Category: MLB

For Angels fans, these are the worst of times.

Their team is coming off back-to-back last-place finishes for the first time in 50 years. The team 30 miles up the freeway is coming off back-to-back World Series championships, led by a global icon who left Anaheim when the Angels could not deliver a winning team and would not promise him $700 million. The owner says he wants to win but also says winning does not rank among the top-five fan priorities. The Angels and the city of Anaheim remain at a stalemate over what to do about the aging stadium.

The negativity dissipates as a young man walks into the clubhouse, baseball cap on backward for the moment, energetic and respectful and joyful and supremely confident. This is his team, and he is here to win.

Zach Neto is the Angels’ best player. He is 25.

Read more:A return to center field could be the plan for Mike Trout

If the Angels could make one move to try to persuade fans better days are ahead, the suggestion here would be to sign Neto to a long-term contract. They could hold a signing ceremony with the same enormous red banner they used the day they signed Mike Trout to his last extension, with “LOYALTY” splashed across the banner and a halo atop the A.

That loyalty is tested annually. The Angels have baseball’s longest playoff drought — 12 years and counting — and Neto said the Trout drought in particular was a focus of the initial team meeting here.

“We need to help Mike — and we all pointed at Mike — get to the postseason,” Neto said. “He is, if not the greatest player to play this game, one of them. He needs to be in the playoffs.”

Baseball Prospectus projects the Angels to lose 95 games this year, the most in the American League. As we said, Neto is supremely confident.

“We all know and we all believe that, if we play with each other, and if we play how we want to play, there is nobody that can beat us,” he said.

In the year Trout was first eligible for salary arbitration, the Angels signed him to his first long-term contract. This year, when Neto was first eligible for salary arbitration, the Angels did not make him a formal long-term contract offer, according to Ryan Hamill, co-head of CAA Baseball, which represents Neto.

Perry Minasian, the Angels’ general manager, declined to comment for this column.

The parallel only goes so far. Trout had two second-place MVP finishes at that point, and Neto has not gotten any MVP votes. Trout also signed on the eve of a 98-win season, and not long after the Angels’ run of six postseason appearances in eight years.

When I asked Neto whether he would be interested in a long-term contract with the Angels, he talked first of loyalty. When he established himself in high school, bigger schools tried to lure him to transfer. In college, same thing. He did not transfer at either level.

“The biggest thing with me, the biggest thing my family has taught me, is loyalty,” Neto said. “It’s something I still stick with today.

“It’s just a matter of being loyal, seeing the growth that we have here. If it happens, it happens. I would love to stay here. I would love to be here. But, if it doesn’t, then not every road is meant to be.

“I am going to be where my feet are every day, and that is here, with the city of Los Angeles and with the Angels, and give it my all every single day.”

Owner Arte Moreno recently told reporters from the Orange County Register and the team website that, among fans’ priorities, “winning is not in their top five.” Would that be a concern for Neto in deciding whether to sign a long-term contract?

Neto paused.

Read more:Q&A: What's next for MLB players after union chief Tony Clark quit?

“I really don’t have an answer to that,” he said. “But we all know how important the fans are. They help us big time. They motivate us and give us energy. So I’m just going to be where my feet are and go out every single day and play the game.”

He is playing for his fourth manager in four seasons.

Would he harbor any reservations about signing with the Angels and then missing the playoffs as much as Trout has?

“We’ll see,” he said.

Said Hamill: “That is a priority for any player: to have a winning culture and a winning team around him. That’s what he wants, and he wants to do that in an Angels uniform. He wants to go out and compete and win this year. Whatever the front office is willing to do and ownership is willing to do to facilitate that, it would be welcome.”

Neto is an outstanding modern shortstop, with power and speed to complement excellent defense. He ranked third among major league shortstops with 26 home runs last season, and he stole 26 bases.

What is he worth? Neto put up 5.1 WAR last season, according to Baseball Reference.

The four shortstops with the biggest contracts all put up a better WAR: Bobby Witt Jr. (7.1 WAR, $289 million); Corey Seager (6.2 WAR, $324 million); Francisco Lindor (5.9 WAR, $341 million) and Trea Turner (5.4 WAR, $300 million). Neto’s performance fit comfortably above the next financial tier of shortstops: Dansby Swanson (4.5 WAR, $177 million); Willy Adames (3.7 WAR, $182 million) and Xander Bogaerts (2.0 WAR, $280 million).

(Mookie Betts, signed to his $365-million deal as a right fielder before converting to shortstop, put up 4.9 WAR last season.)

Under baseball’s current economic system, Neto cannot become a free agent until after the 2029 season, giving him a chance to improve his game and giving the Angels and his agents plenty of time to determine a mutually agreeable value. On the other hand, the players’ union generally favors earlier free agency, so there is a non-zero chance the Angels could lose some or all of the 2027 season to a lockout and then, in the absence of a long-term deal, lose Neto to free agency after the 2028 season.

Neto left all of that in the hands of his agents last winter, focusing on training but also on a charity bowling tournament to benefit Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in his hometown of Miami.

“My high score is 297,” Neto said with a smile.

