Category: Baseball

SNY | Alex Smith: Cam Schlittler is dealing with inflammation in his mid-back, manager Aaron Boone told the press on Thursday. The issue is considered minor and, after taking a few days off the mound, the right-hander is expected to return to his throwing program. “Zero, I’d say,” Schlittler said with regard to his likelihood of starting the season on the IL. “It’s early and I’ve been dealing with it for a little bit, so just want to make sure I’m on top of it and ready for Opening Day and that week in San Fran.”

The starter also clarified that there is a minor lat issue he’s been dealing with. With Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt all expected to begin the season on the shelf, Schlittler figures to have a prominent role in the Yankees rotation to start the season.

SNY | Phillip Martinez: The Yankees signed right-hander Rafael Montero to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. He’ll be on a $1.85 million salary if he makes the majors, per Joel Sherman. The reliever, 35, struggled in the first half with the Astros and Braves but had a more encouraging run with the Tigers down the stretch, pitching to a 2.86 ERA in 20 appearances. A 10-year veteran and 2022 World Series champion with Houston, Montero came up as a Mets starter in the mid-2010s before finding his niche in a bullpen role elsewhere.

New York Post | Dylan Svoboda: The Yankees considered pursuing a trade for now-former Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos earlier this offseason but were talked out of the move by several people who gave him mixed reviews, per Jon Heyman. It’s unclear from whom these reviews came and what their nature was, though the veteran endured some controversy this past season as he was benched Phillies manager (and former longtime Yankees coach) Rob Thomson for an “inappropriate comment” and bringing a beer into the Phillies dugout after he was removed from a mid-June for defense. New York reportedly also considered Austin Slater, Randal Grichuk, and Ty France to add right-handed depth before re-signing Paul Goldschmidt. Castellanos was released by Philadelphia on Thursday and could be in play for multiple teams, per Heyman.

NJ.com | Randy Miller: The Yankees are planning to give Giancarlo Stanton regular rest as he embarks on his age-36 season, per Aaron Boone. “Obviously, the big thing with G is keep him healthy,” the Yankees manager said. “In a perfect world, we don’t have any interruption with an injury or anything, but I want to protect him. Get into that role where you’re playing three out of four, four out of five I think is a good thing for him.”

The DH was exceptionally productive last season when healthy but has of course struggled to stay on the field during his tenure in New York, landing on the IL nine times in eight seasons. Boone also did not rule out the veteran playing the outfield this year—as he did in a pinch late last year to keep his bat in the lineup with Aaron Judge briefly restricted to DH duty—noting that “the biggest thing is keeping it available so that when things do come up we’re in a position to pop him out there if we have to.”

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Max Fried has been using his implosion in Game 2 of the ALDS as fuel for what will be his sophomore season in pinstripes. “Every time that I get to the gym or I pick up a ball, anything I have to do with baseball, it’s definitely a motivating factor,” the starter said. “You want to always keep getting better, learn from your mistakes and make sure that you’re not making the same mistakes again. I’m just trying to remember that feeling.”

Fried was an All-Star in his Yankees debut and pitched 6.1 scoreless innings against the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series, but was chased after allowing seven runs in three innings against Toronto the following series.

Okay, let’s talk defense.

This week, Mike Petriello is doing some Statcast projecting, and here’s an interesting tidbit: The Colorado Rockies are expected to be in the top five of improved defenses.

He writes:

“The Rockies are in the midst of changing everything, and that’ll take time. The projections adore both center fielder Brenton Doyle and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, despite relative down seasons for each, and Hunter Goodman provided roughly average catcher defense, which is harder than it sounds. The expected improvement comes from the departure of first baseman Michael Toglia, who rated as among baseball’s weakest defenders, and the expectation that new outfielder and elite speedster Jake McCarthy might help shift Mickey Moniak into more of a DH role. Keep an eye out for third baseman Kyle Karros, who rated well in limited time last year and should get a larger opportunity this season.

So, the Rockies improved by subtraction.

I’ll turn the floor over to the Purple Row night owls: Will the Rockies see improved defensive numbers in 2026, and where will those improvements come from?

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

The Red Sox won the 2018 World Series, but not without some clubhouse crossfire.

