BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 03: J.J. Hardy #2 celebrates with his teammates Nelson Cruz #23 and Jimmy Paredes #38 after sliding safe to home plate to score the go ahead run on Delmon Young #27 of the Baltimore Orioles three run RBI double to deep left feild in the eighth inning against Joakim Soria #38 of the Detroit Tigers during Game Two of the American League Division Series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on October 3, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here at Camden Chat, we have been posting a question of the day every day for a few weeks now. Most of these questions asked your thoughts about the upcoming season, but today I want to look backward and ask you, “What is your favorite Orioles memory?”
We have baseball fans of all ages here, so it’ll be fun to read answers from throughout the Orioles’ history. Some of us have seen three World Series winners; others have seen zero. I expect some favorite memories will be about the team itself, while others are more personal and perhaps revolve around family or growing up.
I am closer to 50 years old than I’d like to admit, and yet I am too young to remember the Orioles making it to the World Series. I was alive for the most recent two appearances, though in 1979 I wasn’t even a year old. In 1983, I was probably more interested in riding my Big Wheel or He-Man than in watching Cal Ripken make that final catch to capture the title.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t have any big memories of the Baltimore Orioles. Some of my fondest memories include going to the first night game at Camden Yards with my dad and brother. We couldn’t get tickets to Opening Day, but we made the first night game a tradition for many years after.
In 1996, I remember calling Ticketmaster over and over to try to get tickets to my first-ever playoff game, which I attended with my older brother. I saw my favorite player, Brady Anderson, hit a leadoff home run.
And of course, there is 2130. I prefer 2130 over 2131 because I got to be in the stands for that one. I was 16 years old, and my uncle somehow got a bunch of tickets in the Eutaw Street bleachers. He invited a friend and me along with him and his grown-up buddies.
I was in the stands when the 2014 Orioles clinched the division. I celebrated after the game by watching Adam Jones pie Nick Markakis while Zack Britton sprayed champagne into the stands.
It’s hard to narrow it down to one memory. If the Orioles ever win the World Series, I expect that’ll be the easy answer. But if I am picking one, I have to go with game two of the 2014 ALDS. I was in the stands with my father-in-law and watched as Wei-Yin Chen struggled and the Orioles fell behind. When the Tigers scored a run in the 8th to go ahead, 6-3, I remember saying to him that I much preferred the game the day before when the Orioles won big.
Then came the bottom of the eighth. We all remember it. Joba Chamberlain hit Adam Jones. Back-to-back singles by Nelson Cruz and Steve Pearce scored Jones. Joba was pulled for Joakim Soria. J.J. Hardy walked to load the bases. The crowd got louder and louder. Could they do this? Might they possibly do this? We didn’t have long to wait. Pinch-hitter Delmon Young sent the first pitch he saw to left field. Cruz scored. Pearce scored. Hardy, who used to run like he was fighting through Jell-O, rounded third. The throw came in. Cruz motioned “slide! slide! slide!” Hardy slid. SAFE! The Orioles took the lead. Camden Yards shook. I had never felt that way before or since.
I know I’m not alone in that memory. Let me know if you felt the same! Or share your other favorite Orioles memories. Let’s spread some good feelings around as we wait for the 2026 season to begin.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 28: Former Major League Baseball player and executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association Tony Clark looks on prior to Game One of the 2022 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on October 28, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
Clay Holmes threw live batting practice yesterday, and new Mets Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette were impressed by his breaking stuff.
John Harper posited Carson Benge as the Nolan McLean of the 2026 Mets, as he sees him coming up and adapting quickly to become an impact player.
The Mets plan to ease Luis Robert Jr. into spring training in an attempt to prioritize his health over the long season ahead.
Load management this early reveals the Mets’ plan to try to keep him as healthy as possible.
In addition to Robert, the Mets are taking things slow with Brett Baty, Francisco Alvarez, and Jorge Polanco.
MLBPA executive director Tony Clark has resigned from the organization. It was revealed that the reason behind Clark’s resignation was an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law, who had been hired by the union in 2023.
The representatives in the Players Association met yesterday after the shocking Clark news, but they reiterated that the union is strong despite this.
In yesterday’s meeting, they didn’t vote on a new leader for the union, though an internal option has already emerged.
The union will hopefully vote today, as they are expected to have another meeting.
Twins starter Pablo López has a significant tear in his UCL and will likely need Tommy John surgery.
Pete Alonso has found a team and city that loves him in Baltimore.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
Vasilis Drimalitis took a look at Anderson Severino and his attempt to make it back to the big leagues by way of the Mets’ bullpen.
This Date in Mets History
Several former Mets are celebrating birthdays today, including Shawn Estes and John Valentin.
CANADA - APRIL 15: Ready to go: Blue Jays' John Mayberry keeps his batting sharp with indoor workout yesterday at Exhibition Stadium in preparation for today's opener with Milwaukee Brewers. He's had a fast start this season with four hits; including four homers. (Photo by Boris Spremo/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
It is John Mayberry’s 77th birthday.
Mayberry was drafted in the 1st round (6th pick overall) in the 1967 amateur draft. The number 1 pick that year was Ron Blomberg by the Yankees, so the Astros could have done much worse. Only Ted Simmons and Bobby Grich, also first-round picks, had better careers than John
John was a big, left-handed slugging first baseman. Officially listed at 6’3” and 230 pounds, he was likely heavier by the time he reached the Jays. He made his MLB debut as a September call-up in 1968 at 19, although he went hitless in 9 at-bats. The following September, he got just 4 at-bats and still no hits. After two more seasons as a part-timer, he was traded to the Royals, where he became their everyday first baseman for six seasons.
In his first four seasons as a Royal, Mayberry was a star—twice an All-Star, and runner-up in the 1975 AL MVP voting. He received MVP votes in four of six seasons with the Royals. His best year: 34 home runs, 119 walks, 106 RBI, and a .291/.416/.547 line. But his numbers dropped sharply in his last two years with Kansas City (.232 in 1976, .230 in 1977), and there may have been a reason.
