Category: Baseball

The Pittsburgh Pirates are cutting ties with tenured outfielder Jack Suwinski as they are officially designating him for assignment.

Suwinski has been a part of the Pirates’ organization since July of 2021 when he was acquired in a trade that sent second baseman Adam Frazier to the San Diego Padres. Suwinski having now being DFA’d will have the opportunity to be claimed off waivers by the other 29 MLB organizations. If Suwinski is not claimed off waivers, he will return to the Pirates’ Minor League system and likely elect to hit the free-agency market.

Suwinski being DFA’d frees up space on the Pirates’ 40-man-roster to officially sign newly acquired designated hitter, Marcell Ozuna. The Pirates resigned Suwinski to a one-year contract this offseason to avoid arbitration.

The time that Suwinski spent with the Pirates was highlighted by power at the plate coupled with wild inconsistency. The 27-year-old slugger made his MLB debut in 2022 and played in 106 games for the Pirates that season. Suwinski enjoyed a breakout season in 2023 where he had 26 homers, which ranked as the 20th-most in the National League. Suwinski’s cardinal sin was while he would have incredible power at the plate, he also had a nasty reputation of having a high swing and miss rate. That same 2023 season where he ranked 20th in homers, he also ranked sixth in total strikeouts with 172.

While he had flashes of greatness and potential as a power hitter in Pittsburgh’s lineup, Suwinski was never able to replicate the pop he he showed during the 2023 season. 2024 saw Suwinski appear in 88 games and hitting just 9 home runs.

2025 seemed to be the real breaking point for Suwinski’s time in Pittsburgh. He would appear in just 59 games, as he battled inconsistent play at the plate and did several stints with Triple-A Indianapolis. Suwinski finished the season with a slash line of .147/.281/.534 with 57 strikeouts and a career low t3 homers.

Suwinski’s departure opens the door for prospects Jake Mangum, Jhostynxon Garcia and Esmerlyn Valdez to have more playing opportunities in a thin Pittsburgh outfield group.

Former World Series hero Walker Buehler is getting another chance to revive his MLB career — and this time, it’s with a former rival.

Buehler, 31, has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Padres, and he’ll get a chance to compete for a spot in their starting rotation throughout spring training, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Triston McKenzie, Matt Waldron, Germán Márquez, JP Sears and Marco Gonzales are all competing with Buehler for likely just one rotation spot with the Padres, according to the Union-Tribune.

The deal marked a return to the NL West division where Buehler starred for the first seven seasons — not counting 2023, when he missed the entire campaign due to a second Tommy John surgery — with the Dodgers and won a pair of rings with them in 2020 and 2024.

Buehler, though, has mostly struggled since returning from the procedure, and in 2025, he didn’t even last the entire season with the Red Sox before getting demoted to their bullpen and then ultimately released — landing a minor-league deal with the Phillies ahead of the postseason.

He started just one game for Triple-A Lehigh Valley and appeared in three — while starting two — for the Phillies the rest of the season. Buehler finished with a 4.94 ERA across his stints with both teams in 2025.

“It’s obviously disappointing,” Buehler said after being demoted to the Red Sox’s bullpen. “It’s the first time in my career that I’ve been in a situation like that, but at the end of the day the organization and to a lesser extent myself, kind of think it’s probably the right thing for our group and it gives me an opportunity to kind of reset in some ways.”

But at the peak of his career, Buehler was an ace for the Dodgers who topped 23 starts in a season three times and finished inside the top-10 for Cy Young voting twice.

During the Dodgers’ World Series run in 2024, Buehler threw five shutout innings against the Yankees in Game 3 before recording the final three outs in Game 5 to secure Los Angeles’ championship.

He also delivered a strong start for the Dodgers during Game 3 of the NLCS against the Mets.