Postseason hero and longtime Boston infielder Brock Holt revealed an incident from that season in which a teammate allegedly said he would bring a gun to the field and “kill” the entire team.

Holt was a guest on the “Section 10 Podcast” on Thursday when they discussed Rafael Devers’ unceremonious exit from Boston, leading to a broader discourse on the importance of clubhouse chemistry.

This ultimately led to Holt addressing the 2018 team.

“We had a guy or two in ’18 like that, and we got rid of them,” Holt began.

“We were in Tampa, and we were in a circle stretching before [batting practice], and having a good ol’ time. And this someone looks around at all of us and says, ‘You know what? I’m going to bring a gun to the field tomorrow and kill all of you.’ And then he looks straight at me and says, ‘And you’re gonna be first.’”

Brock Holt tells us an INSANE story about a member of the 2018 Red Sox…who was then quickly released pic.twitter.com/in9Qx5Mhrx

— Section 10 Podcast (@Section10Pod) February 12, 2026

Holt, who spent seven seasons in Boston, said the unnamed Red Sox player was “probably joking,” but the nature of his comments left people around the organization concerned.

“Our strength coach at the time was like, ‘Dude, I got to tell [then-team president Dave Dombrowski].’ And I was like, ‘Please do because I’m the first one that’s going to go.’

“We don’t have a lot of time, let’s get him out of here.”

Andy Barkett, who was the Red Sox’s assistant hitting coach during the 2018 season, appeared to corroborate Holt’s allegations on social media.

“True Story…” he posted on X while replying to a clip of the podcast.

The purported incident did not impact the Red Sox on the field.

Boston won 108 regular-season games before steamrolling through the Yankees, Astros and Dodgers en route to the franchise’s ninth world championship.

Holt enjoyed a strong season, .277/.362/.411 with seven home runs and 46 RBIs in 109 games.

The 2015 All-Star also became the first player in MLB history to hit for the cycle in the playoffs, reaching the feat in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees.

After spending 10 MLB seasons with the Pirates, Red Sox, Brewers, Nationals and Rangers, Holt retired from baseball in 2022.

Elroy Face, one of the late-inning reliever pioneers in baseball, died Thursday, the Pirates announced. He was 97.

Face, nicknamed “The Baron of the Bullpen,” emerged as a forerunner for what would later be considered a closer during his 16-year career, which was primarily with the Pirates.

“It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Pirates Hall of Famer Elroy Face, a beloved member of the Pirates family,” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said, according to MLB.com. “I was fortunate to get to know Elroy personally, and I will always be proud that we had the chance to honor him with his induction into the Pirates Hall of Fame.

“Elroy was a pioneer of the modern relief pitcher — the ‘Baron of the Bullpen’ — and he played a critical role in our 1960 World Series championship, leading the league in appearances and recording three saves against the Yankees.

“Our thoughts are with his three children — Michelle, Valerie and Elroy Jr. — and his sister Jacqueline.”

After some struggles as a starter at the beginning of his career, Face was moved to the bullpen full-time during the 1956 season, seeing immediate success.

Face, a native of Stephentown, spent 15 seasons in Pittsburgh, racking up 188 saves, the most in franchise history.

The righty held a 3.46 ERA during his Pirates tenure and was named an All-Star during three straight seasons (1959-61).

Face was also a key member of Pittsburgh’s 1960 World Series Championship squad that bested the Yankees in seven games, notching saves in Games 1, 4 and 5.

His most remarkable year came in 1959, when the reliever had an 18-1 record with a 2.70 ERA in 57 appearances, finishing seventh in National League MVP voting.

Face was inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame in 2023 alongside Bob Friend, Kent Tekulve and Dick Groat.

Upon that class being announced, Tekulve credited Face for his impact on the future of relief pitchers.

“At one time, relief pitchers were guys who weren’t good enough to start,” Tekulve said at the time.

“But Elroy Face helped relief pitchers become important members of their team — not just an extra piece.”

Somewhat lost in the news circus today was that Phil Castellini, son of majority Cincinnati Reds owner Bob Castellini, was officially approved to succeed his father as controlling owner of the club. Charlie Goldsmith, formerly of The Enquirer (and now of his Charlie’s Chalkboard newsletter) relayed the news on Twitter earlier Thursday, noting that the AP had quotes about it from a Rob Manfred interview.

