Feb 16, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees infielder Ben Rice (22) warms up during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
MLB Trade Rumors | Darragh McDonald: Spring training games have begun, and for the most part, all of the big offseason moves and acquisitions have been made. However, teams still usually have openings at the back end of their roster at this time of year, and the Yankees apparently are no different. In particular, the Yankees are reportedly still keeping an eye on a potential platoon bat, and will monitor who becomes available as spring training continues — even as it winds down before Opening Day on March 25th.
NJ.com | Randy Miller: Ben Rice was arguably the Yankees’ best surprise in 2025, putting in a breakout campaign after he debuted in up-and-down fashion in 2024. Despite the re-signing of Paul Goldschmidt, Ben Rice figures to be a big part of the Yankees’ plans this season. While the Yankees may also decide to use him as a backup catcher too, Rice really hopes to improve on his defense in 2026, as well as maintain a regular spot in the lineup.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Speaking of Goldschmidt, in addition to returning to the Yankees, he is also set to return to the USA team for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Here, Goldschmidt discusses his love for the tournament—this will be his third after winning it in 2017 and finishing runner-up in 2023—and how he’s preparing for a likely reduced role in the Bronx behind Rice in 2026.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 12: Welinton Herrera #59 of the Colorado Rockies throws during his first bullpen of spring training at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 12, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images)
Okay, Purple Row Night Owls, here’s a question for you.
The Rockies have been working for the last few years to build their pitching depth, and we are beginning to see the results.
So in 2026, which Colorado Rockies pitching prospect will make a name for himself?
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Konnor Griffin, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ latest can’t-miss prospect, didn’t miss against the Boston Red Sox and newcomer Ranger Suarez on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old shortstop, considered the top prospect in baseball, hit a pair of homers in Pittsburgh’s 16-7 Grapefruit League win over the Red Sox.
Griffin took a pitch from Suarez, who signed a five-year, $130-million deal with Boston in January after two standout seasons in Philadelphia, over the left-field wall for a two-run homer in the second inning. Griffin did it again two innings later, turning on a two-strike pitch from Seth Martinez and sending it 440 feet.
“Got some good swings off, so kind of smoked them,” Griffin told reporters afterward.
The 6-foot-4 Griffin, who sprinted through the lower levels of Pittsburgh’s farm system last season, began the day searching for his first hit of the spring and ended it with four RBIs and a pair of swings that offered a flash of his potential.
Griffin acknowledged that having success against two proven major league pitchers — Suarez was an All-Star in 2024 and Martinez has appeared in over 100 games over the last five seasons — was “special” but added he was trying to stay in the moment and not get caught up in who he was facing.
“I stepped in the box and I was ready to compete,” he said. “I wasn’t worrying about who was on the mound. I was just worrying about what his stuff was and how I could have the best approach.”
Griffin has tried to keep his head down while the buzz around him has built, just as reigning National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes did during his first spring training with the Pirates two years ago. Skenes began the 2024 season in the minors before making his big league debut in May.
There’s a chance Griffin might not have to wait that long. The left side of the Pirates’ infield is a question mark. Jared Triolo is an excellent defender who can play either third or short and Nick Gonzales is also in the mix. Neither, however, has the potential at the plate that Griffin offers.
“He’s definitely going to hit,” Pirates pitcher Carmen Mzlodzinski told reporters. “There’s not a whole lot of swings you see like that, especially from a teenager. The best way to say it is his swing stays in the zone forever.”
Suarez, who allowed two runs on three hits with a pair of strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings, tipped his cap to the young player who was all of 12 when Suarez made his major league debut with the Phillies in 2018.
“When you’re the top prospect in the game, people expect that from you,” Suarez said through an interpreter. “He did that today, and I wasn’t surprised.”
Suarez said he felt good about his performance overall as he begins to ramp up his workload ahead of the World Baseball Classic, where he will pitch for his native Venezuela.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 24: Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates with fans after scoring from second base on a wild pitch in a game against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field on September 24, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good evening. It’s another good night here at BCB After Dark: the hippest spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re glad to see that you stopped by. Please come on in out of the cold or wet. Let us take your coat for you. We still have a few tables available. The hostess can 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 night I asked you which non-roster invitee outfielder was the most likely to make an impact on the 2026 Cubs. While the comments seemed to favor Chas McCormick, he only got 30 percent of the vote. In first place was Dylan Carlson, who brought in 51 percent of the vote. Michael Conforto got the other 19 percent.
On Tuesday night/Wednesday mornings, I don’t normally do any movie stuff. But I always have time for jazz, so those of you who want to skip that can do so now.
Tonight we’re featuring one of those NPR Tiny Desk Concerts (support public radio!) featuring the young saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins. (Twenty-eight is a baby in the jazz world!) There’s a lot of young jazz talent coming out these days and Wilkins seems like he could be the next great jazz artist from Philadelphia, of which there seems to be a lot. He already has one Grammy nomination.
Wilkins is on alto sax, Micah Thomas plays piano, Ryoma Takenaga in on the bass and the drummer is Kweku Sumbry.
This video was just posted earlier today.
Welcome back to everyone who skips the music.
Chicago Magazine was out with a profile of Pete Crow-Armstrong this week that is worth your effort to read, if you haven’t already. The overall tone of the article paints PCA as both what you see on the field—fiery, emotional, dedicated to winning, self-critical—but also that he has a more thoughtful side that can be quite critical of that other side of himself. It also shows Crow-Armstrong as someone who is firmly embracing Chicago and the Chicago life while not completely cutting himself off from his Southern California roots.