MLB | Bryan Hoch: Flame-throwing prospect Carlos Lagrange knew he’d be throwing a three-inning live batting practice session. He did not know he would be facing the greatest hitter on the planet, Aaron James Judge. Each got the better of the other, as they faced off three times. Judge demolished a 99-mph heater from Lagrange out over the left field wall. Later, Lagrange struck out Judge with 102.6-mph gas. There’s video of the two facing off over on X, so it’s not hard to find Monday’s battle of power versus power.

The Athletic | Chris Kirschner ($): Speaking of Judge, he is preparing for more than the regular season. For the first time in his career, he will represent Team USA at the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Monday, he gave some of his thoughts on the opportunity. Noting that Team USA fell short against Japan in 2023, Judge made his feelings clear that he wants a rematch with the reigning champions this time around. “They’re the reigning champs. They got a great squad coming back. I think that’s why Team USA really bulked up this year to go out there and take care of business. If (Japan) is bringing back the same crew they did three years ago, it’s gonna be a heavyweight fight…”

ESPN: One more from the Yankee Captain. Discussing the club’s offseason, Judge made it clear he was impatient for the Yanks to make some moves. “Let’s sign these guys right now and start adding more pieces because I’m seeing other teams around the league get better… They’re making trades. They’re signing big prospects or big players. And we’re sitting there for a while kind of making smaller moves.” Judge also clarified that he expressed his discontent to the front office. All that said, with the first games of the spring coming later this week, Judge is confident the Yankees are right where they need to be.

MLB Trade Rumors | Charlie Wright: Finally, there is actually news that has nothing to do with Aaron Judge. Yanquiel Fernandez, whom the Yankees claimed from the Colorado Rockies, has cleared waivers after the club designated him for assignment. That enables the Yanks to outright Fernandez, once one of the brightest prospects in the Rockies’ system, to Triple-A. A path to the Bronx in 2026 for Fernandex is unlikely barring a whole slew of worst-case scenarios. But he provides depth and who knows… maybe the 23-year-old can figure it out with a change of scenery.

Spring training is in full swing. Pitchers and catchers reported to camp last Thursday, and the rest of the squad is set to officially join them tomorrow.

At the end of last season, the Colorado Rockies looked like they were going to once again trot out a very young rotation that saw Chase Dollander and McCade Brown make their MLB debuts, and Tanner Gordon and Bradley Blalock enter their second years in MLB after debuting the previous summer.

Kyle Freeland and Germán Márquez filled out the rotation after Antonio Senzatela was relegated to the bullpen, and Ryan Feltner spent nearly the entire year on the Injured List.

However, since January, the Rockies have signed a trio of veteran starters who are now set to join the rotation alongside Freeland. Blalock was designated for assignment to make room for Michael Lorenzen, and Márquez recently signed with the San Diego Padres as a free agent. Senzatela appeared poised to remain in the bullpen at the end of last year, but manager Warren Schaeffer is giving him a chance this spring to potentially be a starter once again.

So, if the rotation is set with Freeland, Lorenzen, Tomoyuki Sugano and José Quintana, who is the fifth starter that will break camp with the Rockies? Will it be Feltner in his return from injury? Will Dollander prove himself right out of the gate? Will it be Senzatela making his case to return to the rotation? Or will it be someone else — Gordon, Brown, or someone else entirely?

Let us know your thoughts!

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Phillies shortstop Trea Turner wanted to run it back with Team USA at the World Baseball Classic.

He had a convincing case, too, after tying the tournament record and leading his country with five homers back in the 2023 iteration of the event, too.

But when Team USA announced its roster ahead of this year’s tournament in March, Turner was left off it and he revealed Monday that it wasn’t because he turned down an opportunity to play.

Trea Turner said he would have been interested in playing for Team USA again in the World Baseball Classic, but “phone never rang.”

(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/gxflYUI8iW

— OnPattison (@OnPattison) February 16, 2026

“It’s something I wanted to do, but the phone never rang,” Turner told reporters from his locker at the Phillies’ spring training complex. “It’s so much fun. I gladly would have done it again. I said it last time, if they ever ask, I would say yes.”