This comes at the same time as the 20 year mark of the Castellini family being principal owners of the Reds, and it’s hard to put a defining word, phrase, or even moment on the field alongside that era.

Frustratingly cheap? Consistantly chasing mediocrity?

Simply just glad to be here?

A 20 year old copy of the email sent to Cincinnati Reds fans upon Bob Castellini taking ownership of the team.

It remains to be seen whether the club will fundamentally change with Phil under control. You’ll notice the Williams name in the above copied image, and that’s the same Williams family where former GM Dick Williams came from, too. So, while the first names gradually change when it comes to who’s in charge of this endeavor, always remember that it’s been a consistent family affair during one of the most mediocre stints in the franchise’s otherwise successful history.

Congrats on owning the team now, Phil.

Sell the team, Phil.

The 2025 season could have been a big year for Jasson Domínguez. The long-heralded next big thing in the Yankees outfield was well-positioned to earn a starting role following Juan Soto’s crosstown departure, and had finally recovered from the litany of injuries which plagued his previous two seasons. But while the 22-year old had his moments here and there, he was clearly the team’s fourth-best outfielder; merely adequate at the plate and unreliable in the field.

This offseason, in a concerted effort to run it back, the Yankees have welcomed Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger back to the Bronx, meaning Domínguez is once again looking at a reserve role in 2026. But the dream of a dominant Martian is not yet dead. If he can find his power stroke more consistently, flatten out his stark platoon splits, and take a step forward on defense, Domínguez could finally escape the clouds and reach his galactic potential.

2025 statistics: 123 games, 429 plate appearances, .257/.331/.388 (103 wRC+), 10 HR, 47 RBI, 26.8 K%, 9.6 BB%, -9 Outs Above Average, 0.6 fWAR

2026 FanGraphs DC projections: 26 games, 118 PA, .250/.325/.404 (105 wRC+), 3 HR, 13 RBI, 25 K%, 9.6 BB%, 0.4 fWAR

I’ve wanted to discuss Jasson for a while, since he represents one of the bigger wild cards on a team loaded with veterans and known commodities. He is a flawed player, no doubt. For one thing, the prodigious power he has always possessed was in short supply last year—just 10 homers for a guy like him came as a big surprise to me. The main culprit seems to be an inability to generate lift against fastballs. A hitter like Domínguez, possessed with freakish bat speed, should be able to drive heaters a long way, but a mere .399 slugging percentage (and .364 xSLG) against the harder stuff limited his thump.

The switch-hitter was also woeful from the right side, managing a pithy .569 OPS against left-handed pitchers. This made him effectively a platoon bat for most of the year, as the Yankees had too little margin for error in the postseason race to let Domínguez figure it out down the stretch. Since his lefty production was not spectacular either—Bellinger and Grisham simply outhit Jasson from that side of the plate—his opportunities became fewer and fewer as the season progressed.

Then came the outfield lowlights. Domínguez just couldn’t seem to figure out the right angles in left field, where he played the majority of the time. His -9 Outs Above Average ranked in the third percentile among qualified outfielders. Jasson is not lacking for speed, but he takes a shockingly long time to track the baseball and make up lost ground. Of course, Yankee Stadium is not the friendliest ballpark to a left fielder, but an OAA figure that low does not suggest his troubles are limited to his home turf.

Those are three big black clouds surrounding the longtime top prospect, but of course, time and youth are still on Domínguez’s side. Having just turned 23 a few days back, it’s far too early to write him off as a Joc Pederson-lite; though I may have grumbled something to that effect a time or two in the middle of last year. And ultimately, Domínguez was still statistically above-average at the plate with all those factors weighing against him. Posting a 103 wRC+ while not playing every day is hard to do; just recall how Trent Grisham scuffled without regular playing time in 2024.

The first issue we discussed—subpar power production—feels like by far the easiest fix. It may just take one tweak to attack angle or a stance alteration to get Domínguez firing on all cylinders in the power department once again. I also think it’s not out of the question that he improves a bunch on defense—maybe not to the point of being above-average, but competence should be the goal. If he does, he’ll get more opportunities to try his hand in the other two outfield spots, which would only increase the amount of options Aaron Boone has at his disposal.

