollars in payoffs to help two gamblers from their native Dominican Republic win at least $460,000 by placing more than 100 in-game prop bets and parlays on the speed and the outcome of certain pitches. Charges include wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting contests.
The rewritten indictment released Friday added allegations that Clase used code words like “rooster” and “chicken” in communications about pitches to be thrown.
Prior to a May 18, 2025, game against the Cincinnati Reds, Clase received a message to “throw a rock at the first rooster in today’s fight” and responded with: “Yes, of course, that’s an easy toss to that rooster,” the indictment said. However, Clase never entered the game and could not fulfill the plan to throw outside the strike zone to the first batter he faced, it added.
A day earlier, though, Clase broke Major League Baseball rules by using his cellphone in the middle of a game against the Reds to signal to gamblers that a pitch would be outside the strike zone, enabling them to win about $27,000, the indictment said.
Clase, the Guardians’ former closer, and Ortiz, a starter, have been on non-disciplinary paid leave since July. Their teammates are just starting training camp for the new season. The team’s home opener is April 3.
Clase and Ortiz, who are free on bail, left the courthouse separately after Wednesday’s hearing. Neither commented. Lawyers for both men have insisted their clients never colluded with gamblers.
Lawyers for Ortiz have asked that he be tried separately, saying in court papers that if Clase passed along Ortiz’s pitching strategy to gamblers, he did so without Ortiz’s knowledge. They also noted that Ortiz is accused of throwing only two pitches that drew scrutiny over a 12-day span, while Clase is charged with colluding with gamblers on numerous pitches since 2023.
“Mr. Clase may have abused his relationship with Mr. Ortiz as friends and teammates by convincing Mr. Ortiz to throw certain pitches at certain times — ostensibly for baseball reasons as far as Mr. Ortiz was aware,” the lawyers wrote.
They said they might present a defense to the jury that would cast “Ortiz as a victim of Mr. Clase’s scheme, rather than a knowing and willing participant.”
Clase, a three-time All-Star, had a $4.5 million salary in 2025, the fourth season of a $20 million, five-year contract. Prosecutors say he started providing bettors with information about his pitches in 2023 but didn’t seek payoffs until last year.
Prosecutors have said that Ortiz, who had a $782,600 salary last season, joined the scheme last June.
The Guardians and Major League Baseball have said they are cooperating with the investigation. MLB said it contacted federal law enforcement when it began investigating unusual betting activity.
NORTH PORT, Fla. — Atlanta Braves right-handed starter Spencer Schwellenbach had surgery Wednesday to clean up “loose bodies” in his elbow, and rotation candidate Hurston Waldrep is scheduled to undergo a similar procedure next week.
While the Braves didn’t reveal a timeline for when the pitchers could be available, manager Walt Weiss told reporters Wednesday that he is hopeful that both will be able to pitch this season.
Schwellenbach was placed on the 60-day injured list on Feb. 10, at the start of spring training, because of inflammation in his right elbow. The 25-year-old was 7-4 with a 3.08 ERA in 17 starts last year before missing the final three months of the season because of a broken right elbow.
Waldrep, the Braves’ first-round pick out of Florida in the 2023 amateur draft, experienced discomfort after throwing batting practice over the weekend. An MRI showed no ligament damage for the pitcher who turns 24 on March 1.
Before getting hurt last season, Schwellenbach was 6-1 with a 2.60 ERA over his final 10 starts, with the Braves winning eight of those games. He had 71 strikeouts and 11 walks in 69 1/3 innings over that stretch. His big league debut came in 2024, when he was 8-7 with a 3.35 ERA in 21 starts.
Feb 10, 2026; North Port, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Dylan Lee (52) and teammates run during spring training workouts. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Good evening! Hope it’s been a good day for you so far. Here’s a random clip:
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 15: Joe Ross #41 of the Washington Nationals delivers a first inning pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 15, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I was about to say we finished with the pitchers, but since our previous installment, the D-backs added a couple of further players on minor-league contracts, with spring training invites. While they don’t yet appear on the team’s official page of non-roster invitees, I figure I should catch up with these before I forget, and we’ll then move on to the catchers who are NRIs.