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa and general manager Michael Hill selected the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. and the Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson over the 32-year-old Turner as Team USA shortstops — giving the infield a different complexion as they look to win the tournament after falling to Japan in the 2023 championship game.

Led by captain and Yankees superstar Aaron Judge, Team USA’s star-studded roster also includes two of Turner’s Phillies teammates in Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper.

“They’ve got a great roster this year,” Turner told reporters Monday. “It’s stacked.”

Instead, Turner will remain with the Phillies for the entirety of their Grapefruit League slate and spring training.

The next chance for Turner, whose vintage WBC moments in 2023 included a go-ahead grand slam against Venezuela in the quarterfinals, to play for Team USA will be in 2029, when the tournament unfolds next.

“I think we’re in a good spot to win,” Turner told reporters of Team USA, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I’ll definitely be watching it, and I wish Kyle and Bryce and all these guys, [Edmundo] Sosa, everyone playing, I hope they perform well for their countries, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Turner won the National League batting title last season after collecting a .304 average — in addition to 15 homers and 69 RBIs — in what served as his best season since signing with the Phillies ahead of the 2023 season.

It is just about time for Guardians baseball to be back! The first full squad workout is today, and Steven Vogt announced that Logan Allen and Joey Cantillo will be the starters for the first two games Saturday. Vogt also mentioned that we would see a lot of Stuart Fairchild and Travis Bazzana before they have to leave for the WBC, which is very exciting.

FanGraphs posted their new top 100 and it includes six Guardians:

26. Chase DeLauter

40. Ralphy Velazquez

42. Angel Genao

54. Travis Bazzana

82. Parker Messick

91. Khal Stephen

In the past I have not been a fan of Eric Longenhagen, but I think this is a very good list. I would have Doughty in there as well, but I mostly agree with this order. Of course all of this will change by July, but it’s still fun to see where our guys stack up amongst the rest of the prospects in the league.

It’s another week here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and join us. We’ve waived the cover charge. The dress code is casual. We still have a few tables available. The hostess will seat you now. Bring your own beverage.

BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.

Last week I asked you if the Cubs should sign Nico Hoerner to an extension. Normally this would be a no-brainer, but the presence of Matt Shaw complicates things. In any case, 55 percent of you thought my proposal of four years and $84 million sounded like a fair deal for Hoerner that the Cubs should make. Another 32 percent of you think my estimate was too low, but that the Cubs should pay what it takes (within reason) to sign Hoerner to an extension.

Basically, about 95 percent of you want to see Hoerner as a Cub for life. I hope Jed Hoyer is listening.

Here’s the part where we listen to music and talk movies. The BCB Winter Science Fiction Classic is almost over, but we still have a few contests left. But you’re free to skip ahead to the Cubs stuff at the end.

I guess real New Orleans people don’t say “Laissez le bon temps roulez,“ but it’s a good phrase anyways as it’s Mardi Gras time down in Louisiana. And since New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz, we can’t let the holiday pass without a tribute.

Here we have New Orleans trumpeter Kermit Ruffins playing “Drop Me Off in New Orleans” inside of a van in 2012.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) Directed by Nicholas Meyer. Starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and Ricardo Montalban.
oday I have to play teacher and scold some of you who are ruining things for everyone. Once again, someone stuffed the ballot box in the BCB Winter Science Fiction Classic. So no matter what the final vote total says, I’m declaring 2001: A Space Odyssey the winner of Godzilla (Gojira) since it seems clear to me that more of you voted for it than Godzilla, even if one or more of you decided to vote for Godzilla a few dozen times.

Should this kind of ballot stuffing continue, I’m going to discontinue this feature in future winters.

So 2001 advances to the final where it will definitely take on a sequel. I know this because the two pictures we have this evening are two of the greatest sequels ever made: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan versus Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Ironically, neither one of these films were ranked by me atop their brackets, although I do remember making up the brackets and saying to myself “Man, the ‘modern’ bracket is tough if Terminator 2 comes in seeded third.“

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) Directed by Nicholas Meyer. Starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and Ricardo Montalban.