The platoon splits are going to be a tougher challenge; since the Yankees will be jockeying for position with the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and the potentially resurgent Orioles for divisional superiority, there will, like last year, be little wiggle room for Domínguez to get the live reps he might need to start to improve as a right-handed hitter. The solace is that he would be taking the majority of his PAs from the left side anyway, but it limits his ability to settle into a full starting role in the future—and was likely a driving factor behind the Yankees’ decision to bring back Bellinger and Grisham this winter.

The ultimate X-factor for Domínguez is injuries: both for himself and for his stablemates in the outfield. Jasson is the next man up if any of their starting triumvirate—who all played at least 140 games last year—hits the shelf for an extended period. The inevitable Giancarlo Stanton injury absence would create an opportunity at DH as well. The Yankees have often started seasons with little depth beyond their starters, leaving them exposed if anybody got hurt. As Michael detailed earlier today, they’ve consciously adopted a different strategy in 2026, and Jasson is a big part of that depth. Of course, if he himself gets injured, it would just be another treacherous bend in what just a few years ago seemed to be an open road to stardom.

FanGraphs’ Depth Charts projections has a very pessimistic outlook on Domínguez’s overall playing time share in 2026—supposedly because of the possibility he starts the season in Triple-A. I’ll believe that when I see it. The ZiPS projections agree, penciling Domínguez in for a more believable 471 plate appearances; while the .246/.323/.399 triple slash it prescribes would be disappointing, it’s important to remember these systems are conservative by nature. There’s not yet a precedent for Domínguez slugging higher than .400 in a full MLB season, but we humans understand that a SLG of at least .450 can be a reasonable goal for him.

With the majority of the players on this Yankees team, you know more or less what you’re going to get. But the concrete has not yet settled on this young man. As far as 2026, the Yankees just need him to be a reliable extra option in their outfield; anything extra is gravy. But if the opportunity presents itself, Domínguez has the talent to enter the stratosphere. It’s true that he has been part of the future for going on six years now, but that possibility should still excite us.

See more of the Yankees Previews series here.

It’s not impossible that San Diego Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller will use the quality and quantity of his bullpen to acquire needed roster pieces before the season begins but he has stated his reluctance to weaken the team’s biggest strength.

The inflated player prices this offseason have made it more difficult for Preller to round out the Padres roster. The budget constraints of the organization seemingly imply that the biggest expense was re-signing starter Michael King. With what is left, the bargain bin is the most likely place to find the rotation help and another bat that Preller has repeatedly said he is looking to sign before the season.

The real question is if there is enough cash left in the budget to sign these additions without losing anyone from the current roster. So far, Preller has stayed true to his statement at the GM meetings where he voiced a desire to not lose any of his bullpen in the trade market.

The Padres 2025 bullpen finished the season with the best ERA in baseball at 3.06. The loss of closer Robert Suarez should not seriously affect this group as Mason Miller, ranked the No. 2 reliever in baseball by MLB Network, assumes that role. Jason Adam, with his 1.93 ERA last year, served as the setup man for much of the season and should again be considered the leader for that role when he returns from his season-ending ruptured quad tendon.

Behind those two dominant pitchers, the Padres have an embarrassment of riches in their bullpen. Assuming they go into the 2026 season with five starters and eight relievers, there are only six spots available to fill out the rest of the bullpen.

Options for six spots

From the current roster, both the 40-man and the non-roster invitees who are in camp, the Padres have at least 18 pitchers to fill those six roles. From that group, only Ron Marinaccio is out of options and will have to be placed on waivers if he doesn’t make the 26-man roster.

The Padres signed RHP’s Sean Boyle, Evan Fitterer and Justin Yeager to minor league contracts with invites to Spring Training. Yeager is a confirmed reliever but both Boyle and Fitterer could be used as starters and have starter histories. Of the system’s minor league relievers invited to camp, RHP Manuel Castro, RHP Francis Pena, RHP Ethan Routzhan and RHP Ryan Och all showed the stuff that got the attention of the organization and earned them an invite to major league camp. Both Castro and Pena could be close to being added to the roster during the coming season. All of these are probable to start the season in the minor leagues.