Joe Ross
This right-handed pitcher was a first-round pick (25th overall) by the Padres back in 2011, and comes with more than 500 innings at the MLB level, acquired across eight seasons. He also had a World Series ring, won in 2019 with the Nationals Last year, he was with the Phillies and made 37 appearances with a 5.12 ERA and a K:BB of 39:18 across 51 innings, before being released by them in late August. That’s not especially impressive, so I feel like he is going to be depth in Reno this year, unless he really impresses in Spring Training. He has had his career interrupted by various injuries, including a pair of Tommy John procedures, but seemed healthy enough in 2025.
Oscar Mercado
Though born in Venezuela, Mercado was part of the MLB draft, being picked in 2011 by the Cardinals. He was subsequently traded to the Indians, and debuted for them is 2019, with a solid campaign which got some down-ballot Rookie of the Year acknowledgment. But it has been a replacement-level struggle since, and he hasn’t appeared in the majors since July 2023, back with the Cardinals. He spent last year in Triple- A with the Phillies, where he had a line of .249/.369/.373 for a .741 OPS across 115 games. Mercado turned 31 in December,but given the shortage of outfielders on the 40-man roster, I don’t mind seeing
And now, onto the catchers.
Aramis Garcia (35)
That name might be vaguely familiar. He did appear for the Diamondbacks last year, but very much in a “blink and you’ll miss it capacity,” being selected, making a single appearance and then being designated for assignment twice in the month of June. The team then signed James McCann as a better backup, and Garcia stayed in Triple-A the rest of the way. There, he was the Reno Aces most regular catcher, appearing in 56 games there. He re-signed with Arizona in November, and will likely remain in a similar position of emergency catcher, tucked away behind a plate of glass in Reno, with a hammer conveniently to hand.
Canadian alert! Logan was born in the wonderfully-named Medicine Hat, and was a ninth-round pick by the D-backs in 2022. He racked up the frequent flyer miles in 2025, changing levels four times between mid-June and mid-August. He initially bypassed Double-A, jumping straight from High-A to Triple A not once, but twice, before ending the season in Amarillo. Across all three levels the catcher, who turned 26 last month, posted a .754 OPS, and hit eight home-runs in 65 games, including the grand-slam above for Reno. He’ll likely start the year again in Amarillo, with the aim of getting a more permanent promotion by the end of the year.
Matt O’Neill (66)
This will be O’Neill’s first year outside the Mets organization, which originally selected him in the 20th round of the 2019 draft. Last year, Matt split time between Double-A and Triple-A, with an overall line of .231/.335/.343 for an OPS of .678. That’s actually his highest figure since the year he was drafted, and it’s very unlikely he is going to see major-league playing time this year. If he does, a lot has gone very wrong for Arizona. But the news that Adrian Del Castillo is struggling with a calf injury, and is likely to miss Opening Day, does emphasize the importance of depth at this position.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 22: Isaac Paredes #15 and Christian Walker #8 of the Houston Astros celebrate after defeating the Seattle Mariners at Daikin Park on May 22, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Team could be looking at an infield logjam that could compromise their outfield depth.
In the aftermath of Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reporting that the Astros could be looking at OF Michael Conforto as a left-handed hitting option in the outfield primarily because they are finding their trade options dwindling, it is impossible not to consider this very serious idea:
Did the Astros blow it?
With their chances of trading 3B Isaac Paredes diminishing, the Astros have expressed interest in free agent OF Michael Conforto, a source tells MLB. com. A LH hitter, the 32-year-old slashed .199/.305/.333 last year with 12 homers and 36 RBIs in 128 games for the Dodgers.
Houston has been shopping players on its major league roster all offseason. Isaac Paredes is the most valuable of the names often mentioned, but Christian Walker and Jake Meyers names have also been mentioned.
We have seen reports of the high interest in both Paredes and Meyers, and of the very faint interest in Walker, but for a team with obvious roster holes it seems unconscionable that GM Dana Brown was unable to deal from his infield surplus to fix at least one hole in his roster. It doesn’t even matter if that hole addressed the outfield, the bullpen, or backup catcher situation, as long as it addressed something.
Did they overplay their hand? Did they hold too high an asking price? Did other teams simply not value the Astros’ players as much as Houston did? We don’t actually know the answers to these, which is why we will speculate. When you are trying to create a properly balanced lineup for a playoff run, sometimes the end justifies the means.