To understand what happened, you need some context about baseball—and society—in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Decades before performance-enhancing drugs dominated sports headlines, non-performance-enhancing drugs were the issue. Cocaine was popular among the wealthy, and its dangers were often downplayed.
Baseball wasn’t the only place where drugs were a problem. Cocaine was the drug of choice for the financially well-off throughout society. Time Magazine had a cover story saying it was the in thing, without suggesting that there could be a downside.
In the 1977 AL Playoffs, with the Royals leading 2-1, manager Whitey Herzog let players skip batting practice before Game 4 for rest. Herzog later recalled: “Mayberry dragged in real late, but I put him on first base anyway, which was my big mistake.” Mayberry had a rough game, and Herzog suspected the cause: “The man couldn’t even talk, and I knew what was wrong….It must have been a hell of a party.” Herzog insisted on moving Mayberry, and the Royals sold him to the Jays.
“Mayberry dragged in real late, but I put him on first base anyway, which was my big mistake”. Mayberry had a bad game, dropping pop-ups and striking out. Herzog asked him what was wrong. “The man couldn’t even talk, and I knew what was wrong….It must have been a hell of a party”. Herzog insisted on moving Mayberry, and the Royals sold him to the Jays.
A few years later, as Cardinals manager, Herzog made a similar move with Keith Hernandez, a talented first baseman whom he traded after concerns about his work ethic—later linked to drug use. Herzog didn’t want Hernandez influencing younger players. Ironically, two young Mets stars later struggled with drugs, though blaming Hernandez would be a stretch
At the time, it was surprising for the Royals to part with Mayberry. As more stories of baseball’s drug problem emerged, it became clear that most teams chose to ignore it. Herzog was one of the few who would act.
Mayberry joined the Blue Jays for their second season, joining a struggling team that finished 59-102. He had some strong seasons with Toronto, though never matching his Kansas City peak. It’s hard to say if his decline was due to drugs, age, or size—he was always big and only got bigger and slower.
In 1979, Mayberry played 137 games, hitting .274/.372/.461 with 21 home runs and 74 RBI. In 1980, he posted a .248/.349/.473 line with 30 HR (6th in the AL) and 82 RBI—productive, if not superstar numbers.
During the 1981 strike season, he played 94 of 106 games, hitting .248/.360/.452 with 17 home runs (7th in the AL). In each full Jays season, his OPS+ was over 100: 108, 124, 119, and 128.
In 1982, Mayberry played just 17 games, mostly at DH, as Willie Upshaw took over first base. He hit .273/.405/.455 before being traded on May 5th to the Yankees for Dave Revering, Tom Dodd, and Jeff Reynolds. None made much of an impact for Toronto, but Dodd was later traded back to New York (along with Dale Murray) for Dave Collins, Fred McGriff, Mike Morgan, and cash—a great deal for the Jays.
I was young when Mayberry played for Toronto, but I remember him as a smiling, engaging presence—great in interviews, and eager to help sell baseball to Canada. It couldn’t have been easy, leaving a contender for a cellar-dweller.
At the time of his trade to the Yankees, Mayberry held the Blue Jays’ career records for homers and RBI.
Bill James’ Historical Baseball Abstract once ranked Mayberry as the 49th best first baseman, though he’d drop a few spots now. He later coached for five years in the Jays’ system. His son, John Jr., played 15 games for Toronto in 2014.
Happy birthday, John. Hope it’s a good one.
It’s also Alex Rios’ birthday—he turns 45 today.
Alex played six seasons with the Jays and was a solid contributor. He finished 5th in Rookie of the Year voting in 2004 and made All-Star teams in 2006 and 2007.
Before 2008, the Jays signed Rios to a 7-year, $70 million contract, which looked smart at first: he hit .291/.337/.461. But by August 2009, his numbers had dipped to .261/.317/.427, and Toronto put him on waivers. The White Sox claimed him and, after a few days of negotiation, took on his contract. Rios struggled in Chicago, hitting just .199/.229/.301 in 41 games that year.
He stayed with the White Sox until a 2013 trade to the Rangers, where he was perfectly average: .280/.312/.414 over a year and a half.
In 2015, Rios earned a World Series ring with the Royals, playing right field. He had a great ALCS against Toronto (.368/.368/.526, 1 HR, 3 RBI)—I try not to hold that against him. He struggled in the World Series, though, hitting .133 in 15 at-bats.
2015 was his final MLB season. Over 12 years, Rios hit .277/.321/.434 with 165 home runs and 244 stolen bases.
Happy birthday, Alex.
It is also my niece Nicola’s birthday; happy birthday, Nicola.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 17: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws during a workout at Camelback Ranch on February 17, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Galactic Empire of baseball has assembled at Camelback Ranch. Their first spring game is in just three days. The anticipation and excitement surrounding the start of the 2026 season is brewing.
On Tuesday, both Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani faced live hitters, and the latter’s arm will be preserved during the World Baseball Classic to prepare for the regular season ahead. Instead of fans having to wait nearly three months to see Ohtani on the mound, the expectation is that he will be ready to go at the start of the year.
The Dodgers are willing to put an innings limit for Ohtani to begin the season, notes Sonja Chen of MLB.com, as they gradually increased his limit by one inning for every two starts once he made his return to pitching last year. Ohtani still has hefty goals for what he can do on the mound this season, and his early season workload will ultimately be dependent on his discretion.
The Dodgers won’t operate by the rigid rules they set for much of last year, but it is likely that Ohtani will be limited innings-wise, at least to begin the season… But if the Dodgers have learned anything in the past two years, it’s that they should never count out Ohtani when he has his mind set on achieving something.
“The fact that he is saying that, he seems like he’s on a mission, pitching-wise,” Friedman said. “Whenever we’ve seen him on a mission, good things happen.”