I should point out that it was TWOK that established Star Trek’s “Magnificent Seven” of Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu and Chekov. Anyone familiar with the original sixties television show knows that only Shatner, Nimoy and DeForest Kelley were listed in the opening credits and Kelley only in the second and third seasons. The other four weren’t in every episode and it was TWOK that elevated the other four over characters like Nurse Christine Chapel (Majel Barrett), Yeoman Janice Rand (Grace Lee Whitney) and a few other recurring characters that showed up on the original series from time to time.

Here’s what I wrote previously about Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Here’s the scene that didn’t have a dry eye in the house for. Spoiler I guess, but it’s a 43-year-old film and pretty much all of you know what happens here.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). Directed by James Cameron. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton and Robert Patrick.

Here’s what I wrote originally about T2.

Here’s the scene where the T-800 (Schwarzenegger) and John Connor (Edward Furlong) break his mom Sarah (Hamilton) out of the psychiatric prison. The T-1000 (Patrick) is hot on their heels. Schwarzenegger also gets out one of his catchphrases: “Come with me if you want to live.”

Now it’s time to vote!

The winner will take on 2001: A Space Odyssey for the tournament title on Wednesday!

Welcome back to everyone who skips the music and movies.

Spring Training has started, which means we have a month of arguing over who should make the Opening Day roster. And since most of the roster spots are already set, most of what we discuss is who is the last guy on the bench or the final spot in the bullpen. That’s assuming there isn’t some major injury that we don’t want to think about.

Maybe the biggest discussion for Spring Training is who is going to be the fourth outfielder for the Cubs. The candidates are prospect Kevin Alcántara and three players who were added over the winter: waiver claim Justin Dean and free agent non-roster invitees Dylan Carlson and Chas McCormick.

That’s a debate for another day after we get a few Spring Training games in. I promise you we will revisit this topic later in Spring Training. But of the four players named, Alcántara is the one with the most promise and the one most likely to have a long career with the Cubs.

So tonight we’re going to focus on Alcántara. Whether or not you think he’ll break camp with the Cubs on Opening Day, there’s a good chance that he’ll spend some time in the majors this year. But how much? Will Alcántara be so good that he forces his way into a regular roster spot by May? Will he serve much of the season as a part-time player? Or will he, like in 2024 and 2025, just get a short cup of coffee with the major league team?

Just to refresh your memory, the Cubs acquired Kevin Alcántara at the deadline in 2021 in the trade that sent Anthony Rizzo to the Bronx. At the time, Alcántara had just turned 19 and had all of nine games in the rookie ball Gulf Coast League. Since then he’s slowly worked his way up the Cubs system until spending all of last year in Triple-A Iowa, save for that short major-league call-up in September. With Iowa, he struggled through some injuries but still hit a respectable .266/.349/.470 with 17 home runs and ten steals over 102 games.

“The Jaguar,” as Alcántara is nicknamed, is still in many ways the raw prospect the Cubs traded for in 2021. Yes, he’s made a lot of progress, but he’s still a player who gets by more on his raw athleticism than baseball skills. He has made progress in pitch selection, but he still has a ton of swing-and-miss in his game, especially against breaking pitches from right-handed pitchers. At 6’6”, he may always have trouble covering the strike zone. But his raw athleticism, power and speed mean that if he ever does put things together, he has the ceiling of an All-Star.

But it should be noted that he has become a very good defensive outfielder, both in center and right field. No, he’s not on Pete Crow-Armstrong’s level, but no one is. That makes him an ideal 4th outfielder. The problem is that turning him into a major league reserve player means he won’t be getting the regular at-bats that he needs to improve at the plate. So making Alcántara a regular fourth outfielder now might help the team win in 2026, but itcould stunt his growth as a regular right fielder for the future.

So whether or not you think Alcántara breaks camp with the Cubs at the end of March, how many major league games do you think he’ll play in 2026? I realized that I probably should have made this poll read “With the Cubs,” but I didn’t. So if you think the Cubs will trade Alcántara to the Tigers for Tarik Skubal (not happening) at the deadline, I guess you can add in the 45 games he’ll play in Detroit after the deal if you want.