RHP Logan Gillaspie, who was a minor league pickup in 2023, has had an inconsistent career with four different organizations and was re-signed to a minor league contract with the Padres in 2024. Between injuries and poor performances, Gillaspie has stayed with the organization and gets another chance this season to take a step forward. He got a spring invite after being retained following the end of 2025.

Who makes the 26-man roster?

On the 40-man roster there are 13 relievers to compete for those six slots in the bullpen. RHP Jhonny Brito will not be ready to start the season due to his Tommy John surgery last season. He is likely to be available by mid-season. Whether he is brought back as a starter or reliever has not been discussed to this point.

The Padres signed right-handers Ty Adcock and Daison Acosta to major league contracts during the offseason. Acosta was with the Nationals organization last season but has not made his major league debut. Adcock, who pitched in three games and three innings for the Mets last season, signed with the Padres and pitched for Estrellas Orientales (Dominican Winter League) during the offseason.

RHP Garret Hawkins was added to the roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft during the offseason and is most likely starting the season with San Antonio or El Paso and would be a depth piece for the bullpen during 2026.

That leaves long-man/swing-man Bryan Hoeing to come back after an injury-riddled 2025 to reclaim his spot. His competition could be Adcock or Marinaccio who was a limited contributor last season but had a 0.84 ERA in his 10.2 innings pitched. Lefty Kyle Hart will begin by competing for a starting job. If that role does not go to him, he would also be a competitor for the long-man role with Hoeing, Adcock and Marinaccio.

The five remaining spots will be a battle between Jeremiah Estrada, Alek Jacob, Yuki Matsui, Adrian Morejon, Wandy Peralta, David Morgan and Bradgley Rodriguez. Adcock, Hoeing, Hart or Marinaccio could also be in competition as only one of them can win the swing-man or long-man job.

Estrada, Morejon, Morgan and Peralta have all pitched in high-leverage situations while Matsui, Jacob and Rodriguez can cover the middle innings. Rodriguez also has the potential for a late-inning role with his stuff. MLB Network recently listed their top 10 relievers in baseball. The Padres had Miller, Morejon and Adam all make that list. It would seem a lock for Morejon to keep his spot as a high-leverage reliever along with Adam and Miller.

Spring Training will tell the tale

Many say that six weeks is too long for Spring Training. That could be true for hitters, most of whom say that three to four weeks is plenty to get ready for a season. The six weeks is for the pitching staff to be ready. With the big decisions that this organization has to make with its pitching staff, both starters and relievers, the next six weeks will be fascinating to watch. Add to that the time that the World Baseball Classic cuts into the preparation, and those decisions will be even more interesting.

Look for all the borderline pitchers to get lots of looks during spring games. Matsui, Peralta and Miller will be gone for the duration of their WBC teams’ participation in the tournament. Miller for Team USA, Matsui for Samurai Japan and Peralta for the Dominican Republic.

Figuring out who makes this bullpen will be a great challenge for the staff. The fans can play along and see how close we get.

This post is part of a series of daily questions that we’ll ask the community here at Amazin’ Avenue throughout the month of February. We hope you find the questions engaging and that our prompts can spark some fun conversations in the comments. We’ll see you there and plan to have staff chiming in, too.

What’s your National League East standings prediction?

TAMPA — The Yankees are adding a recognizable name to their bullpen competition this spring.

The club agreed to a minor league deal with Rafael Montero, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed Thursday night, and invited him to big league spring training to see if the veteran righty can win a job.

Montero would earn $1.85 million if he makes the team, The Post’s Joel Sherman reported.

The 35-year-old Montero, once a ballyhooed Mets prospect, pitched to a 4.48 ERA across 59 games last season with the Astros, Braves and Tigers, striking out 58 but walking 37 in 60 ¹/₃ innings.

He is four years removed from the best season of his career, when he posted a 2.37 ERA for the Astros on the way to a World Series championship in 2022.

Montero will join a group competing for the last few spots in the Yankees bullpen following an offseason in which the team lost Devin Williams and Luke Weaver and did not replace them with established arms.