Links
Teoscar Hernández is back in left field for the 2026 season, and he has shown up to camp with a slimmer physique, having lost 12 lbs over the offseason. Hernández reflected on this past offseason, where his name was the subject of trade conversations while his role as right fielder was removed with the signing of Kyle Tucker, and is eager to be a key contributor to a team eyeing its third consecutive championship, notes Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
“My whole career I used to be 204, 205 (pounds), that range. Last year was a little over. But I’m back to normal right now… I’m ready in any way they need me. I just want to be there, be on the field and play every day.”
Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández will begin the 2026 season on the injured list, opening a runway for Hyeseong Kim to earn the starting second base job. Kim spoke about the changes he made to his swing throughout the course of last year and how he’s entering this spring working on feeling more comfortable at the plate, per Jack Vita of the Los Angeles Times.
“The swing changes we made last year, I would say I felt about 70% comfortable with,” Kim said through an interpreter on Monday. “And then, this offseason and spring training, we were able to recognize some of the other stuff that we needed to work on, so I’m working very hard to make those changes again this year.”
Sep 20, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) looks on against the Boston Red Sox in the sixth inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Spring training is underway, and we are finally hearing from Rays players, coaches, and front office personnel for the first time in 2026. Junior Caminero spoke with the media and discussed his role on the team, and that discussion started to touch on a potential extension. Caminero says that’s up to his team and the agent, and his job is to just play baseball, but we debate whether or not we could see a new deal for the star third baseman before Opening Day.
Caminero and several of his Rays teammates will compete in this year’s World Baseball Classic, so we break down how each Ray fits into their respective country’s roster, and who has a chance to do real damage at the tournament.
If you love what we do on Rays Your Voice, consider becoming a Patreon member for as little as $1/month. Also, if you’ve been a podcast listener from the jump, subscribe to our YouTube channel as well! We go live on YouTube for almost every single episode. Make sure to turn on our channel notifications so you can join us when we go live.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 14: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox watches live batting practice during a workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 14, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s pitching preview time, ladies and gentlemen. Over the next several days, I’ll be writing 10,000 words or so about everyone you might see pitching for the Red Sox to start the season. We’ll start with the starters, because if we didn’t start with the starters, they wouldn’t be starters, and that doesn’t make any sense.
I’m grouping the Sox’ starting pitching options into tiers because that’s how my brain works. Don’t think of them as rankings, but rather buckets based on some similarities I see. Stay tuned for more installments on the new guys, the young guns, and the vets battling out at the bottom of the rotation.
Tier One: Pig
It’s Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, and Paul Skenes. They’re the three best starting pitchers in the world. Put them in any order you want; I won’t argue with you. For the Red Sox, Garrett Crochet is in a tier of his own.
2025 in a sentence: Crochet would have won the Cy Young if it weren’t for the other dominant big lefty in the American League.
Crochet’s fastball is in the high 90s with seven feet of extension. He’s got a devastating cutter and a wipeout sweeper. He added a sinker at the end of 2024 that he carried into 2025, and it made him virtually unhittable against lefties. Seriously, he used the pitch 37% of the time, getting 72% strikes overall and 70% groundballs on contact. Ahead in the count, he went to a high four-seam or a sweeper away, putting lefties away with ease. They went 24 for 145 against him, good for a .455 OPS. Against a lefty-heavy lineup, Crochet will cruise every time.
Righties had more success, but only because it’d be hard to have less. Early in counts, he used his fastball and cutter to get ahead. Both pitches returned strikes at a high clip, though the ideal contact rate against each was on the high side. The damage came when he couldn’t get the ball inside. Fastballs and cutters on the inner third of the plate and inside returned ICR rates of 26.5% and 32%, respectively, while those over the middle and arm side returned rates 56% and 50.6%. Nitpicking one of the best pitchers in the sport is silly, and he’s already working to alleviate that issue.
With two strikes against righties, Crochet primarily turns to his four-seam and his sweeper. The four-seam lives upstairs, while he buries the sweeper at the back foot. Both pitches put away hitters at a high rate; he struck out 31.5% of the righties he faced. Still, there’s one element that could take his arsenal to the next level: a changeup. Last season, he threw a changeup 5% of the time to righties, almost entirely in two-strike counts. The 17.9% swinging strike rate was solid, but the pitch was never in the zone and was really only a surprise pitch. He’s tinkering with a new changeup that’s showing some crazy movement, and could help keep hitters off his other pitches.
Right now, almost everything with two-strikes is inside, moving towards a righty. Having a changeup that he can command off the outside edge would be one more thing for righties to think about, which could help him sneak more fastballs by hitters. We’ve seen two changeups (indoors, in a tunnel), and I wonder if it might be too slow, but the lefty seems excited about his new offering. Regardless, if he does what he did last year, no one can complain. If he takes it to a new level, he’ll add a trophy to his mantle.
Movement profile looks to be somewhere in there. The gap between his fastballs (96ish) and this new splitter (80ish) is insane. I almost wonder if it's too different. https://t.co/sSB3P7D4lOpic.twitter.com/jda9wOIlVJ
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 24: Blaine Crim #16 of the Colorado Rockies rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Nik Pennington/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Last week, we explored some storylines concerning pitchers and catchers in spring training for the Colorado Rockies. Now that full-squad workouts have officially begun and games are right around the corner, we can turn to the position player group. Believe it or not, there are even more questions surrounding the position players, as battles and competitions for spots will be prevalent throughout Cactus League play. How the puzzle pieces fall into place is going to be interesting to watch, so let’s look at a couple of storylines to keep an eye on.
Who’s on First?
This is perhaps the storyline to monitor in camp this season. After the Rockies released former top prospect Michael Toglia and late-season darling Warming Bernabel, the team was suddenly without a first baseman to pencil in for Opening Day. Sure, Blaine Crim had some impressive moments down the stretch to end the season, but is he the right answer for 2026?
The team has spent the offseason ironing out the candidates for the position. Joining Crim is Troy Johnston, who joined the club via waivers and presents a left-handed option. Charlie Condon (No. 2 Mid-Season PuRP) will likely be given as many opportunities to win the job in spring training, but it’s more likely he starts the year in the minors, having only reached Double-A in his first full season.