Thanks for stopping by this evening. It’s always good to start the week with a friendly face. Don’t be a stranger. Please get home safely. Stay warm and dry. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow evening for more BCB After Dark.

How did San Diego Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller celebrate his new multi-year contract extension? By continuing to add to the 2026 roster.

Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune posted on social media that San Diego and right-hander Walker Buehler agreed to a minor-league contract, Monday. The post contained a link to his article for the U-T.

Buehler was a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015 and broke into the big leagues with the club in 2017. Buehler pitched for the Dodgers until 2024 and left via free agency. He spent the 2025 season with the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies.

Buehler holds a career record of 57-29 with a 3.52 ERA. He has amassed 846 strikeouts over 839.2 innings pitched. Buehler finished the 2025 season with a combined record of 10-7 with a 4.93 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 126.0 innings pitched.

The Padres have added multiple arms since Saturday with Griffin Canning, German Marquez and now Buehler being added to the mix for a backend of the rotation. The three additions will compete with JP Sears, Kyle Hart, Matt Waldron, Marco Gonzales and Triston McKenzie throughout Spring Training for one of the final rotation spots. Randy Vasquez has been the presumed No. 4 starter for much of the offseason, but with the added competition he will have to earn it.

Observations from Mets’ spring training on Monday:

Great Scott

Christian Scott was sharp during live batting practice, striking out Juan Soto (on four pitches) and Bo Bichette in succession.

The right-hander is returning from Tommy John surgery rehab that cost him last season.

Hanging in there

Justin Hagenman also threw multiple innings of live batting practice.

The right-hander was a spot starter for the Mets last season after arriving on a major league contract despite having never pitched above the Triple-A level.

Caught my eye

Carlos Beltrán was around the batting cage in uniform for the team’s first full-squad workout.

Beltrán, a special assistant, announced in recent weeks that he would be wearing a Mets cap on his Hall of Fame plaque.

Lee Mazzilli was also in attendance for the workout.

Tuesday’s schedule

Full-squad workouts continue ahead of Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener against the Marlins at Clover Park.

TAMPA — Carlos Lagrange stepped onto the mound at Steinbrenner Field on Monday afternoon, looked toward the batter’s box and thought, “Damn, it’s Aaron Judge.”

A few pitches into the live batting practice, Judge crushed a 99.3 mph fastball into the seats for a home run.

But Lagrange, one of the top Yankees pitching prospects, showed his mettle and high-end stuff throughout the rest of the session, coming back to fan Judge on a 102.6 mph heater, a showdown that had the sizable crowd buzzing on the first day of full-squad workouts.

“He’s going to be special,” Judge said. “You can look up at the radar and see 103 mph — the fastball he threw by me — but I think it’s also just a presence he has on the mound. He’s a kid that, we sent up a nasty lineup against him today and he didn’t care. He wanted to be out there and he came right after us. That’s what you need.”

Across three simulated innings, in his first big league camp, Lagrange got a stiff test by facing Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham.

But the 22-year-old did not back down from the challenge, showing off a fastball that often hits triple digits to go with what manager Aaron Boone called a “special” changeup and sharp sweeper.

“When I see those guys, I feel really good because I’m here [in big league camp] with them,” Lagrange said. “But I try to do the same thing: throw in my zone and go through my pitches.

“I know 102 is really hard, but I work out hard in the offseason. When you do a really good job in the offseason, that’s the result.”

Lagrange, whose biggest hurdles in the minor leagues have been throwing enough strikes and staying healthy, finished last year at Double-A Somerset, where he made 15 starts and posted a 3.22 ERA.

He is already far along in his buildup for this season, throwing 49 pitches in Monday’s session.

While Lagrange is expected to get every chance to remain a starter, the Yankees could fast-track him to The Bronx in a relief role, with his stuff likely playing up in the bullpen.