What’s getting the most attention however, is Crow-Armstrong’s out-of-nowhere diss of Dodgers fans.
[Chicago is} just an incredible city. The people are great. They give a shit. They aren’t just baseball fans who go to the game like Dodgers fans to take pictures and whatever. They are paying attention. They care.
To be clear, the writer, Wayne Drehs, did not ask Pete about Dodgers fans. This came unsolicited. This is also a stereotype of Dodgers fans that we’ve all heard before—and is also something said about fans of pretty much every popular baseball team, including the Cubs. But in Crow-Armstrong’s case, it’s also a slam on his hometown team.
This has kicked up a hornet’s nest. Steve Henson wrote about it for the Los Angeles Times. Maddie Lee wrote about it for the Sun-Times. Even Jordan Bastian had to mention it for MLB dot com. There are many other publications that took the time to write about it because, frankly, it’s a slow news day for baseball. Reporters are always looking for something outside of the “I’m in the best shape of my life and optimistic about the upcoming season” quotes that you normally get in Spring Training.
So Pete Crow-Armstrong gave the Dodgers bulletin board material and Dodgers fans reason to boo the hometown boy. He likely doesn’t care. As the article noted, his Cubs-loving father forbade him from being a Dodgers fan growing up.
But PCA’s brashness also comes on the field. We’ve all seen him reacting poorly to striking out. We’ve also seen him running on the field so quickly after a walkoff that he’s in danger of getting called for interference. (Hasn’t happened yet.) He’s also not one to back down from a slight, real or perceived. As Crow-Armstrong says in the article:
I’m sure I come off like a douche sometimes, . . .That’s how I present my fun to people, I guess. I’m not loud anywhere else. I’m not riled up anywhere else. That’s where I get to do that stuff. So hell yeah, I rub people the wrong way.
So tonight’s question is “Does Pete Crow-Armstrong need to tone it down?” No one is saying he needs to become as cool and collected as Jason Heyward all of a sudden, but does he need to tone down his on-the-field antics? Maybe wait a second before rushing onto the field? Maybe not slam his bat down on the ground after striking out? Maybe he could praise Cubs fans as the best in the world without giving the Dodgers bulletin board material?
From the article, it sounds like Pete himself would like to rein himself in a little. He speaks about how he wants to be a team leader one day like Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson.
Or do you like fiery Pete the way he is now? Maybe you don’t want him to do anything that gets him ejected or costs the team a run, but is showing emotion on the field just fine with you? Do you like that he takes shots at the Dodgers?
Thanks for stopping by tonight. If you’re coming from where they got that storm, we hope you were able to dig yourself out. Please be extra safe getting yourselves home. We can get your coat for you now. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow evening for more BCB After Dark.
Surprise, AZ - February 21: Samad Taylor #0 of the San Diego Padres stands on second base during a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals on February 21, 2026 in Surprise, AZ. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
As the first week of Cactus League play comes to a close, a few players on the San Diego Padres have begun to show hints of a MLB breakout. One of these is non-roster-invitee, Samad Taylor.
Prior to this year, Taylor had only logged 38 games of big-league experience, posting a .205 batting average in 73 plate appearances, with his longest stint coming with the Kansas City Royals in 2023. Across a nine-year career in the minors, he’s managed a much more respectable .269/.358/.425 slash line.
A red-hot start in Arizona
That’s why this first week in Spring Training has been so surprising. Taylor has hit .556 through four games with the Padres, going 5-for-9 with two doubles and two RBI, and kicking off the spring with a ridiculous 1.278 OPS.
It’s almost certain that this isn’t sustainable production at the major league level. In the past Taylor has raked in the spring only for his bat to go cold once the calendar turns to Opening Day.
Over six Spring Training invites, he has posted a .358/.396/.642 slash line. And while a line like that might make you think of Taylor as an obvious offensive powerhouse, he has yet to put it together in the majors.
The fight for the bench
The problem for Taylor is that the Friars have an abundance of players fighting for bench spots with the big-league club. From the emergence of Jose Miranda to recent mainstays like Bryce Johnson and Mason McCoy, there is no shortage of talent for San Diego to fill out its offensive depth.
But Taylor does have something over the others: speed.
Between the majors and minors, he has stolen 40-plus bases over each of the last three seasons, reaching a career high of 51 in 2023. It’s possible he’s brought up to the big-league level simply to act as a pinch-runner for the Padres in certain situations.
It’s hard to make heads or tails with such a small sample size. But if Taylor can build on his hot start to 2026, it’s easy to see him earning a place in the San Diego dugout come Opening Day.
Tanner Murray went 2-for-3 with three RBIs on a double and a homer. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
It was a doozy of a Spring Training game in Peoria, Arizona, on Tuesday as both the White Sox (4-1) and Seattle Mariners (2-3) offenses exploded for 28 hits with the South Siders persevering to snag their fourth win. Both pitching staffs stumbled through the nine innings, with 19 hurlers making an appearance across both teams; eight for Chicago and 11 for Seattle. Mariners pitchers walked fewer batters — six compared to nine from the Good Guys — but the Sox struck out 12, while the M’s only scratched five Ks across the board.
Lefthander Anthony Kay made his debut with Chicago since joining the team this past offseason and overcame a shaky start. The southpaw stumbled early, loading the bases with a hit, a walk, and a hit batter to open the first frame. The one run he gave up came from Josh Naylor, who drove in a run while grounding into a double play. However, Kay was able to reclaim control and strike out Randy Arozarena to get out of the first. He carried that momentum into the second, and ended his day with two walks, two Ks, and 25 of 45 pitches (55%) thrown for strikes.