T.J. Rumfield was acquired from the New York Yankees and is a toolsy first baseman who is near big league ready and will definitely be in the mix as a non-roster invite. Then, the team acquired Edouard Julien from the Minnesota Twins. Julien is more of a second baseman, but picked up first base with the Twins, though his experience is limited.
No single candidate stands out as the runaway favorite for the position, meaning it’s going to be one of the more contested positions in camp. They all offer similar tools in one way or another, so every at-bat and play matters even more. Of course, the team could throw us a curveball and acquire a first baseman, rendering this discussion moot. Regardless, first base is wide open, and it’s up to the best man to win.
Outfield Looking In
The Rockies’ outfield seems fairly straightforward in its lineup. Jordan Beck is expected to be in left field, Brenton Doyle in center, and a combination of Mickey Moniak and newly-acquired Jake McCarthy in right. Of course, Tyler Freeman can also fit into the mix as a utility outfielder, but he could see more time on the infield dirt this season. Then, the addition of Willi Castro presents another corner outfielder option alongside Johnston, who is capable of playing the outfield.
From a big league roster perspective, the outfield is pretty crowded while being set, and it’s going to make it a little more difficult for roster hopefuls to crack. Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP), who has entered camp in brand new shape and mentality, is a top candidate to try and force his way back onto the roster after a rough cup of coffee last season.
Veen’s transformation this offseason to overcome his substance abuse issues is incredible. Now, the hope is to see if he can make himself relevant for the big league club again, to get back in their good graces and reach the potential that led them to draft him with their first pick in 2020. It’s an uphill battle for him on both fronts, but it’s going to be fascinating to watch if he can replicate the spring training electricity he created last year.
What’s the offensive strategy?
Even before the disaster of 2025, which saw the Rockies field one of the worst run-scoring teams in MLB history, the offense in Colorado had struggled as a whole for quite a while. Since 2019, the team has seen a steady decline in its offensive ability. Strikeouts reigned supreme while power numbers diminished. Sure, there were some standout individual performances, but unlike other sports, a great year from one or two guys doesn’t move the needle.
Hitting coach Brett Pill has his work cut out for him to help the offensive unit start clicking. Once games start on Friday, we’ll get our first look at some of the work starting to be put in. Are we going to see more disciplined hitters with an emphasis of getting on base by any means necessary? Or will there still be aggression by the offense to attack hitters, but it’s a more controlled and methodical form of aggression? If nothing else, we know contact has to be an emphasis.
Need for Speed
After the team gets on base, what’s the plan? We saw hints of Warren Schaeffer’s preferred style of play. He loves small ball and the art of stealing bases. The Rockies have a fast team, yet stolen bases haven’t been a great team function for years. Causing chaos on the bases for opposing teams helped the Rockies out a bit last season and it could be something Schaeffer emphasizes even more now that he has the official manager title.
I’d like to see how often the Rockies are attempting to steal, something they actually do quite a bit in spring training, and how successful they are in their steal attempts. Even more important, it will be watching how they steal. By that, I mean are they getting better jumps and bigger leads, timing up opposing pitchers earlier than in the past? Speed is a valuable tool, and the Rockies could afford to run wild in 2026.
Rebound Candidates
The struggles of Ezequiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle last season were due to injuries and underperformance, and truly hurt the club. Doyle started to iron things out in the second half of the season, but Tovar was never on the field long enough to find a rhythm. Having both healthy in camp is going to be paramount to righting the ship in 2026.
But the new acquisitions of Castro, Julien, and McCarthy present rebound candidates that would be a huge boon for the lineup if they can click. All three have one or two good seasons under their belt offensively, but injuries or other slumps have put them in a position to be hungry and prove themselves again. Schaeffer has a lot of new tools in his toolbox to deploy, but some of them need to be sharpened before they are useful again and so a strong rebound showing in spring training will be something to watch for.
Conclusion
These are just a few storylines to watch, as we know there are several more position battles unsettled and plenty of individual questions to solve for players. The main takeaway is that spring training is going to be more interesting than it has in the past for pitchers and position players, and it should hopefully be an enjoyable ride for the fans.
What position players’ questions do you want answered for spring training this year? Keep things rolling in the comments below.
Jordan Beck had some flashes of what he can do to contribute to the Rockies last season. However, consistency in production is going to be at the top of his list of goals heading into 2026.
Kris Bryant talked to the media on Tuesday morning, basically talking about how much pain he is still in with his back issues and that he is just hoping to find some sort of breakthrough in a rehab process.
NORTH PORT, FL - FEBRUARY 23: A general interior view of CoolToday Park during the Spring Training game between the Detroit Tigers and the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park on February 23, 2020 in North Port, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Braves 5-1. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
While the TV situation for the Atlanta Braves is currently in flux heading into the 2026 season, there are still games to be played and we at least know that 15 of them will be televised by your local Gray TV affiliate.
We’ll keep this updated as more information comes out but for now, here’s the TV and radio schedule for the 2026 Grapefruit League campaign for the Atlanta Brave.s
The new face of the franchise, Colson Montgomery, sports the pinstripes on Photo Day as he prepares to lead the youth movement in 2026. | Getty Images
Spring Training in Glendale is officially in full swing, and if you haven’t already muted the “Chris Getz is building a team of 2023 roster castoffs” jokes on X, now might be the time. The biggest buzz at Camelback Ranch isn’t just the desert heat; it’s the arrival of Munetaka Murakami. While most of the roster is easing into their routine, Murakami is ramping up for the World Baseball Classic. The Sox are banking on that high-stakes environment keeping his timing sharp, which is a bold strategy for a guy adjusting to MLB velocity. But hey, seeing him and Colson Montgomery side-by-side in the infield at least gives us something to dream about while we wait for the Cactus League opener against the Cubs this Friday.