It won’t matter if Dana Brown held on to his players because he didn’t think he was getting enough value if the team fails to make the postseason again, because he won’t be here. It is very likely such a scenario could cost Joe Espada his job as well, even though he would again be forced to work with a roster that is clearly flawed and been decimated in the past 2 seasons by injury.
The fact that the team is now looking at Conforto, a player who is a shell of what he once was in his heyday as a power hitter who got on base and was a defensive star. Today’s version of Conforto still has some power but doesn’t make nearly enough contact and is now below average in the field.
Conforto’s last strong full season was 2019. He had shoulder surgery after the 2021 season and the difference has been notable. He has also played in some absolutely stacked lineups the past 3 seasons, making his mediocrity (or worse) even more damning.
The Astros could have been in on Mike Tauchman, a superior player to Conforto at this stage and Tauchman signed a minor league deal with the Mets. Yes you read that right, a minor league deal.
Of the remaining free agent outfielders, Starling Marte is probably the best hitter of all of them. Even though he’s right-handed, he hits equally well against both righties and lefties, and for more power against righties as well. of course, he’s now 37 and there is no telling how long his balky right knee will hold up. The Mets made him a part time player last year to get him through the season. The Astros deal will too many injuries already for such a risk.
What is left of the free agent crop is very “slim pickins” indeed. In reality, a trade is probably the only way the Astros can get an impact outfield bat unless Zach Cole, Cam Smith or Zach Dezenzo becomes that player.
Coming into camp with the infield logjam was a miscalculation by the Astros. There may not be a way out of it at this point.
I posed the question of whether the Astros should just heed the request of Yordan Alvarez and allow him to play more LF than he has previously been permitted just three days ago:
The start to baseball season is right around the corner as Spring Training is underway and we are getting a first-hand look at what each team is rolling out.
I am personally excited to see Paul Skenes pitch and have a little more run support this season, in addition to seeing who can contend and potentially knock him off as he attempts to win back-to-back Cy Young awards. Last year, Skenes was a runaway selection, but this year, there is more competition behind him. Let's take a look at the top five options to win Cy Young in 2026. All odds courtesy of DraftKings.
National League Cy Young Rankings
1. Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates (+225)
Paul Skenes is the rightful favorite to win the NL Cy Young after winning his first award last season. Skenes posted a 1.96 ERA and 1.97 ERA in his first two seasons to become arguably the most dominant pitcher in all of baseball. The struggle for Skenes has been recording wins as he barely gets run support from the Pirates' offense.
Skenes posted a 10-10 record last year after a 11-3 record as a rookie. His WAR improved from 5.9 to 7.6 and he totaled back-to-back seasons of a 0.95 WHIP. Skenes' baseball savant page is nothing but red as he is in the top percentile for almost every pitching statistic, including the 97th percentile for pitching run value (100th), fastball run value (99th), offspeed run value (98th), and xERA (97th).
The Buccos brought in four new bats this season after Skenes made comments about the need to sign some offense in the offseason. Marcell Ozuna, Brandon Lowe, Ryan O'Hearn, and Jake Mangum are the new hitters, which may not seem like much to Dodgers or Yankees fans since they spend money freely every year, but it could be quite the difference for Skenes and the Pirates. If Skenes repeats a sub-.200 ERA, it will be hard to knock him off as a repeat winner, even if he has more losses than wins or another 10-10 record. At 23-years-old, Skenes is just getting started.
2. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers (+500)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto won a World Series MVP last season and the cat is out of the bag. Yamamoto is no longer a Cy Young sleeper, he is now a Cy Young favorite. Yamamoto will be a contender for this award the next five seasons or so as long as he stays healthy.
The 27-year-old had a fantastic regular season in his sophomore year with a 2.49 ERA and a 12-8 record in 30 starts. The 5-foot-10 RHP cracked 200 strikeouts and had a WHIP of 0.99, and a WAR of 5.0.
Prior to joining the Dodgers, Yamamoto was the best pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball. Yamamoto won three MVP's and three Eiji Sawamura Awards, which is their version of the Cy Young. Dodgers' Manager Dave Roberts was quoted as saying Yamamoto wants to win a Cy Young and it's one of his goals and if you've watched any of Yamamoto the past two years — it's clear he will be the biggest competition to edging out Paul Skenes.
3. Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds (+1400)
Hunter Greene's 2025 season was cut short due to a groin injury, so his value might be impacted slightly, but there is no doubt that when healthy, he is one of the best pitchers not only the NL, but all of baseball.
Greene was on pace to set career-highs in strikeouts, WHIP, earned runs, and innings pitched before his season was cut short. Greene finished with an impressive 2.76 ERA, 132 strikeouts to 35 walks, and a. 0.94 WHIP over 19 games and 107.2 innings (7-4 record). Greene has yet to pitch more than 26 games in his four-year career, likely due to how hard he throws, but I am optimistic this is the year he posts a career-high in games started and basically every pitching statistic across the board.
When you look at Greene's baseball savant page, you'll notice that everything that has to do with the fastball is the 94th percentile or better. His chase, whiff, K% and BB% are all 82nd or better as he continues to dominate hitters with his four-seam fastball and slider. One could only assume at 26-years-old, Greene will improve and throw his name in contention for Cy Young. Green and youngster Chase Burns figure to be one of the most exciting pitching duos in baseball as they both have flamethrowers for an arm.
Below are the odds for DraftKings with Skenes leading the pack, Yamamoto right behind and Greene sitting in fourth.
National League Cy Young Odds on DraftKings
4. Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves (+1400)
Chris Sale's 2025 season was cut short to only 21 games after a monster 2024 debut season with Atlanta where he won the NL Cy Young over Paul Skenes. Sale went from 18 wins and 3 losses in 2024 to 7 wins and 5 losses in 2025, but the Braves were not the same machine as the year prior.
This season, Atlanta figures to be much improved, they get a healthy Ronald Acuna Jr. and Sale back, plus a few more pieces that has Atlanta marked as the close favorite threat to win the NL East. The Braves are +190 to win the NL East, while the Mets are +165 and the Phillies are +180, so not much is separating them. If Sale returns to that 2024 form and Atlanta wins the NL East, well Sale figures to be a top three contender for the award, which makes me give him the edge over the Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez (+1000) or Zack Wheeler (+2000), the Giants' Logan Webb (+2000), or the Dodgers' Blake Snell (+1800).
As he approaches 37-years-old to start the season in a contract year, Sale is running out of time to win another Cy Young. He was quoted as saying he wants to retire as an Atlanta Brave, but that's not going to be this season or the next. If Sale pitches at a high level this year, he could earn himself a $40 or $50 million dollar bag over the next two years, so I wouldn't count Sale out for this award.
5. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (+3000)
Last year, Shohei Ohtani won his fourth MVP in five seasons, but has never won a Cy Young or come close. Ohtani only pitched in 14 games and 47.0 innings last season as he was returning from major elbow surgery. This year, the Dodgers see a difference in Ohtani as he prepares to be in the regular rotation.
"To see him face hitters, kind of start his buildup -- he’s certainly way ahead of where he was last year on the pitching side. That’s a good thing," manager Dave Roberts said. "But I just really don’t worry too much about his buildup and preparation."
Ohtani was limited in almost every start last season and this year that obviously won't be the case. He will be pitching and hitting for Samurai Japan in the World Baseball Classic later this month, so we will witness how far along he is right before the MLB season starts.
For +3000 odds or better, Ohtani could be worth a lunch money bet as I like to say. If he has his best pitching season and still hitting bombs, then Ohtani will likely take home his fifth MVP in six seasons. I question whether Ohtani will take home a Cy Young in his career, but this season or next could year would be it, in my opinion, at 31-years-old, he doesn't have much more time to throw and hit on a daily/weekly basis.
MLB Futures Card
3 units: Pittsburgh Pirates Over 76.5 Wins (-115) 1 unit: Pittsburgh Pirates to win NL Central (+800) 1 unit: Paul Skenes to win NL CY Young (+250) 1 unit: Garrett Crochet to win AL CY Young (+425) 0.5 unit: Konnor Griffin to win NL Rookie of the Year (+600) 0.5 unit: Bubba Chandler to win NL Rookie of the Year (+1200)
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Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernández reacts after his solo home run in the second inning during Game 3 of the World Series. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
A slimmer Teoscar Hernández reported to Camelback Ranch this week, willing to take on a new role in the Dodgers' quest for a three-peat.
Hernández acknowledged Tuesday that he played through a nagging left groin injury last year, which forced him to miss time early in the season.