The South Siders had taken a one-run lead on a Lenyn Sosa double in the first inning, though the Naylor RBI tied the game back up at one. Reader, this would not be the first nor the last lead change of the day, as you could probably imagine in such a high-scoring, borderline chaotic game.
Including Kay, five of eight South Side pitchers allowed at least one run, and all but Chase Plymell and Zach Franklin allowed at least one hit. On top of the mess in the box score, the White Sox recorded not one, but two blown saves and still somehow managed to earn the win, likely thanks to the help of Seattle also blowing a save after taking the lead in the sixth.
Popping his first homer of the spring, shortstop Tanner Murray brought a two-run lead back to the Good Guys. Murray was excellent on Tuesday while going 2-for-3 with two extra-base hits (a home run and a double) and posting a quarter of Chicago’s RBIs (three).
Derek Hill ignited a three-run fourth with a leadoff triple, followed immediately by a Brooks Baldwin RBI double down the right field line. Edgar Quero capped the rally with a run-scoring single, padding the Chicago lead to 6-3. Curtis Mead was solid in the leadoff spot this afternoon, making hard, solid contact, going 2-for-4. His RBI single in the fourth was 104 mph off the bat, but Mead also accounted for the hardest hit ball of the day as his ground out in the fifth left the bat at 111.4 mph. More of this, please.
Out of the 16 hits from the South Siders, six were for extra bases: four doubles, a triple, and a home run. Murray led the team by driving in three, but the bench also provided some late-game pop. Mario Camilletti and Oliver Dunn combined to go 3-for-4 with four RBIs after entering the game in the sixth, and helped lead the Sox to a win.
Thankfully, the offense was there to back up the defense because, as we know, the arm barn was a bit rusty. The lead evaporated in the third when Wikelman González entered and surrendered a two-run tank to Cal Raleigh. The 2025 home run king’s blast handed González a blown save and knotted the score at three. Unfortunately for everyone, it got way worse before it got better.
Chicago’s pitching staff struggled to find the zone; after González’s two walks, three additional relievers surrendered five more. The collapse peaked in the fifth, when Jairo Iriarte walked three straight hitters, all of whom eventually scored to tie the game at eight. Chase Plymell came in to relieve, and due to a throwing error from Edgar Quero, Plymell was awarded the second blown save despite not being in that situation without the mayhem that preceded him.
Ironically enough, lefthander Tyler Schweitzer ended up being granted the win even after giving up another two runs on four hits — definitely not his best performance but apparently not the worst of the day. The final two innings had some feeling of normalcy as Adisyn Coffey and Franklin were able to stave off the Mariners one last time. Each struck out one batter, and Coffey allowed just one base hit.
It was a whirlwind of a game, but everyone is just getting ramped up and working on different mechanics or certain aspects of their games in preparation for the upcoming season. While victories don’t really matter in Spring Training, it sure is nice to see a more lopsided win column. The fun continues Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds back home at Camelback Ranch with righthander Davis Martin projected to make the start.
There's nothing in sports like attending a spiring training game under the sunny Arizona and Florida skies, with fans camped out on the berms beyond the outfield walls to watch Major League Baseball's exhibition games before the regular season gets underway.
MLB's 30 teams are split evenly between Arizona (Cactus League) and Florida (Grapefruit League) to prepare for the new season with players battling for jobs ahead o the grueling 162-campaign that every team hopes will end in late October.
Tickets for spring trraining games are markedly less expensive that regular-season games, offering a great value for fans and families lucky to be in the Phoenix area and coasts of Florida.
Here's how to buy spring training tickets for every team:
First things first: the Dbacks Dispatch crew and I will put in our two cents on games and their outcomes, but like any seasoned Spring Training vet knows, the numbers on the scoreboard are like the $7 churros at the Phoenix Zoo – I ain’t buying it. Let’s focus on the players. Whether it’s the shoo-ins to the opening day roster, or the prospects to take mental notes on for future years, that’s what really matters when you’re watching from your blanket on the lawn. Brett reminded us that the D-Backs had the best record in the Cactus League in 2016 and look how that turned out? (Don’t look; it was bad).
Players are going to be focused on specific parts of their game. They focus on things like their stride when they load up to swing or hitting a big leaguer’s breaking ball (you got this Jordan I believe in you). Yes, the actual product we’re seeing on the field may not be the most exciting when it comes to end results, but Spring Training audiences are either there for the vibes or hardcore hardball psychos like you and me. Some people have the giant bat beer in their hand, and others have a radar gun in their hand. The cool ones have both. That’s one reason why I love baseball.
A Swing with No Kick to It
One of our favorite annual traditions to watch for from camp is the mechanical transformation of Alek Thomas – his stride leg in particular (I swear that’s why I’m staring at his legs, guys). The Young King has arrived with a visible adjustment to his timing mechanism, notably shucking off his traditional leg kick in favor of a much simpler approach. Alek is currently trying out a no-leg kick style, often substituting a quiet toe-tap or a tiny lift for the straight up-and-down motion that defined his previous seasons at the plate.
You hope to see a more consistent approach at the plate and that he improves his ability to stay balanced against the ever rising high-level velocity zipping in from the mound. As one of Alek’s biggest fans whose copium is starting to wear off, he really needs to show some strong, consistent value at the plate. I say this only because the eye-test makes him seem like a liability, even though he actually had career highs almost completely across the board. In my opinion, Alek needs consistently productive AB’s for PR purposes. If he can have a successful, consistent year with the bat, he should be able to shed this stigma that he’s a defense-only outfielder. I know I’m certainly rooting for him.