On the “project” front, Erick Fedde is back for a second act on a one-year flyer, and the early reports suggest he’s already tinkering with his hand break to fix the mechanical mess that was his 2025. Meanwhile, the front office continues its quest to collect every available depth piece with a recognizable last name, apparently signing DarrenBaker (son of Dusty) to a minor-league deal.
Darren Baker, the son of future Hall of Fame manager Dusty Baker, is working out on the back fields of the Chicago White Sox. He officially signed a minor league contract after being with the Washington Nationals and likely will open the season at Triple-A Charlotte.
Whether any of this translates to more than 60 wins is a conversation for another day. For now, the pinstripes looked crisp at yesterday’s Photo Day, and the optimism is palpable.
Yes, it’s early, and we all know the drill. It’s mid-February, the sun is hitting the back fields at Camelback Ranch, and hope is really the only thing we have in abundance before the actual games start exposing the flaws. But with the LuisRobert Jr. era officially over (still feels weird seeing him in Mets blue), the 2026 iteration of the White Sox is definitely leaning hard into the “Youth” movement, which does bring some excitement. And one thing is for certain, manager Will Venable has a lot of pieces to move around, with the general consensus being that the kids are finally getting the keys to the South Side. Between the high-OBP profile of Chase Meidroth, the sheer “juice” Murakami and Montgomery bring to the middle of the order, and the All-Star caliber catching duo of Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero, the 2026 lineup might actually — dare I say — force a pitcher to break a sweat in the fourth inning.
So, grab your sunscreen and settle in. If Murakami’s power is as real as the desert heat and the kids can maintain that second-half swagger from a year ago, we might actually find ourselves enjoying South Side baseball again before the 162-game marathon is through.
From left, Detroit Tigers starting pitchers Framber Valdez, Jack Flaherty, Justin Verlander, Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize pose for a photo during Verlander’s introductory press conference at the 34 Club of Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida, on Feb. 12, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
World Series or bust y’all! Ok, this is baseball. It’s a rare team that can actually expect to win a World Series title in a given year. Even the highest projected odds for the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers to win the World Series again this year are only 27.3 percent, and by baseball standards those are incredibly good odds. Only the Mariners, Mets, and for some reason, the Braves, even have odds a little over seven percent to win the World Series.
Of course, fan isn’t short for “reasonable observer” and there’s no reason not to let your hopes fly as high as possible, as long as you can deal with the likelihood of them getting dashed on the rocks as usual. In the past two weeks, the Tigers have added roughly 3 wins to their projections, depending which system you ask, by replacing Reese Olson with Framber Valdez and then bulking up the rotation with Justin Verlander. The effect of that influx of talent and depth should improve the bullpen as well and keeps replacement level pitchers from having to cover innings.
For myself, it’s time the Tigers won the AL Central for one, and it would be a failure of the season if they don’t. Beyond that, they’ve been deep in the ALDS each of the past two seasons. If they could finally win through, I’d ultimately be pretty happy with the season, even assuming that a crushing defeat lies ahead in the ALCS or World Series. If they could even get to the World Series it would be a huge success after a 14 year absence.
How about you? It’s tough knowing this is their likely last shot with Tarik Skubal leading the way. Players have to take a World Series or bust approach publicly, and fans certainly can live or die with their club wanting to win it all. But, what would constitute a successful 2026 season in your mind?
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 7: Tony Clark, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association talks to the media prior to the spring training game between the New York Mets and the New York Yankees at First Date Field on March 7, 2018 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Evan Drellich argues that commissioner Rob Manfred’s biggest problem in the upcoming labor talks may not be with the players but rather with the owners over the control of TV rights. (The Athletic sub. req.) Tom Ricketts is featured as an enemy of Manfred’s plans.
Michael Baumann notest that between the Padres’ signing of Buehler, Griffin Canning and Germán Marquez this past three-day weekend, Preller is casting a wide net in order to find a 4th starter. He also writes about the Padres signing of Nick Castellanos over the weekend.
We are just two weeks away from the kickoff of the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Tokyo. Michael Clair has one key player for all 20 teams.
New Giants manager Tony Vitello said the team will consider calling pitches from the dugout, like NCAA teams do. (The Athletic sub. req.) The Rockies have said they will “experiment” with calling pitches from the dugout this year and the Marlins did for a few games last year.
A 2012 graduate of Olathe North High School in Kansas, Dawson grew up about 25 miles southwest of Kauffman Stadium. He played collegiately at Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kansas, but he set his sights on coaching early. He coached the Kansas City Bullets college prep baseball program — a team that included Royals catcher Carter Jensen — and was the hitting coach and strength coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park, Kansas.
“Coaching is just such a different side of things,” Dawson said. “The one thing I knew I wanted was for players to feel confident at all times. I wanted them to know that I thought they could take on the world. … As a player, I probably didn’t necessarily think like that. There’s a ton of value in having fun and knowing that you can win, and that’s kind of what I want to instill in players.”
He was fine after he came back, but not even remotely dominant. He gave up 40 hits in 38.1 innings. He struck out just 30 batters and he walked 15. Nobody is complaining about a guy with a 3.05 ERA, but he also wasn’t the pitcher he showed he could be at the end of 2024 or the pitcher the Royals needed him to be. He went on the IL again on September 19 to end his season. This time, he had right shoulder impingement syndrome. He and the Royals both said at the time that had they been in the playoff race still that he would have continued on. It’s easy to say that, so who knows if it’s really true? Regardless, he’s healthy now.
But I just want to know why he struck out 19.3 percent of batters in 2025 after striking out 27.1 percent in his rookie year and 28.5 percent in his second year.
As I’m writing this right now, I don’t know the answer. I always like to write the first part of newsletters like this before I dig into the details. If I had to guess, I’d say the injuries didn’t help, but he only had 15 strikeouts in 20.2 innings in those first 21 games when he put up video game ERA numbers. He also only gave up nine hits and two walks, so there simply weren’t runners on. Maybe he was less concerned about contact with nobody on base. But still, while the Royals staff looks to be good once again, the bullpen was badly missing strikeouts. I think there’s a good argument for Estevez to bounce back a bit in his numbers, but the real difference-maker likely comes from Erceg getting back to those punchouts.