David Bednar, Fernando Cruz and Tim Hill are locks for the bullpen, with Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn likely to join them if the rotation stays healthy.

The Yankees are also counting on a bounce-back season from Jake Bird and then are hoping for a few legitimate choices to emerge from a group that includes Brent Headrick, Cade Winquest, Yerry De los Santos, Angel Chivilli, Kervin Castro and now Montero.

“I think it has a chance to be [a strength],” manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday. “I think it’s because of our overall pitching depth that I really like. So that may mean a starter having to collapse and maybe somebody that nobody’s writing about at this point that usually, especially in bullpens, seems to always emerge around the league. The bullpen is usually one of the most volatile things that’s hard to predict sometimes.

“There were some big numbers [salaries] attached to relievers this winter, so we obviously had to address different things. You try to allocate your resources the best you can.”

The Yankees are inviting another reliever to spring training.

New York has signed right-handed pitcher Rafael Montero to a minor league deal with a spring training invite, according to multiple reports. If he makes the club, Montero will earn $1.8 million, according to insider Hector Gomez.

Montero, 35, is coming off an up-and-down season with the Astros, Braves and Tigers. Although the right-hander pitched to a 4.50 ERA in three appearances in Houston and a 5.50 ERA with Atlanta across 36 appearances after being traded, he turned things around in the Motor City after being dealt again, pitching to a 2.86 ERA in 20 appearances with the Tigers. 

In 10 career seasons, Montero is 23-30 with 30 saves, a 4.68 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP across 380 appearances. He was on the Astros' World Series-winning team in 2022, pitching to a 1.93 ERA across 10 appearances in that postseason.

With the departures of Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, the Yankees are looking to retool the bullpen. Aside from closer David Bednar, and relievers Camilo Doval, Tim Hill and Fernando Cruz, there are spots open to those who can win a job this spring. 

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. –– Dave Roberts has had a lot of great teams during his tenure as Dodgers manager.

But his 2026 squad, he believes, is “probably the best team we’ve had on paper.”

There’s plenty of premium talent, of course, from returning stars including Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, to this offseason’s blockbuster additions of Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz. 

There’s also ample depth, from longtime veterans in Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Edman, to younger options including Andy Pages, Roki Sasaki, Hyeseong Kim and a crop of other talented pitchers returning from injury. 

Yet, as Roberts spoke at a Cactus League media day event Thursday, on the eve of his team’s first workout of spring training at Camelback Ranch, there was another, more intangible dynamic bolstering his belief in this year’s team.

“Knowing we have a target (on our backs) –– as we should if we’re the defending champions –– but to still focus on yourselves and what’s forward, that’s what our guys do a good job of,” Roberts said. “It’s easy to say, to not concern yourselves with people that are trying to knock you off the hill or whatever analogy. But it’s harder to do in practice.”

Indeed, for all the money they’ve spent and talent they’ve accrued in recent years, the Dodgers have been steadfast about how their behind-the-scenes culture has buttressed their on-field success.

Players, coaches and executives have all pointed to the team’s clubhouse chemistry as the bedrock to their back-to-back World Series championships.

Even with the influx of new faces, the consistency of their core has served as a stabilizing foundation.

To that end, the Dodgers made some long-anticipated moves in the final days of their offseason this week, locking down some familiar faces in order to keep the gang together.

On Wednesday, the club re-signed veteran reliever Evan Phillips to a $6.5 million deal, ensuring he will stay with the organization after being non-tendered earlier this winter (as a way to preserve space on the team’s 40-man roster).

On Thursday morning, a $10 million contract extension was struck with Muncy, one that will keep what is now the franchise’s longest-tenured player in the fold through 2027 (and potentially 2028 thanks to a $10 million club option).

And on Thursday afternoon, fan favorite and longtime veteran Kiké Hernández re-signed with the Dodgers on a $4 million contract, too, marking the third-straight winter he has returned to Los Angeles as a free agent.

“You know, Michael Jordan couldn’t do it without Scottie Pippen and the other guys on that team,” fellow veteran Miguel Rojas said at last month’s Fanfest event, speaking specifically of Hernández but delivering a message that applies to many around the clubhouse. “We’re all part of this, and we’ve all been part of this for the last couple years.”