Trouble With the Curve
Jordan Lawlar’s situation has been quite the conundrum thanks to a mix of high expectations and low sample size, but this year Lawlar has his own PR problem when it comes to breaking balls. So far, he’s been working on breaking that narrative in the few games he’s played in so far. Despite claims from critics that he couldn’t handle professional off-speed pitches, Lawlar has already left the yard twice this spring, clubbing home runs off both a changeup and a sharp breaking ball. I cannot emphasize enough that I’m fully aware it’s a drastically low sample size, but I’m down to celebrate small wins as much as I’m prone to scouring for areas to improve.
Maybe more impressive than the home runs themselves is the consistency of his contact. Lawlar has been barreling the ball with authority, turning in multiple three-hit performances with exit velocities reaching as high as 106 mph. By proving he can punish pro pitches, Lawlar is building an interesting case for a permanent spot in the heart of the Diamondbacks’ lineup, maybe even in the heart of the outfield. I chose to write about these two guys consecutively for a reason.
A Yu-Min Win
On the mound, lefty prospect Yu-Min Lin has become a major focal point due to a significant jump in his physical stuff compared to previous seasons. Lin, who was known for a craftier approach sitting around 89 mph, raised some eyebrows by reaching 93 mph with his fastball in his first spring outing. This velocity jump surely is a testament to his physical development following a difficult 2023 season where he missed significant time due to mandatory military service in Taiwan, not to mention a scary line drive he took to the dome that he had to recover from not too long ago.
Lin is pairing that newfound heat with a hard curveball that sits nearly at 80 mph. That’s a pretty significant tick up from the low-70s rainbow curve he featured in the minors. The increased velocity changes the outlook for the young pitcher, giving him the deception and power needed to navigate Reno and possibly The Show. Having ramped up successfully to represent both the D-backs and Team Taiwan, Lin appears poised to climb the organizational ladder faster than many anticipated a few years ago.
Spring Cleaning My Wallet
While the play on the field provides plenty of optimism, the soulless corporation side of baseball remains a major point of contention for fans dealing with rising costs and declining quality in the team shops. Resentment is growing over the current state of sports memorabilia thanks to everyone’s favorite manufacturer of transparent pants and jerseys with letters taken off the bottom line of the eye test chart. Fans have voiced frustrations that Fanatics’ modern jerseys, which can cost upwards of $200, often feel thin and cheap with screen-printed elements compared to the high-quality, stitched Majestic versions that were standard only a decade ago.
Hats are no exception either, with New Era’s new Clubhouse Collection hats drawing heavy fire. Retailing for $55 pre-tax, these designs have been described as looking like they were speed-ran or hastily assembled in Microsoft Paint. When combined with the rising barrier to entry at the ballpark, where lawn seat at Salt River Fields costs as much as it used to be to take the whole family, the affordable family outing of Spring Training has become a nostalgic memory of the past. For many, the disconnect between the premium price tag and the declining quality of the jerseys and hats is reaching a breaking point.
Say I wanted to take my son and daughter to a game for a classic dad outing in Scottsdale. I’m only buying 3 tickets. Of course they’re going to be lawn seats so they can roll around in the grass. I want us all to match so let’s say I get us all jerseys, not even with a last name on the back. I won’t even get the super cool purple Serpientes jerseys, just the standard cream colored home jersey for all three of us. Can’t forget this year’s Spring Training hats! One for each. I can’t take them to the game without having a hot dog either! So dad will be cheap and get the value dogs since the regular ones are almost half the cost of a lawn ticket. Alright, so tickets, jerseys, hats, and value dogs. What’s that ring up to?
$767
Um, what?
Let’s go ultimate discount dad. No jerseys for you guys because the logo is going to peel off before you even finish reading this sentence. Let’s go just the tickets, no food because we have food at home, and let’s not include any price for parking even though I definitely didn’t park in the Target parking lot just south of the stadium.
$80?! Our starters don’t even play long enough for the shadows to hit home plate! But hey, as long as the management from corporations can afford to take their clients out to the game, who needs generational fans? Well, at least we can stay at home and watch the games on the broadcast, right?
New York Yankees pitcher Will Warren #98, throwing a warmup pitch at the start of the 1st inning.
DUNEDIN, Fla. — Clarke Schmidt has been where Will Warren is now.
Only two years ago, Schmidt was the right-hander coming off a season in which he made 30-plus starts to establish himself in the big leagues, even while taking some lumps along the way. Confidence was never an issue, but he arrived at camp the next spring with a different feel, a season’s worth of experience on his shoulders and information in his brain to use to his advantage.
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“You don’t really feel like you belong in this league until you’re a couple years in, until you start to feel like you’ve done some type of thing, whether it’s posting [pitching every five days] or having success,” Schmidt said. “So I think that definitely plays a factor.”
They are not the same pitcher, but the Yankees would sign up for what came next for Schmidt — taking off in the first two months of 2024 before a strained lat derailed him — to come next for Warren, injury aside.
In order for that to happen, Warren will have to address a few key areas that hurt him most last season on the way to a 4.44 ERA across 33 starts. Like Schmidt, Warren had trouble with left-handed hitters.
In general, he did not pitch as well against some of the better teams he faced.
And he got hurt by a few big innings that blew up a handful of starts.