Former Kansas City Royals utilityman Adam Frazier has found a new home. On Monday, Frazier joined the Los Angeles Angels on a minor-league deal. Frazier, 34, was a key piece for the Royals. He spent two stints with the organization and fueled their 2024 postseason run. The Royals reacquired Frazier last season as they looked for more veteran leadership in the clubhouse.
He analyzed his performance. The self-report highlighted ways to perform efficiently while maintaining daily availability. It’s a formula that has worked in the past — most notably when Estévez pitched seven times in a 10-day stretch. “Just taking notes on what I did good, you know, attacking the (strike) zone and being available a lot,” Estévez said. “It’s just being able to keep my team in the game and that kind of stuff. I think that’s what I’ve got to focus on.”
In return, the Royals got an on-base machine in Collins, who posted a .368 OBP and 0.61 BB/K ratio in 441 plate appearances. Collins did lose some playing time at the end of the season, but he’s the kind of multi-positional outfielder who gives the Royals the plate discipline and versatility that they’ve desperately needed. Collins doesn’t hit the ball all that hard or barrel balls that much, but he doesn’t chase, and he pulls the ball effectively, two qualities that the Royals were looking for this offseason.
As for Mears, he had an interesting season, especially when compared to 2024. That season, he sported a 5.93 ERA in 57,2 IP. However, his FIP was 3.39, and his K rate was 29.3%. Last year, his ERA was better at 3.49 (in 56.2 IP). Conversely, his FIP was higher at 3.86, and his K rate dropped to 20.8%. Mears had trouble finishing batters off last year in his first full season with the Brewers. That said, he still showed solid TJ Stuff+ metrics and an ability to make batters chase.
I went to this Pirates showcase. They told everyone you had to be there by 10 a.m. to sign in, and I was like, no problem, we’re out early. I rolled up way before that, ended up second on the list. Perfect spot, right?” Estevez recounted. They put me in super late. I threw maybe six pitches total to two Cubans. Got a strikeout and a fly ball to left. Solid stuff. I felt good. I saw the big dawg, the legendary scout who’d signed tons of ballplayers, walking over, and I thought, here it comes. Some real feedback. He’s gonna see what I got.
Instead, in front of everybody, ‘Who brought this piece of shit here?’ In front of everybody! My heart dropped. Then he kept going: ‘Get this piece of shit out of here’.
Following back-to-back 30-homer seasons at the University of Florida, Caglianone was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 draft. He hit .337/.408/.617 with 20 home runs and 72 RBI in 66 games between Double-A and Triple-A last year to force his way into the MLB picture. After taking his lumps at the plate while learning to play right field on the fly, he has the offensive tools to take a massive step forward in 2026.
The Royals traded pitching prospect A.J. Causey to the Athletics this offseason, and he recounted how the process went down to Sports Illustrated.
And then I was getting ready to throw my live BP, and I was in the training room, and our manager came in and was like, ‘hey, AJ, can you come here?’ I was like, ‘What could this be about? We already talked. I guess it’s about my live. BP, and then I walked into the office and just the GM and him, no pitching guys.
I knew it immediately. I was like, I just got traded. I just didn’t know to who. But yeah, I was kind of excited when I heard he was the Athletics. [laughing] Yeah, I guess I’m not throwing my live BP anymore.
While local politics and the ongoing rivalry between Missouri and Kansas play a significant role in the Royals’ consideration, the club remains intent on surrounding a new ballpark with a large mixed-use development. That concept, popularized to a significant degree by the Braves, has been embraced by many other teams, most recently the Rays.
Sherman also professed a preference for an urban setting, if possible, which lends further weight to the possibility of the downtown site. “I still have a bias for baseball being in the heart of the city, in the cultural center of our city, and to have the ability to make it better,” Sherman said. “If that happens, that’s going to be best for the community and the city at large, but we have to make sure we make the right long-term decision for the club as well.”
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - MARCH, 1935. Joe Gordon shows New York Yankee manager Joe McCarthy his leaping prowess in St. Petersburg, Florida in March of 1935. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are so many legends across the history of the New York Yankees that it feels like some members of their teams who were also excellent don’t get the recognition they deserve. Players enshrined in Cooperstown with a certain team’s logo almost always seem to be especially honored by the related club — perhaps a retired number or maybe even a statue.
Alas, though Joe Gordon is a Hall of Famer and was a slam-dunk entry on our Top 100 Yankees series (all the way up at No. 34), you won’t find a trace of him in Monument Park. That’s honestly a shame because the man could really play and was one of the best second basemen in franchise history, winning an MVP and four World Series titles.
Joseph Lowell “Flash” Gordon Born: February 18, 1915 (Los Angeles, CA) Died: April 14, 1978 (Sacramento, CA) Yankees Tenure: 1938-46
Joe Gordon was born in Los Angeles, but he and his family moved to Oregon, where he spent most of his time growing up. He attended the University of Oregon and was a multi-sport athlete, competing in football as a halfback, gymnastics, soccer, and the long jump, while also developing his violin skills in the college orchestra. Gordon joined the Ducks baseball team for the 1934 and 1935 seasons and hit .358 while at Oregon, which ranks him tied for fourth in team history. The team also won the Pacific Coast Conference’s North Division in both seasons he wore the Ducks uniform.
Gordon began his MLB career after signing with the Yankees in 1936, and he immediately began proving his worth at the second base position through the minor leagues. He was initially assigned to the Oakland Oaks in the Pacific Coast League before being moved to the Newark Bears’ Double-A team in 1937. And in 1938 — after one of the best minor-league seasons ever, with the Bears winning 110 of 158 possible games — he was called up to the Yankees to make his debut on April 18, 1938, against the Boston Red Sox.