Exactly how the team’s final winter moves will impact this upcoming season, of course, remains to be seen. 

Muncy was already entrenched as the team’s starting third baseman for this year. And Phillips and Hernández are unlikely to play until “sometime in the summer,” Roberts said, with Phillips still recovering from last year’s Tommy John surgery and Hernández from an elbow procedure he had early this offseason.

But their presence, Roberts noted, is impactful –– making their returns an important tone-setter as camp gets underway.

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Consider: After Phillips was non-tendered at the start of the offseason, Roberts said the reliever “wanted to kind of see what was out there, which I respect; he earned that right.” And yet, he ultimately decided to return to the Dodgers, even if his eventual place in a beefed-up bullpen remains unclear. 

“Evan understanding the value of whatever role we need him, it’s of importance,” Roberts said. “And to have that reinforced this year is huge.”

Hernández also faces an uncertain role this season, whenever he completes his surgical rehab. But that’s been the case for the utilityman over the past several seasons, when he has grinded through limited playing time in the regular season only to deliver when called upon in October.

“When it comes to crunch time,” Roberts said, “he’s gonna be counted on.”

Even Muncy’s extension served as a sign of the team’s priority on maintaining cohesion, proactively locking up a veteran who Roberts said goes “very under the radar in terms of what he’s done for us to win three championships.”

Put those moves together, and they represent one more reason Roberts and the Dodgers boast such confidence in this year’s team. 

They have a huge payroll (now up to $409 million for luxury tax purposes). They have an almost endless supply of big-name players. And now, they enter the spring with a few fitting final roster moves, subtle additions that could nonetheless have profound impacts as well.

TAMPA — Yankees of any position are free to challenge pitches under the new Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) — for now.

For the second straight spring, the Yankees will have Grapefruit League games to try out ABS, except this time it is going to be for real and in play once the regular season begins.

That has forced the Yankees to develop a strategy for how to best use the challenge system and take advantage of the two they get each game (they are retained if the challenge is successful).

“We’ll set that more in place when we get ready to break camp and then probably continue to evolve with it throughout the year,” manager Aaron Boone said Thursday afternoon after the club held a morning meeting for ABS education and strategy. “We’ve done a lot of work on it behind the scenes, a lot of meetings this winter going through it. I feel like, right now, we’re in a pretty good place with it as far as trying to continue to educate our players and understanding leverage and things like that. 

“Everyone’s free to challenge right now. We’ll see how it continues to unfold.”

Over the winter, Boone had indicated he was leaning toward not allowing his pitchers to challenge calls — a strategy that seemed to be popular among managers at the winter meetings — because they tend to think anything borderline is a strike.

But as of Thursday, he had softened somewhat on that stance, at least at this point in the spring.

“I’m not at the point of not allowing pitchers [to challenge] — I am less comfortable,” Boone said. “Catcher probably No. 1 with who I’m the most comfortable with challenging. Then hitter, then pitcher, probably in that order.”

Max Fried is hoping to possibly gain some leeway this spring.

“I guess I’m going to have to really pay attention here in spring training, see if my eyes are as good as I think they are,” Fried said. “If I’m really good in spring, I might have a little more liberty of doing it in-game.”

Another rule change came down the chute Thursday when MLB owners voted to enforce the rule that first and third base coaches must remain in their boxes until a pitch is thrown.

That became an issue during a Yankees-Blue Jays series at Rogers Centre in 2023, when the Blue Jays got upset with Yankees coaches straying outside of their boxes, which could help them get a better angle to pick up tipped pitches and relay that to runners or hitters.

“It’s probably a good thing to regulate that,” Boone said Thursday. “We talked about that at the winter meetings in our managers meeting. … Overall, I think it’s probably a good thing, just for the competitiveness of the game.”

Luis Gil threw the equivalent of two innings in live batting practice Thursday, hitting 95 mph and striking out Aaron Judge while building up to about 35 pitches.