For now, though, they continue to be impressed by how he is handling himself and his stuff in the early days of camp.

“I thought he was excellent,” Boone said. “First one to go out there, first full-squad day, the crowd’s full, he’s facing the big boys. What I liked is he was filling up the zone with it. The stuff obviously jumps off the page at you, but at a point where he’s going three ups, 49 pitches, he held his stuff and most importantly held his strike-throwing. 

“Again, it’s February, but really good to see him out there.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

TAMPA — Aaron Judge felt helpless at times late last season as he stood in right field knowing that his arm was not at full strength.

The Yankees right fielder was coming back from a flexor strain in his right elbow and, after strictly DHing for the first month off the injured list, returned to the field in September trying to do the best with what he had.

“That was the toughest thing for me last year, was the pitcher’s working his butt off and the guys around me are working their butt off and then the ball’s hit to me and I had no shot [to throw a runner out],” Judge said Monday.

But his arm began to look more like itself in October and now, four months later, Judge is feeling back to normal.

“It’s feeling great,” Judge said after the first full-squad workout of spring training. “Haven’t had any issues so far. I think we’re ready to go. I’m throwing out there confident. I’ve thrown to bases a couple times already, so no worries. Just excited to get back out there and have the confidence.”

After taking about two weeks off from throwing at the start of the offseason, Judge began his throwing program earlier than usual on the advice of the Yankees training staff.

Once he got to long tossing and could “really let it go,” he felt like he was in the clear.

“The training staff did a great job, they were really the ones pushing for, ‘Let’s have you throw all offseason,’” said Judge, who will leave camp in just under two weeks to play right field for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

About nine months removed from breaking his ankle and suffering ligament damage on a brutal slide home in Seattle, Oswaldo Cabrera is feeling good and took live batting practice Monday.

But there are evidently still barriers for the utility player to clear in order to be ready to start the season on time, with manager Aaron Boone indicating that it depends on how he looks over the next few weeks.

“We’ll take a little time before we get him into [Grapefruit League] games, but the fact that he’s doing everything now is encouraging,” Boone said. “Hopefully, he can continue to get that last layer of maneuverability and things like that.”

Anthony Volpe was scheduled to begin his hitting progression Monday, the latest milestone in his rehab from October surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

The shortstop was set to take dry swings in the training room, Boone said, though he has been able to take ground balls and throw without issues.

Ryan McMahon was held out of the first full-squad workout because of flu-like symptoms.

The Yankees outrighted Yanquiel Fernández to Triple-A, after designating him for assignment last week, and invited the outfielder to big league camp.

TAMPA — Aaron Judge was just like many frustrated Yankees fans early in the offseason.

The only difference is he likes where they ended up.

Judge acknowledged Monday that the early part of the winter was “brutal” waiting for the Yankees to make moves while the rest of the league got better around them. They got Trent Grisham back on the qualifying offer in mid-November but then did not make another significant move until January, highlighted by finally re-signing Cody Bellinger to a long-awaited deal to essentially bring back the league’s best offense in full for 2026.

“Early on, it was pretty tough to watch,” Judge said after the first full-squad workout at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “I’m like, ‘Man, we’re the New York Yankees, let’s go out there and get the right people, get the right pieces to go out there and finish this thing off.’ We got a special group of players here, we got a good core, good young core. So it was frustrating, but I think we’re right where we need to be.”

Asked if he expressed those feelings to the front office, Judge chuckled.

“Yeah, oh yeah,” he said with a grin. “But they took care of business.”

The captain and back-to-back AL MVP, who has Hal Steinbrenner’s ear as the face of the franchise, is now hoping that taking another shot with almost the same group — 24 of the 26 players on the ALDS roster are back with the organization — will end differently than it did last October, when they were clobbered by the Blue Jays.

Running it back has come with a negative connotation for much of the fan base, but not Judge.