“I didn’t get back in my health,” Hernández said. “When I got back from the injury, I was fighting through it. Obviously, I didn’t say anything. I just wanted to be on the field and try to help the team.”
Hernández says he was overweight in 2025, and took better care of his body this past winter.
“It’s a combination of eating really good or knowing what you’re eating, and working a little harder than normal,” Hernández said. “But, right now I’m feeling really good. Back to the way I used to be. My whole career I used to be 204-205 [lbs.], in that range. Last year, I was a little over [that], but I’m back to normal right now.”
Hernández says the extra weight he had put on undoubtedly slowed him down last season.
“[As] the season [went], I realized that I wasn’t moving the way I know I can move,” Hernández said. “And that was one of my goals for the offseason, trying to get back in the shape I used to be, the weight that I know that I can be and I can perform really good. So, that was the main goal for this offseason.”
The veteran corner outfielder played 134 games in 2025, down 20 games from the 154 he played the season prior, his first with the Dodgers. He also saw a decline in home runs (33 to 25), RBI (99 to 89), batting average (.272 to .247), on-base percentage (.339 to .284) and OPS (.840 to .738) from 2024 to 2025.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he expects Hernández to bounce back.
“He’s one of our best run-producers," Roberts said. "And then if you look at this lineup, there should be a lot of guys on base with him up to bat. So, I think that this could be a year where he really drives in a lot of runs. He should drive in a lot of runs this year. I think he’s out to prove something, which is good.”
Hernández primarily played left field in his first season with the Dodgers, before taking over right-field duties in 2025. With the Dodgers signing four-time All-Star Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million contract over the winter, Hernández will return to left field.
“We made the signing and then I ended up reaching out to Teo and said, ‘This is what’s going to happen,’ and he gave me a big thumbs up,” Roberts said. “And he’ll be ready to go. I think it just speaks to the guys we have in the room. If winning is the most important thing, then it doesn’t matter the role [or] the position.”
Hernández recalls the conversation with Roberts being short.
“He told me, ‘Look, you’re moving to left field,” Hernández said. “And I said, ‘OK, let’s do it.’ That’s about it. I’m ready in any way that they may need me. I just want to be there and be on the field, and just play every day.”
Yoshinobu Yamamoto to start either Saturday or Sunday
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws a live bating practice on Tuesday at Camelback Ranch. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Roberts revealed Yoshinobu Yamamoto will likely start one of the first two Cactus League games for the Dodgers, either Saturday against the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium or Sunday against the San Diego Padres at the Peoria Sports Complex.
“That’s the thought, the plan,” Roberts said. “I’m not sure which day. That’s more [pitching coach] Mark Prior-driven, but that’s the hope. If things go well, we should see him in one of those games.”
What went into Shohei Ohtani’s decision to not pitch in WBC?
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman offered a glimpse into what resulted in Shohei Ohtani’s decision to not pitch in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
“We sat down and talked to him about it, and just coming off the surgery, coming off the year he had, pitching through October, just the quick turnaround,” Friedman said. “At that kind of intensity, coming off surgery, and obviously, we have designs of playing through October this year, and Shohei being a big part of that, on the mound. That, coupled with the idea that he wants to pitch for the next eight years [and] we want him to pitch for the next eight years. We sat down and had the conversation with him. He understood it. The competitor in him doesn’t love it, but he understood it.”
Friedman did not specify when Ohtani will depart for the WBC, but he did say Ohtani will continue to throw on his off days with Team Japan as he ramps up for opening day.
“He will continue his throwing progression, but not necessarily getting into games,” Friedman said. “And then we’ll figure out what he’s able to accomplish while he’s in Japan on those off days. And then we’ll be able to slide him back in here into the rotation as quickly as possible.”
Peoria, Ariz. - February 16: Nick Pivetta #27 of the San Diego Padres pitches during spring training workouts at the Peoria Sports Complex on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz.(Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
The San Diego Padres know a little something about controlled chaos. Over the holiday weekend, general manager A.J. Preller made a flurry of moves (and he’s likely not done yet), signing Griffin Canning, Germán Márquez and Walker Buehler in order to address the depth question in the starting pitching group.