New York Yankees pitcher Will Warren throwing a warmup pitch at the start of the first inning on Feb. 24, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I think it’s comfort level, honestly,” Warren said Tuesday after throwing 2 ²/₃ innings of one-run ball while striking out four in an 8-7 win over the Blue Jays at TD Ballpark. “I know that my stuff plays, based on 33 starts and 170ish innings. It’s not trying to do too much.
“Be Will Warren. Will Warren’s good enough to get people out.”
The first task will be getting through the spring healthy to begin the season in the rotation at a time when the Yankees will already be missing Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón and Schmidt to the injured list.
Warren is coming off the heaviest workload of his career last season, having thrown 167 innings including the playoffs — well past the 132 ¹/₃ innings he totaled in 2024, but he says he feels strong after only taking an extra week off or so from throwing over the offseason.
As for his plan to better attack hitters, the 26-year-old has moved from setting up on the first-base side of the rubber to the third-base side, which he believes can help against both righties (who hit .232 with a .680 OPS against him last season) and lefties (who hit .266 with a .786 OPS).
Will Warren pitching during Tuesday’s contest with the Blue Jays. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I think it’s helped the attack angle [be] a little sharper,” said Warren, who pitched from the third-base side in college. “Righties, it feels like I’m coming at them, lefties might feel like the ball is just way out there, especially backdoor sweeper, backdoor curveball. And then just making it super sharp going into them. I think that’s the biggest thing we’re working on is just comfortability.”
Warren also mentioned wanting to throw the kitchen sink against left-handed hitters, plus putting an extra emphasis on getting ahead of them so he could keep them guessing on multiple pitches.
The Blue Jays only had three lefties in their lineup Tuesday, and after giving up hits to each of them his first time through the lineup, Warren came back to retire the lefty-hitting Daulton Varsho and Jesus Sanchez (caught looking at a front-hip sinker) back-to-back to finish off his outing.
“I see those similarities with Will, where he’s trying to get better with lefties and cut down on some of the walks,” said Schmidt, who posted a 4.64 ERA in 32 starts in 2023 before jumping to a 2.85 ERA in 16 starts in 2025. “Then you start to clean up the details and iron out all that stuff and then your game just leaps.”
Warren allowed three earned runs or fewer in 24 of his 33 starts, but also had some clunkers — most notably with disastrous first innings against the Dodgers, the Blue Jays and Red Sox — which he will need to do a better job of containing.
“Just not letting things snowball, when you get a little emotional out there and you want to go harder and you want to go faster — no. You got to execute better,” manager Aaron Boone said. “So learning how to do it, how to be, what’s that fine line of having an edge to you and a fire to you but especially as a starting pitcher, also being emotionally really steady to handle all the things that come your way in the course of the game. He’s done a good job of that, but that’s the trick for a lot of these guys.”
Kevin Pillar is calling on Angels owner Arte Moreno to sell the team.
Days after Moreno said fans care more about affordability than winning, Pillar joined a growing number of critics of the boss in Anaheim.
“He doesn’t realize what he has, because if he really cared about winning, it would be such a destination for players to want to come and play,” the former MLB outfielder said during an appearance on the “Foul Territory” podcast.
"He needs to get rid of the team, because he really doesn't care about the Angels."
“He just needs to get rid of the team because he really doesn’t really care about, you know, the Angels and, obviously, franchise values are going way up again.
“[Moreno] said he wasn’t actively shopping [the Angels], but I think there’s a lot of people interested in buying. So hopefully someone just kind of blows them away with an offer here soon, and we could kind of move past the story.”
Moreno on Friday told reporters that the “number one thing fans want is affordability” and that “winning is not in their top five,” citing an internal team survey.
The owner added that “moms” preferred the affordability aspects of events like baseball games.
“Moms make about 80 percent of the decisions,” he said. “They want to be able to bring their kids and be affordable, and they want safety, and they want to have a good experience, so they get all the entertainment stuff or whatever. The purists, you know, it’s just straight winning.”
Pillar, who played 13 big league seasons before retiring last July, spent part of the 2024 season with the Angels.
Moreno’s comments didn’t sit well with new interim Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Bruce Meyer, either, telling The Athletic over the weekend that the union and players “took notice.”
Angels owner Arte Moreno in attendance for an opening day game between his team and the Red Sox on April 5, 2024 in Anaheim, Calif. Getty Images
“The bottom line is players are competitors. They grew up competing every day. They go out, and they try their hardest to win every game. And players want to see owners doing the same thing,” Meyer said.
Despite an embarrassment of superstar talent over the years, Moreno’s Angels haven’t done much winning under his ownership.
After Moreno bought the team in May 2003, just months after their 2002 World Series championship, the Angels made the playoffs in five of the next seven seasons, but have struggled since.
Since 2010, the Angels have made just one postseason appearance, wasting a big chunk of the careers of MLB legends like Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani and Albert Pujols.
Kevin Pillar reacts during the Angels’ loss to the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on Sept. 24, 2024 in Chicago. Getty Images
The Angels have finished below .500 in 10 straight seasons, and it doesn’t appear to be getting much brighter in Southern California.
After years of big free agent contracts and one of the higher payrolls in the sport, Moreno slashed salary to around $155 million, which includes deferred payments to injured third baseman Anthony Rendon.
Moreno cited the loss of the team’s local TV deal as the reason for the money-saving moves.
“Will [payroll] get back to $200 million? Probably,” Moreno said. “We’ve got to get our TV thing worked out, and we just have to improve our brand.”
In August 2022, Moreno announced that he was exploring selling the Angels, but ended that process just months later, citing “unfinished business.”