In his first season, Gordon slashed .255/.340/.502 for an OPS of .843 and an OPS+ of 109 in 127 games. The biggest feat of his rookie season, though, was his 25 home runs, which put Gordon as the American League record holder for home runs by a second baseman 64 years before being surpassed by Bret Boone’s 36 home runs in 2001. In his rookie season, the Yankees also won their third of what would be four consecutive titles.
Gordon’s years up through 1943 were simply fantastic. He collected a total of 31.7 BWAR, slashed .282/.368/.478 for an OPS of .846 and a 128 OPS+ with 117 home runs, good for 23.4 per season. And not only were his numbers good enough to garner attention within the organization as the team’s starting second baseman, but they were good enough to garner national recognition as well.
Through those 1939-1943 seasons, Gordon was a six-time All-Star and the winner of the AL MVP award in 1942, beating out a name every baseball fan will recognize — Ted Williams — for the award. It’s true that Williams almost certainly deserved it since he won the Triple Crown and had a staggering 10.5 WAR season by Baseball Reference, but, well, he and the writers were not very fond of each other, so to Gordon went the spoils! It was still a terrific campaign. In that time as well, Gordon gathered another three championships to his resume.
Outside of baseball, there was, of course, the war going on. World War II required most men to enlist in the military, and as a result, Gordon missed both the 1944 and 1945 seasons. In 1946, though, Gordon was able to make his return to the Yankees lineup, but it was a major struggle. Gordon dealt with tons of injuries that either kept him out of the lineup entirely or made it extremely hard to play at a high level. His numbers dipped to .210/.308/.338 with an OPS of .645 and the first below-average OPS+ of his career at 79.
After some internal discussions within the organization, they decided it would make sense to move Gordon, and they did in October to Cleveland for pitcher Allie Reynolds, which helped both clubs in the end. New York won a slew of championships with Reynolds leading their staff, and Gordon found new life. The second baseman’s numbers returned, playing four years with Cleveland and not seeing a below-average OPS+ for the rest of that time. He was an All-Star three of the four years as well, along with finishing seventh and sixth in the 1947 and ’48 MVP race, respectively. Gordon also won his final World Series (and the last one in Cleveland’s history to this point) in that ’48 campaign, with the six-game win coming against the Boston Braves. Although Gordon was held to four hits, he did put Cleveland up for good in the decisive Game 6 with a solo shot off righty Bill Voiselle.
At the age of 35, Gordon played his final MLB game against the Detroit Tigers, posting just one at-bat. And after his major league career, Gordon became a player-manager with the Pacific Coast League’s Sacramento Solons. After a brief scouting career, he managed four major league teams — Cleveland, Detroit, the Kansas City Athletics, and their successor in KC, the Royals. But all were relatively short stays before he moved into real estate following his resignation from the Royals after their inaugural season in 1969.
Gordon passed away in Sacramento, California, on April 14, 1978, at age 63, due to suffering multiple heart seizures. He wasn’t a Hall of Famer at the time, but the Veterans Committee did grant him posthumous honors in 2009. That July, his daughter Judy accepted his plaque and spoke on his behalf in Cooperstown. We hope that somewhere out there, the Gordon family is toasting Joe’s eleventy-first birthday!
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 23: General view inside the stadium during the NWSL match between Bay FC and Washington Spirit at Oracle Park on August 23, 2025 in San Francisco, California. With 40,091 spectators, this game sets the new all-time stand-alone attendance record for any women’s professional league event in the United States.(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/NWSL via Getty Images) | NWSL via Getty Images
Good morning baseball fans!
As we approach the beginning of the season, we’re going to be doing some questions for y’all about your thoughts about the San Francisco Giants and baseball in general!
Today’s question goes out to all the armchair GMs out there: If you were the GM for one move and one move only, what would you do to improve the team?
I’m choosing to interpret this question as a blank check for mayhem, rather than a realistic move that the team might actually make.
Because that’s way more fun!
So here’s my idea: A great Dodgers heist. Hear me out. We work with a third team, someone like the Boston Red Sox or New York Mets maybe, to somehow fleece the Dodgers out of Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
So the Giants would provide the third team with something they really want (money, prospects, San Francisco real estate, whatever it takes to get the job done) and then that team makes a trade offer the Dodgers can’t refuse, and then they immediately turn around and trade with the Giants. Heck, we could loop in a few other teams to get the right package. I believe in our fictional power to get this done!
Feel free to use this prompt as a blank check for mayhem like I did, or make a more serious proposition! Whatever sounds like more fun to you!
What move would you make if you were GM for a day?
Milwaukee Brewers players warm up in the outfield during spring training workouts Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. | Dave Kallmann / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
We’re less than a week from baseball games!
The Brewers get their Cactus League slate underway on Saturday afternoon against the Guardians. It won’t be a typical spring training, necessarily — the World Baseball Classic adds a (fun) twist to the proceedings, and several prominent Brewers will be absent from camp for a week or two while they represent their national teams.
We’re also not really looking at any dramatic battles for roster spots: last week’s signing of Luis Rengifo seemingly answered what was the team’s most interesting question heading into spring training, and likewise, Gary Sánchez’s signing seems to have ended discussion on the backup catcher for now.
So who should we watch? What’s interesting? Where are there still questions left to be answered?
Who is in the Opening Day rotation?
With the obvious injuries caveat, it seems all but certain that Brandon Woodruff, Quinn Priester, and Jacob Misiorowski will be in the Brewers’ starting rotation when they open the season on March 26. But they have a whole bunch of intriguing options for who fills those last two positions — or even whether they’ll go with some sort of piggyback system, given the range of options they have among starting pitchers.
Milwaukee’s two shiny new starter toys, Kyle Harrison and Brandon Sproat, are obviously going to be a big part of the rotation going forward, but will either of them pitch right away at the beginning of the season?
The first question is whether or not it’s worth it for the Brewers to start them in the minors in order to delay service clocks. In Harrison’s case, this isn’t much of a question: he’s already accrued more than a year of service time, so holding him back won’t really make a difference. Sproat, though, has thrown only 20 2/3 major league innings, so it seems likely that Milwaukee will try to keep him under a full year of service time this season to delay his free agency by a year.