These players might seem like random selections by Preller — like the Friars are blindfolded, throwing darts at the board until they happen to hit a bullseye — and maybe there’s a part of that that’s true. But the prevailing belief at play is that these pitchers can return to form this season.
In that sense, each of them is somewhat of a reclamation project for pitching coach Ruben Niebla. The Padres are hoping that if just one of them can have a Nick Pivetta-esque surge then they’ll have the problem of another ace in the rotation.
Here’s a look at what’s holding these three pitchers back, and how they could return to their former glory.
Griffin Canning
Canning is an interesting case because (of the three) he is the closest removed from being a reliable starter. After spending his first five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Canning had a renaissance year in 2025 pitching for the New York Mets. In his first seven starts for the club, he turned in a 2.47 ERA before a couple rocky starts bumped it up to 3.77. Across 16 starts he averaged close to five innings with a 1.38 WHIP.
Prior to ‘25, Canning had never turned in an ERA below 4.00 outside of the shortened 2020 season. His resurgence ended when he ruptured his Achilles tendon in late June, putting a stop to the comeback year for the right-hander.
If Canning can build on the positive trend forward he had with the Mets, the Padres will be able to slot him into the fifth spot of the rotation with ease.
Germán Márquez
The longtime Colorado Rockies ace found a new place to call home this offseason for the first time in the last decade. Over the better part of that time in Colorado, Márquez was one of the most reliable starters in the game. Prior to 2022, he posted a 4.25 ERA across 795.2 innings (135 starts). During that he also held a 6.9% walk rate and a 24.0% strikeout rate.
However, in ‘22 his performance took a nosedive, and eventually Márquez underwent Tommy John surgery in May of 2023. Since coming back he has not been the same, posting an ERA over 6.00 in both 2024 and ‘25. If Márquez can return to the durable strikeout artist he once was, San Diego will have a de facto replacement for free agent departure Dylan Cease.
Walker Buehler
It’s easy to forget that Buehler is only five years removed from finishing fourth in NL Cy Young voting. In 2021, he finished with a 2.47 ERA across 33 starts for the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the following year he had Tommy John surgery and didn’t pitch for the entire 2023 season. When he finally did return, he struggled to find his footing, posting an ERA above 4.00 every year since.
Buehler was a borderline ace for the Dodgers prior to his injuries. He spent the 2025 season splitting time between the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies. His time in Boston was rough, to say the least, with a 5.45 ERA in 23 starts before eventually being released in August. He then made three appearances for Philly and turned in a 0.66 ERA across 13.2 innings.
The bet for San Diego is that Buehler can return to a fragment of the ‘21 version of himself that took the league by storm. After spending the first seven years of his career in the NL West (and with the Padres’ rivals no less), the hope is that Buehler can use that elite knowledge of the division to his, and the Friars’, advantage.
Whatever comes of these three pitchers in the 2026 season, the long and short of it is that the worries about rotation depth are now gone. At bare minimum, the Padres now have competent pitchers to fill out the back end of their rotation and eat innings, giving their bullpen time to rest. But the hope is (as always) that these three can become more than that and be contributors to San Diego’s bid for its first World Series championship.
Chicago is finally thawing out after an interminable winter that saw a brutally cold January transition straight to a just as frigid February. While Chicago shows signs of emerging from its long winter slumber pitchers and catchers have already reported to Arizona. There will be Spring Training baseball this week when the Cubs host the White Sox at Sloan Park in Mesa on Friday afternoon.
There’s a familiar cadence to these days as baseball gets every closer. The Cubs’ promotional item schedule dropped yesterday with a number of interesting bobbleheads and alternate jerseys that are sure to fire up fans. We’re getting reports of players in the best shape of their life hitting bombs in batting practice. And the Cubs social media hashtag and marketing slogan for 2026 was unveiled: #This
The Cubs have used a lot of different social media hashtags over the years. You can see all of them for the last decade or so courtesy of Six Point Sports below:
It wasn’t just fans from other teams, however. You may remember a similar dynamic emerging pretty quickly during the #ThatsCub run in 2017. Cubs Insider recognized this dynamic right away:
The Boston Red Sox infield will look much different in 2026.
Veteran third baseman Alex Bregman was a one-and-done in Boston as he left for the Chicago Cubs in free agency. He’ll likely be replaced at the hot corner by either Marcelo Mayer or newcomer Caleb Durbin.