The San Diego Padres traveled to Mesa, Ariz. to play the Chicago Cubs in Cactus League action on Tuesday. Starter Marco Gonzales, who had issues with location after more than a year off the mound, lasted 1.2 innings and allowed three runs on five hits and hit a batter.
Ron Marinaccio followed with 1.1 scoreless innings pitched, further building on his long-relief bid by going an up-and-down over the first and second innings. He will leave soon for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic but has not allowed a hit so far.
Bradgley Rodriguez struck out two in his inning of relief and got a weak swing on a pop-up to first. Reliever Francis Peña continues to struggle with his command while allowing two walks, a home run and a double for three runs in his 0.2 innings pitched.
The rest of the pitchers held the Cubs in check but the Padres fell just short, scoring three runs over the last two innings but were unable to come all the way back and lost 6-5.
First baseman Romeo Sanabria had another good day at the plate, subbing for Nick Castellanos, getting a single and knocking in a run. Castellanos also had an 11-pitch at-bat in the fourth inning that resulted in a double off the center field wall and two RBI. Outfielder Bryce Johnson was 2-for-2 with two singles and a walk. He has had a great spring, currently 3-for-8 with a walk in his three games played.
New Padre Sung-Mun Song didn’t get a hit in his Padres debut as a starter but played a clean third base and worked a walk with a good at-bat in the third inning.
Although outfielder Tirso Ornelas was designated for assignment last week, he cleared waivers and returned to spring camp yesterday. He entered the game in the sixth inning for DH Miguel Andujar and got a single in his first at-bat.
Busy practice fields
With the game being a 40-minute drive to Mesa, the practice fields saw early action and then bullpens for Joe Musgrove, Nick Pivetta, Walker Buehler and Miguel Mendez.
Germán Márquez threw live BP on the backfields with Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill taking swings and multiple members of the pitching staff looking on.
The team bus left at 11 a.m. for Mesa and the players making the trip got their work in early and were then off the fields. The remainder of the team did infield and outfield work as well as batting practice. Ramon Laureano took a break while walking between fields to sign some autographs and take a pic or two.
Tomorrow’s game will be back in Peoria versus the Angels. Michael King will make his Cactus League debut.
NORTH PORT, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Nacho Alvarez Jr. #24 of the Atlanta Braves poses for a photo during Spring Training photo day at CoolToday Park on February 20, 2026 in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With newly signed free agent Ramón Urías opting to report to Spring Training with St. Louis Cardinals, Mexico is replacing the veteran infielder with Atlanta Braves infielder Nacho Alvarez, Jr. for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Alvarez, Jr. will be the sixth Braves player in camp for Spring Training slated play in this year’s WBC with outfielder Ronald Acuña, Jr. playing for Venezuela, non-roster invitee pitcher Javy Guerra with Panama, and outfielder Jurickson Profar, catcher Chadwick Tromp and infielder Ozzie Albies playing for the Netherlands.
Alvarez, Jr., 22, is likely on the roster bubble for Atlanta’s 26-man roster for this season. After missing much of the 2025 season due to injury, he was pressed in to action with the big league team after Austin Riley was lost for the season. Alvarez, Jr. played in 58 games for Atlanta last year after making his MLB debut in 2024. He also played in the 2025 Arizona Fall League.
Early in this year’s Spring Training, Alvarez, Jr. was working with the catchers, and would likely benefit from getting regular playing time at Triple-A regardless to whether to will look to add another defensive position to his toolbox.
Alvarez, Jr. will join a Mexican team with a number of current and former big league players, including one-time Braves prospects Victor Vodnik and Joey Meneses.
The Athletics continued their terrible start to spring training, losing 10-0 to the Milwaukee Brewers. This afternoon, the Brewers took an early lead and never looked back on their way to the blowout victory. The A’s offense, full of regulars for the game’s first six innings, was once again asleep as the team only got five singles over nine innings. Good thing spring stats and records don’t matter!
Taking the mound for the first time this spring, Mason Barnett started strongly as he pitched a clean first inning. However, his second inning did not go as smoothly. Brewers center fielder Blake Perkins singled and then first baseman Tyler Black crushed Barnett’s hanging curveball over the right field fence. Barnett’s 29-pitch outing concluded after finishing that second inning, his lone blemish being Black’s home run.
While Barnett’s performance was not that bad, it came a day after fellow young pitcher J.T. Ginn looked electric in his spotless two-inning outing against multiple San Francisco Giants starting position players.
Black was not done being a thorn in the A’s side. An inning later, he came up with the bases loaded, two outs and A’s minor leaguer Blake Beers on the mound. Beers had just come into the game in relief of Justin Sterner, who left with two outs and two men on base. Sterner would have likely been given the chance to finish the inning had he not just completed a 14 pitch battle with Brice Turang that resulted in a walk.
Unfortunately for A’s fans, Beers pitching ability is not as awesome as his last name. Black lined a single to center that somehow cleared the bases. Black added an RBI double in the fifth inning. He finished his day 3-for-3, driving in six of the Brewers ten runs.
While the Brewers totaled hits and runs galore, the A’s had trouble getting anything going offensively. Twice, the A’s got two men on base with less than two outs, only for nothing to come from it. In the bottom of the third, facing a 5-0 deficit, Nick Kurtz and Brent Rooker came up with two of their teammates on base. A home run or rally extending hit from either or both of them would have put the A’s right back in this game, alas Kurtz lined out and Rooker popped out. Through four games, the A’s have yet to hit a home run, which is quite surprising considering the amount of sluggers on this team and the fact that the ball tends to fly further in the Cactus League.