Luis Gil strikes out Aaron Judge. pic.twitter.com/itMEwuvFP3

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) February 12, 2026

“I think he’s had a really good winter as far as strength and conditioning-wise and getting himself in a good place, ready to come in,” Boone said. “That talent hasn’t gone away. He’s a young man that you can tell is very hungry right now and he wants to go out and prove that he’s that guy that he was in ’24.”

PORT ST. LUCIE — Bryan Hudson fills a need for the Mets and will have a legitimate opportunity this spring to show he’s worthy of opening the season with the club.

The lefty reliever, acquired this week from the White Sox for cash considerations, threw his first bullpen session for the Mets on Thursday and left an immediate impression on manager Carlos Mendoza.

“The one thing that stuck out to me was the intensity,” Mendoza said. “For him to be like 92 [mph], that’s not normal, in a good way. This is a guy that is always tinkering with mechanics, and today he got behind the baseball pretty good.”

The Mets have a need for a second lefty reliever behind Brooks Raley, with A.J. Minter expected to continue his rehab from lat surgery into May.

Hudson pitched to a 4.80 ERA in 16 appearances last season between the Brewers and White Sox.

He posted a 1.73 ERA in 43 appearances for the Brewers the previous year.

“He’s had some ups and downs, but we still feel like he can help us,” Mendoza said.

PORT ST. LUCIE — Bo Bichette spent his first day of spring workouts listening intently Thursday as his manager offered tips about fielding his new position.

At third base on the main field, Bichette absorbed Carlos Mendoza’s words.

Later, Bichette faced Freddy Peralta in a live batting practice session, putting the Mets’ two biggest offseason acquisitions on display.

“I’m meeting a lot of new people and trying to figure out a new routine,” Bichette said. “But it’s honestly really exciting. It almost feels like my first season again.”

Bichette, in his transformation from shortstop to third base after arriving to the Mets on a three-year contract worth $126 million, worked out in front of Mendoza earlier this month.

But now camp is for real, and Bichette was sure to arrive ahead of next week’s reporting date for position players to get acclimated.

Mendoza’s messages to Bichette on this day focused on timing.

“Part of the transition, even when he’s just taking regular ground balls, is realizing how much time he has [to throw] compared to the shortstop position,” Mendoza said. “The ball is going to get to you a lot quicker — you have got more time. Those are some of the things, besides angles, it’s just a feel for the game clock.”

On the flip side, Bichette is learning he doesn’t have the luxury of as much time when starting a double play.

“You have to be quicker getting rid of the baseball,” Mendoza said. “You have got to give the second baseman a chance. Those are some of the conversations we are having out of the gate, and I am glad he’s here early so we can get that out of the way.”

What are Bichette’s early takeaways about the position?

“It’s more forward-to-back than side-to-side,” Bichette said. “Shortstop you definitely have to come in, but having more time at third base is something that I am getting used to — understanding that I can take a little more time.”

But Bichette isn’t ready to quantify his comfort level at third base.

“I am not sure I can put a number on that,” he said. “I haven’t played any games, so that is going to be my biggest hurdle, but I am excited for it.”

Bichette’s offensive potential is what appealed to the Mets.

Last season, he owned a .311/.357/.483 slash line with 18 homers and 94 RBIs in helping the Blue Jays reach Game 7 of the World Series.

The Mets, after missing on free agent Kyle Tucker (who landed with the Dodgers), snagged the 27-year-old Bichette as the rival Phillies were moving toward signing him.

Mendoza has indicated he is leaning toward batting Bichette third in the order, behind Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto.

“There’s a ton of really good players on this team, and I think you can line it up any way,” Bichette said. “But I have hit almost everywhere in my career, so I am ready for whatever.”

Bichette will help anchor a rebuilt infield that includes Jorge Polanco at first base and Marcus Semien at second. Lindor is returning to shortstop but will be absent from the Grapefruit League season as he rehabs from hamate bone surgery in his left hand.

Bichette said he’s spent much of his early time in camp around Polanco, another veteran who was early to report.

Just seeing Bichette in the batter’s box against the Mets’ ace, Peralta, was enough to raise Mendoza’s excitement level on this day.

“You get that kind of matchup, and OK, it’s real now,” Mendoza said. “Just the fact that they are getting ready for their season and they get to go out and do it themselves together.”