First baseman Willson Contreras and utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa have also entered the equation. The Red Sox traded for Contreras to address their need for a right-handed bat, and later signed Kiner-Falefa as a versatile infield depth option.
Boston will need its infield defense to improve next season, because the revamped starting rotation includes multiple pitchers who depend on getting ground-ball outs. Contreras and Kiner-Falefa should help in that department.
Here’s a closer look at the Red Sox’ infield situation for 2026:
As a result, Contreras will be counted on to replace Bregman’s offensive production. It’s a tall task, but one that the 33-year-old is capable of completing.
Contreras had two more homers and 18 more RBI than Bregman last season, albeit in 21 more games. His OPS (.791) wasn’t much lower than Bregman’s (.821).
The big difference between the two is their strikeout rates. Contreras struck out 25.2 percent of the time last season, while Bregman K’d in only 14.1 percent of his plate appearances. Bregman’s bat-to-ball skills are far superior.
Defensively, Contreras should be a significant upgrade over the options Boston has had in recent seasons. He ranked fourth among all first basemen last season with six Outs Above Average.
The Red Sox need Trevor Story to stay healthy again in 2026.
In 2025, Story bounced back from another injury-plagued campaign with his best Red Sox season yet. The 33-year-old played in 157 games — tying a career-high — and led the club in hits (161), runs scored (91), homers (25), RBI (96), and stolen bases (31).
He’ll be leaned on heavily again in 2026. By letting Bregman walk in free agency, Boston put pressure on Contreras and Story to deliver as the team’s two biggest right-handed bats. It’ll be a massive blow to the lineup if Story struggles to stay healthy.
It’ll be interesting to see whether the Red Sox move Story to second base at some point in 2026. Story’s defense was well below average last season, and there’s little doubt that former top prospect Marcelo Mayer would be an upgrade at the position.
Marcelo Mayer struggled mightily against left-handed pitching during his 2025 rookie season.
Mayer’s much-anticipated rookie season ended prematurely as he underwent wrist surgery in August. It marked the third consecutive year that the former top Red Sox prospect suffered a season-ending injury.
Health and struggles against left-handed pitching are the top two concerns for Mayer heading into the 2026 campaign. The 23-year-old went 4-for-26 (.154) with a .416 OPS and 10 strikeouts against LHP.
Mayer’s issues against southpaws persisted throughout his minor-league career, so it’s no surprise that they continued in the majors. But as a former No. 4 overall pick who is believed to have an All-Star ceiling, he’ll be expected to take a noticeable step forward next season.
Where Mayer excelled as a rookie was defensively at second and third base. His above-average glove will be a huge plus for a Red Sox club that needs more consistency out of its infield defense, especially with a pitching staff that will induce a ton of ground balls.
Caleb Durbin finished third in the 2025 National League Rookie of the Year race.
In need of another starting infielder after losing Bregman, the Red Sox acquired Durbin in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. The soon-to-be 26-year-old spent most of his time at third base for Milwaukee last season, but he could play second for Boston with Mayer at the hot corner.
Durbin finished third in the 2025 National League Rookie of the Year voting after amassing a 2.8 WAR in 136 games. He was a league-average hitter, though he provided value with his advanced bat-to-ball skills. He boasted an elite strikeout rate of 9.9 percent, but he ranked near the bottom of the league in hard-hit percentage (26.9) and average exit velocity (85.2).
Boston’s lineup features several players who strike out a ton, so Durbin’s plate discipline will be a breath of fresh air. His defensive versatility will also be useful this upcoming season.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa has played every position except first base in his eight-year MLB career.
The Red Sox signed Kiner-Falefa to a one-year, $6 million deal in free agency. The 30-year-old is a glove-first utility player who has played every position except first base in his eight-year MLB career.
With Boston, Kiner-Falefa will be leaned on as a versatile defender off the bench. He won’t be expected to do anything special at the plate as he has always been a below-average hitter.
Kiner-Falefa has earned a reputation as a clubhouse leader. Perhaps he’ll help fill the leadership void left by the departures of veterans Bregman and Rob Refsnyder.
Romy Gonzalez could begin the 2026 season on the injured list.