The A’s have a much-needed off day tomorrow as they try to right the ship and shake off these rough early spring training performances. Hope the A’s return on Thursday ready to defeat the Texas Rangers and kickstart a winning streak.
Notes:
A’s top prospect shortstop Leo De Vries drew a walk at the plate in addition to making two nice back-to-back defensive plays in the sixth inning. Following a leadoff triple, De Vries caught a line drive and then threw a grounder home to prevent the runner from scoring.
Hogan Harris, one of the team’s closer candidates, worked a scoreless inning in his spring training debut. He worked around two walks, aided by left fielder Tyler Soderstrom throwing out a Brewer at second base.
Left-handed reliever Matt Krook left with an injury after recording the first out of the eighth inning. Hope he is okay as the A’s need left-handed relief depth behind Harris.
But to manager Dave Roberts, he’s the same “mini-bulldog” as the Dodgers remember from two years ago.
“This guy is gonna over-achieve and over-deliver,” Roberts said confidently Tuesday morning. “Gavin put in a lot of work to get back to being the pitcher he was.”
Gavin Stone might be throwing with “a whole new shoulder” now, as he joked earlier this spring. Getty Images
The pitcher Stone was in 2024, of course, looked destined to become the team’s next homegrown star.
He had a breakout rookie campaign that year, leading the Dodgers in innings pitched while going 11-5 with a 3.53 ERA in 25 starts.
He was also bestowed with the “mini-bulldog” nickname by Roberts –– who compared his efficient, pitch-to-contact, “throwback” approach to that of the franchise’s original “Bulldog,” Orel Hershiser.
But then, just as Stone was putting the finishing touches on a Rookie of the Year-caliber performance that had him primed to be a frontline option in the Dodgers’ postseason rotation, adversity struck.
He gave up five runs in a five-inning start on Aug. 31 at the Arizona Diamondbacks. He found he “couldn’t pick up my shoulder” when he woke up the next morning. And after getting an MRI, his standout season was suddenly over, ultimately ending with a significant surgery to repair his shoulder capsule, labrum and rotator cuff.
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“I was surprised by the severity of the injury,” Roberts recalled. “But it speaks to how Gavin is such a tough, tough ballplayer. He was going through stuff, and still found a way to compete and be good.”
For the first time since that Arizona start almost 18 months ago, Stone returned to game action on Tuesday, and immediately impressed in a scoreless one-inning, two-strikeout, 15-pitch outing in the Dodgers’ Cactus League game against the Cleveland Guardians at Camelback Ranch.
He flashed natural feel for his trademark changeup, using it for both his punchouts. He was also around 94-95 mph with his fastball, already back to his pre-injury velocity.
Mostly, though, he was able to enjoy a moment that was just as cathartic as it was celebratory.
Stone returned to game action on Tuesday, and immediately impressed. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
His “grind” of a recovery process might’ve forced him to miss the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series run, and all of their 2025 title defense. But it hasn’t diminished his confidence in getting back to being the pitcher he was before.
“That’s the goal, getting back to that mold of myself,” Stone said with a smile after his Tuesday outing. “And today was a great start.”
Entering camp, that goal seemed very much in question.
Shoulder injuries can often be the most difficult for pitchers to seamlessly come back from. And the extent of Stone’s shoulder damage came as a “shock” even to him.
“If you would’ve seen the MRI, it was horrible,” he said earlier this spring. “It’s still gonna be a long process, fine-tuning some things, getting the timing down.”
Yet, Stone’s steady progress through the early stage of camp has come as a pleasant surprise to Dodgers personnel –– putting him in competition with River Ryan, Justin Wrobelski and others for a potential opening day rotation spot with Blake Snell unlikely to be ready for the start of the season.
Roberts said Stone is further along in his ramp-up than Ryan, a fellow 2024 rookie standout who missed the last year and a half recovering from Tommy John surgery. And on Tuesday, Stone’s premier changeup looked sharp as ever, getting a whiff five out of the six times batters tried to swing at it.
“That’s my bread and butter, so if I don’t have that, I’m screwed,” Stone joked. “But it was the easiest pitch on my shoulder to throw. It never really hurt, so I got to practice it a lot, just getting the feel for it. Seeing the results today is really uplifting.”
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Gavin Stone throws during a Spring Training workout at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
The changeup sets up the rest of Stone’s arsenal, which also includes a slider, cutter and sinker. When mixing those weapons, he can induce soft contact, collect quick outs and pitch deep into games as he showed two years ago, when he logged more than 140 innings and threw the Dodgers’ most recent complete game shutout.
“I think it’s gonna be a good year (for him),” Roberts said when asked about his expectations for Stone in 2026. “I don’t know how many innings he’s gonna throw. But I do know that he will be impactful for us.”
Indeed, the Dodgers will still be mindful of Stone’s workload. Roberts and Andrew Friedman have both acknowledged debating how hard to push him early in the season. Coming out of Tuesday’s auspicious return, however, Stone was singularly focused on only one thing moving forward:
Getting back into the Dodgers’ rotation as soon as possible, and picking up where he left off before his shoulder surgery.
“My goal is to make the team out of camp,” Stone said. “So I’m doing everything I can to make that happen.”
Feb 24, 2026; Peoria, Arizona, USA; Seattle Mariners right fielder Dominic Canzone (8) is caught in a rundown against the Chicago White Sox during the fifth inning in Peoria, Arizona. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images | Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images
Diane. It’s February 24th, 12:10 pm, mountain time. My investigation, in all it’s twists, turns, detours, and non-sequiturs has led me to the Peoria Sports Complex in the northwest corner of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Along the way, I stopped at the Whataburger just across the New River. And I have to say, it lived up to its name. What. A. Burger!