For this reason alone, I would expect Harrison to be with the team out of spring training and Sproat to spend a little time at Triple-A Nashville. But it’s also worth seeing how both pitchers react to the tweaks that the Brewers’ pitching staff is certain to throw at them; both players have multiple options remaining, so if they think both could use a little more seasoning, they could easily go that route, too.
Another part of the “opening day rotation” question is related to who starts and who relieves. The Brewers have been a bit coy on this question and have repeatedly spoken of being open to stretching out multiple players who’ve pitched primarily in relief the last few years: DL Hall, Aaron Ashby, and Ángel Zerpa. There is also the question of where Chad Patrick is deemed most useful: he seems to have the stuff to be a starter, but he was electric out of the bullpen at the end of last season.
Logan Henderson and Robert Gasser are also involved, and at a certain point, we’re just listing a whole bunch of names — especially if you think Harrison is a foregone conclusion for the rotation, we’re essentially looking at four spots spoken for before we get to any of these other guys.
None of these players is particularly affected by the option question; all have at least one option remaining. With Ashby and Zerpa, you would assume that both will be in the bullpen if they are not starting. Hall is a bit more of a question: there’s a numbers crunch, he’s getting older, and it is becoming time for him to stay healthy and prove something.
What about the bullpen?
Okay, more of these numbers — if we say that Woodruff, Priester, Misiorowski, Harrison, Sproat, Gasser, and Henderson are likely to be either in the rotation or in the minors, then the Brewers have to fill eight bullpen spots with the following 12 guys:
Ashby
Hall
Zerpa
Patrick
Grant Anderson
Jared Koenig
Easton McGee
Trevor Megill
Sammy Peralta
Abner Uribe
Craig Yoho
Rob Zastryzny
If we again apply the option question, we see that it most heavily affects one guy on the 40-man roster: Rob Zastryzny. He — and arguably infielder Eddys Leonard, but not really — are the only players who are truly in play for a major league roster spot who do not have any minor league options remaining. Now, the Brewers have designated Zastryzny for assignment before, and he has cleared waivers and returned to the team, but that was during the season, when rosters weren’t as in flux as they tend to be at the end of spring training. I’m not sure they could sneak him through again if he pitches well and looks healthy all spring.
Everyone else has at least one minor league option remaining, though many of them only have one. If you assume that Koenig, Uribe, Megill, and Ashby are locks for the major league roster (a safe assumption, assuming health), then that leaves four spots for the rest. Patrick has, I would say, a decent chance at being the fifth option in the starting rotation. Zerpa, who the Brewers traded two major league regulars for, feels like he’s probably a lock.
Here’s where we’ll see if the Brewers value flexibility. If they opt to give Zastryzny one of the final spots, that’s another lefty, in addition to Zerpa, Koenig, and Ashby. Putting Hall in the bullpen at that point means more lefties than righties. Is that something Milwaukee is comfortable with?
I’m not making a prediction here—just tossing around some of the possibilities. But we know that the Brewers value flexibility in building their roster, and if they think Zastryzny is a contributor, I’d expect him to make the team, even if it feels like another option might be a little more promising.
Is there anything left to determine on the position player side?
As mentioned at the top, the additions of Rengifo and Sánchez seem, on the surface, to lock the Brewers into 13 position players on the roster, again assuming that everyone is healthy (which is usually not the case). Those 13 would be:
Catchers (2): William Contreras, Gary Sánchez Infielders (6): Andrew Vaughn, Jake Bauers, Brice Turang, Joey Ortiz, David Hamilton, Luis Rengifo Outfielders (4): Sal Frelick, Jackson Chourio, Blake Perkins, Garrett Mitchell Designated Hitter (1): Christian Yelich
It is conceivable that the Brewers could decide that one of Mitchell, Perkins, or Hamilton starts the year in the minors; all three have minor league options remaining and have not accrued five years of service time yet (which would enable them to refuse an option). But it’s difficult for me to imagine what scenario (again, besides injury) would have to play out in order for one of these three to give up a roster spot. In Hamilton’s case, there is no obvious player to take the spot, if we’re assuming that the Brewers are planning to start Jett Williams in the minors to both get him more reps at Triple-A and to delay his service clock. I guess that maybe either Brandon Lockridge or Akil Baddoo could separate themselves from Perkins and/or Mitchell somehow, but teams put very little stock in spring training performance, so unless there was something that looked truly broken, I don’t really see how that could happen.
In any case, unless someone gets hurt, Lockridge and Baddoo are the only players on the outside looking in that I’d say have a legitimate chance to break camp with the team. Maybe they could find a way to sneak Tyler Black into the majors, but I don’t really see that happening unless at least two of the outfielders above him on the depth chart get hurt. If Yelich has to start the season in the IL for any reason, there might be a conversation to be had about Black.
Which young players should we check out?
There are a ton of interesting players the Brewers will have in spring training with them, and given that several regulars will be out for the WBC, we’ll get to see them in action. Obviously, we’re all excited to see Jesús Made get some run against major league pitchers, but I’m also excited to see whether Cooper Pratt, Brock Wilken, and Jett Williams can get the bat on the ball. Luke Adams could hit some. Luis Lara might make some incredible catches.
On the pitching side, it’ll be great to get our teeth into Harrison and Sproat and the other new starter on the 40-man roster, Shane Drohan. Can Coleman Crow build on his excellent season at Double-A Biloxi? Will Sammy Peralta be another out-of-nowhere success story? Can Craig Yoho get his mojo back?
The buildup to spring training tends to be very exciting, and then you wind up watching nine players you’ve never heard of with numbers in the 70s on their backs by the fourth inning of the second game, and it can be easy to lose interest. But the Brewers boast one of the strongest farm systems in the league, if not the very best one, so embrace the guy wearing number 82 or 66 this spring: they might just be a big part of Milwaukee’s future.