Gonzalez has played a key role for the Red Sox as a utility infielder who mashes left-handed pitching. He’s expected to reprise that role in 2026, though he may not be ready for Opening Day due to a shoulder injury he suffered at the end of the 2025 season. Manager Alex Cora recently announced that Gonzalez is currently shut down from all baseball activities except for playing catch.
If and when Gonzalez returns to the lineup, Cora will continue to lean on him against lefties. We could see a Mayer/Gonzalez platoon at second base if Mayer’s woes against LHP persist.
Nick Sogard has proven to be a solid utility man for Boston over the last two seasons.
Sogard has been a solid utility player for the Red Sox over the last two years, and he could have a bigger role in 2026 if Gonzalez misses time. He doesn’t offer much upside at the plate, but he is capable of playing every infield spot and also made a few appearances in right field last year.
Triston Casas suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in May 2025.
It won’t be an easy road back to Boston for Casas, whose 2025 season ended in May after he suffered a ruptured patellar tendon. Even if he’s fully healthy, he’ll likely be eased back into action with a minor-league stint before the Red Sox consider calling him back up to the big-league roster.
The question is, where does Casas fit on this year’s Red Sox club? Contreras is expected to be the everyday first baseman, and the team already has multiple DHs. Casas doesn’t currently have a clear path to consistent playing time, but Boston will have to find some way to fit him into the puzzle if he shows the power that once helped make him the top prospect in the organization.
Catchers – Carlos Narvaez and Connor Wong
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Carlos Narvaez was a pleasant surprise in his first season with the Red Sox.
The Red Sox will roll with the same catching tandem in 2026: Narvaez as the primary backstop and Wong as the No. 2.
Narvaez far exceeded expectations last year in his first season with Boston. The 27-year-old was among MLB’s best defensive catchers, ranking near the top of the league in caught stealing above average, blocks above average, pop time, and framing. He was also a pleasant surprise at the plate, belting 15 homers and amassing a solid .726 OPS in 118 games.
Wong quickly lost his starting job to Narvaez in what was an abysmal season for the 29-year-old. It took him until June 23 to earn his first RBI of the year, and he also had his worst season yet as a defensive backstop. He’ll look to bounce back and take pressure off Narvaez, who was clearly affected by his heavy workload down the stretch in 2025.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Tommy Nance #45 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during Game Three of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tommy Nancy is a 34-year-old (35 in March), right-handed reliever, from Long Beach, California. He was undrafted (is that a word?), and signed as an amateur free agent in 2016 by the Cubs, after playing in an independent league in 2015.
He had a rather slow climb up the minors. When you are undrafted, you have to prove yourself every step of the way. He missed the 2017 season with a shoulder nerve injury, and then the 2020 season because COVID-19 led to its cancellation.
Tommy made it to the majors in 2021, pitching in 27 games and posting a 7.22 ERA. Before the 2022 season, he was taken by the Marlins off waivers. He pitched in 35 games for them with a 4.33 ERA. From there, he went to the Padres as a free agent and then, in August of 2024, the Jays traded (bought?) Nance for cash.
He is out of options.
Tommy pitched in 20 games for us in 2024, with a 4.09 ERA. At the start of the 2025 season, the Jays DFAed him, but he stayed in the organization.
Then, in late July, Nance was called up again and stayed up with the team the rest of the way. He ended up pitching in 30 games, in half the season, with a 1.99 ERA. Batters hit .214/.262/.231 against him, with 5 holds. He moved up to pitch in higher-leverage spots as the season went on. I don’t know if there was a pitching coach that unlocked something, or it was just a run of good pitching, but he was pretty amazing.
Unfortunately, he had a rough couple of outings in the ALDS against the Yankees.
He threw three pitches:
A slider, 43.0% of the time.
A curve, 29.2% of the time.
A Sinker, 27.8% of the time, 94.5 mph.
Nance got a lot of ground balls, 52.9% ground ball rate, which, considering our infield defense should be even better this year, is a very good thing.
Spring Training will be interesting. We have 11 or so relievers, all trying for 8 spots. Hoffman, Garcia, Rogers, Varland, Little, Fisher, and Fluharty all, at least in my mind, are very likely to make the team. If Lauer is pitching out of the pen, that would be 8 spots. But then injuries tend to happen in spring training.
And then there is Miles, Lee, and Bastardo.
Steamer thinks he’ll pitch in 58 games with a 3.80 ERA
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