The purpose of my visit to Peoria is to investigate the Seattle Mariners. They’ve created quite a stir up in the Northwest, nearly earning a trip to the World Series! Can you believe it? But — as I’m sure you know, Diane —they didn’t quite make it, losing in heartbreaking fashion. So heartbreaking, in fact, that one is forced to wonder if nefarious spirits might not be at work. Bob, we have learned, feeds off of pain, and that loss caused enough of that.
The big name in this game is a fella they call George Kirby. No relation to the little pink guy, but I may have to look into that. Remind me to ask him, Diane. He had a tough 2025 campaign, and is looking to get his moxy back. From what I can see, he reminds me of myself after that incident in Pittsburgh. He’s on the mound now, battling his way through the Chicago White Stockings.
Oh man would you look at that, he got the first two batters out but he beaned the third guy up, the left fielder Austin Hays. George may be a little rattled by that. Everything I’ve seen tells me he has a strong preference to work within the strike zone. And to make matters worth Lenyn Sosa just hit a double to score Hays. Not a good start for Mr. Kirby. Ah, well, he did get a strikeout to end the inning. That should help.
Diane, it looks like George’s fellow Mariners have his back. Good to see comraderie among teammates. The Mariners actually loaded the bases up before getting a run on a double play off the bat of one Joshua Naylor. It’s not a pretty way to do it but the game is tied nonetheless. But in the meantime, I’m hungry. I’m going to find some concessions.
Diane, I’ve acquired a box of stadium popcorn. The texture is somewhat papery and it could use a little more butter flavoring, but regardless, it’s the perfect snack for a day like today. Since I left you, Diane, the White Sox took the lead once again on a two-run home run by Tanner Murray. George Kirby had been removed from the game. It a was poor soul by the name of Stefan Raeth that threw the errant pitch. A shame, but now I’m going to find a soda to wash down this popcorn.
While I was in line for my drink I had a tremendous revelation. A mariner is a sailor, one who lives on the seas. Yet they take their practice every year in the middle of the desert. One wonders if it is merely an irony or something that is emblematic of human nature. Perhaps by building strength and endurance in the arid heat, they are more prepared for baseball in the humid cold of the Northwest. We shall see.
Oh, I forgot to mention. That catcher fellow Sheriff Truman likes so much, Caleb Raleigh, hit a two-run home run.
Diane I’ve retaken my seat in between the two halves of the fourth inning. A series of miscues and misfortunes has returned the lead to Chicago, this time by a margin of 6-3. Spring Training has a way of bringing out the silliness inherent in baseball, as players shake of the rust. Perhaps the baseball gods themselves are more like to intervene, as they too have been desperate for the game all winter. If you asked me before this investigation, I would have said that I don’t believe in gods of any kind. But after what I’ve seen, I’m not so sure anymore.
Diane, the Mariners are fighting back. Those two kids that are playing today, Arroyo and Emerson, reached base and were subsequently doubled home by that star Julio Rodriguez I was telling you about the other day. That brought the score back within a single run.
Chicago stretched the lead back to 3-runs on a lackluster inning by trade acquisition Alex Hoppe. But the Mariners simply loaded the bases again and let Colt Emerson single in two runs with a rocket to right field. Boy that kid may be the real deal. The Mariners then tied the game on a play so captivatingly nonsensical that I am at a loss of words on how to describe it. Miles Mastrobuoni hit the ball to first base and Dominic Canzone attempted to score from third, only to be caught in a rundown. While he was returning to third base the White Sox catcher attempted to throw the baseball back to the third baseman. He failed, sending the ball sailing into left field. Canzone scored and the other two runners moved up to third and second. However they too failed to score.
Diane, I’m speaking to you now from the bottom of the 6th inning. For the first time today the Seattle Mariners are leading the baseball game. They took the lead off of a Spencer Packard single — remind me to ask if he has any relation to Catharine Packard and the sawmill — a wild pitch, a ground out by Lazaro Montes, and a solid single by Dominic Canzone. We’ll see if they can keep it.
It seems they could not. Nico Tellache pitched the 7th for Seattle, inheriting a runner on first. His second pitch went for a single, and a double steal moved those runners up to d and third. It was one of the greatest heists I’ve ever seen in all my time at the Bureau, Diane. It was a simple matter for Oliver Dunn to hit a double and score both runners. He eventually scored on a single, giving Chicago a two run lead. I feel for young Tellache. He did his best in a stressful situation. Hopefully he showed enough determination to his coaches for a second chance. We could all use one of those.
Diane, the Mariners are clawing back. Rhylan Thomas hit a ball all the way to the berm in right field and cut the Chicago lead in half. He could have tied it if it weren’t for Cal Raleigh getting thrown out attempting to steal second after a single. But that’s just the way the cookie crumbles. That’s a good idea. I’m going to try and rustle up a cookie.
Diane, I’ve been unable to find a physical cookie to eat. This disappointment has been compounded by the fact that the proverbial cookie of the baseball game continued to crumble until the very end. The Mariners were unable to score again and the Chicago team took the win. I can’t help but feel this has been some sort of distraction. A red herring, if you will, and you know that that is a fish I do not particularly care for. I’d love to stay and do some more digging, but I really should get back up to Sheriff Truman.
It is a long drive, however. Right now what I need a donut. And a damn good cup of coffee.