“I love it,” he said. “People might have their opinions on it because we didn’t win it all last year, we fell short in the division series. But we get a chance to bring a lot of those guys back, they’re impact players. You bring back a guy like Cody Bellinger, who can play all over the diamond, he can hit in the middle of the order for you, he can come up with a big base hit when he needs to. You bring back Paul Goldschmidt, who’s been an MVP and … what he brings inside that clubhouse, not only on the field, but in the clubhouse. He elevates especially the younger group we have, especially in the infield, we got a young core, and you have a young guy like that, that can help them out, he’s been there and done it. I’m excited.

“You get another year of the young guys to develop, bring back some big pieces, especially Trent Grisham, our center fielder who had a great breakout year. I’m looking forward to it. Then you get to add [Gerrit] Cole down the road a little bit with some other guys. I like our chances.”

Judge is coming off another dominant season in which he won a batting title (.331), crushed 53 home runs, posted a 1.144 OPS and claimed a second straight AL MVP. And after surviving a late-season scare with an elbow flexor strain — that he and the Yankees say is fully healed — Judge got one big monkey off his back by carrying over his regular-season success into the playoffs.

But the giant monkey still looms in that he is entering his 10th full season with the Yankees and he has still yet to win a World Series, for an organization defined by championships. Judge will turn 34 in April, and while there have been no signs of him slowing down, time eventually comes for even the greatest players, and the Yankees are at risk of wasting his prime with each October that ends without a parade.

“I think I’ll never be satisfied until we go out there and finish it, no matter the awards, MVPs, All-Stars, any of that stuff doesn’t matter,” Judge said. “What matters is putting New York back on top and putting this organization back where it belongs, being the best organization in the game.

“I don’t get paid to just play this game, I get paid to win here. So we got to go out and win.”

PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets are adding a veteran outfielder to compete for a job in camp.

Mike Tauchman, who spent last season with the White Sox, reached agreement Monday on a minor league deal with the Mets, according to an industry source.

Tauchman, 34, appeared in 93 games last season and produced a .263/.356/.400 slash line with nine homers and 40 RBIs. Tauchman played for the Yankees from 2019-21 in a backup role.

With the Mets, he will join Carson Benge, Tyrone Taylor, Brett Baty and MJ Melendez as options to play right field. Benge, the organization’s top position prospect, will receive a long look this spring.

If the lefty-hitting Benge isn’t deemed ready, it could provide an opening for Tauchman.

Juan Soto is set in left field, with Luis Robert Jr. in center.

Carlos Mendoza’s message to the Mets before the initial full-squad workout of spring training Monday was “from the heart” instead of scripted.

“It was just embracing expectations, enjoying the meaning of putting a uniform on, what it means, what we represent and what we’re here for,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza was asked to specify the expectations of which he spoke.

“There’s always high expectations here — our goal is to be the last team standing, and we haven’t done that in the past couple of years,” said Mendoza, who is entering his third season as manager. “It’s just understanding the responsibility and embrace it. We have a real good opportunity to do something special here.”

With so many new faces in the room, the manager said there wasn’t a need to discuss the disappointment of last season, when the team failed to reach the playoffs.

How can cohesion be created with the new pieces?

“I’m the leader, but I also feel like we have a pretty good leadership group there,” Mendoza said. “It’s a group effort, just building relationships, the connections, so we can turn up the trust. That’s how you start forming that foundation and I think that’s important.”

Christian Scott hit 95 mph in two innings of live batting practice that were highlighted by his successive strikeouts of Juan Soto and Bo Bichette.

“I feel like I can get anybody out on this level when my stuff is on and I am competing in the strike zone,” said Scott, who missed last season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

The right-hander said he is ramping up normally to begin the season, having completed his rehab. As a depth rotation piece, he will likely begin the season at Triple-A Syracuse.

The Mets will hold a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for their 55,000-square foot player development complex at Clover Park.

Among the complex’s planned amenities: a 7,000-square foot weight room with a 1,500-square foot cardio mezzanine. Hot and cold plunge pools, treadmill pools and a hydrotherapy area will also be implemented.