Betts, the other shortstop in L.A., has rolled a perfect 300. Neto said he would love to bowl against him. It shouldn’t be a rare event. The Dodgers have signed Betts through 2032. The Angels should do the same with Neto.

Read more:Shaikin: In L.A. and in Cooperstown, Freddie Freeman will forever be a Dodger, not a Brave

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Happy Birthday to Reese McGuire* and other former Cubs, fighting amongst themselves,and other stories.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow the various narrative paths.

“Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly, HoF Umpire.

Today in baseball history:

• 1874 – At the fourth meeting of the National Association of Professional Baseball Players in Boston, the batter’s box is officially adopted. It is also decided that expulsion will be the penalty for any player betting on his own team and any player betting on any other team will forfeit his pay. (1,2)
• 1888 – The National League meets in New York and abolishes all discounts from the 50-cent minimum admission price. Despite the demands of the Brotherhood and the fact that the rule is practically a dead letter, the NL refuses to drop its $2,000 salary limit rule. The schedule committee recommends that the season go to 140 games from the current 126. (2)
• 1899 – At the National League meeting in New York, an attempt to expel the St. Louis Browns, who had a 39-111 record in 1898, fails by a 7-4 margin. It is also decided that no club may hold more than 18 players on its reserve list. St. Louis will play as the “Perfectos” in the upcoming season. (2)
• 1927 – Babe Ruth becomes the highest-paid player in major league history when the Yankees announce he will earn $70,000 per season for the next three years. Ruth will sign the historic contract on March 4th. The “Sultan of Swat,” who had asked for $100,000, meets Colonel Jacob Ruppert at the owner’s brewery in the Yorkville section of Manhattan to finalize the historic deal. (1,2)
• 1966 – Commissioner William Eckert voids the contract recently signed by collegiate star Tom Seaver. The Atlanta Braves had signed Seaver to a $50,000 bonus a week earlier, but Eckert cites a rule prohibiting teams from signing players while their college seasons are ongoing. A special draft will be held after the collegiate season to reassign Seaver’s rights. (2)
• 1992 – The highest-paid player tag now belongs to Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs. The All-Star second baseman signs a four-year contract extension worth $7.1 million per season.
• 2011 – A fight breaks out in the Cubs dugout between P Carlos Silva and 3B Aramis Ramirez after a dreadful performance in the first inning of a Cactus League game against the Brewers, when the Cubs commit a slew of mistakes and fall behind 6-0. The fight reminds everyone of a similar occurrence in June of the previous season, when P Carlos Zambrano and 1B Derrek Lee came to blows in the dugout. (2)
• 2012 – Major League Baseball confirms that starting this year, the postseason will be expanded from eight to 10 teams, with an extra wild card team in each league. The two wild card teams in each league will play one game to determine which one will then face the team with the league’s best record in the Division Series. (2)
• 2021 – In one of these bizarre twists only seen in spring training games in pandemic times, pitcher John Means of the Orioles is pulled out of a Grapefruit League game after two outs in the first inning for having reached his pitch count limit, and then re-enters the game to pitch the second. He needs 29 pitches in the first, but after his rest, retires the side on just 10 offerings. This is possible thanks to the special Coronavirus rules that have seen these games be limited to seven innings, and teams only suit up a small number of players to avoid crowding the dugouts; conversely, players are allowed to re-enter games, something that has been prohibited in meaningful games since the demise of the courtesy runner. (2)

Cubs Birthdays:Charlie Bastian, William Fischer, Rip Wheeler, George Stueland, Butch Weis, Woody English, Mort Cooper, Pete Broberg, Leo Gomez, Reese McGuire*. Also notable: Moe Berg, Mel Ott HOF.

More about Moe Berg, from SABR. One of my favorite players of all time.

Casey Stengel, an eccentric man himself, called Moe Berg “the strangest man ever to play baseball.”

Today in history:

• 1776 – American troops begin shelling the British in Boston.
• 1791 – Long-distance communication speeds up with the unveiling of a semaphore machine in Paris.
• 1824 – Interstate commerce comes under federal (U.S.) control.
• 1836 – Republic of Texas declares independence from Mexico in Columbia.
• 1867 – US Congress creates the Department of Education.
• 1888 – The Convention of Constantinople signed, guaranteeing free maritime passage through the Suez Canal during war and peace.
• 1966 – Black Hawks right wing Bobby Hull becomes the NHL’s first two-time 50-goal scorer when he strikes in a 5-4 win against the Detroit Red Wings at Chicago Stadium.
• 1969 – Boston center Phil Esposito becomes first player in NHL history to record 100 points in a season when he scores two 3rd-period goals in the Bruins’ 4-0 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins.
• 1970 – Supreme Court ruled draft evaders can not be penalized after five years.
• 1974 – Grand jury concludes US President Richard Nixon is involved in Watergate cover-up.
• 1998 – Data sent from the Galileo spacecraft indicates that Jupiter’s moon Europa has a liquid ocean under a thick crust of ice.

Common sources:

• (1) — Today in Baseball History.
• (2) — Baseball Reference.
• (3) — Society for American Baseball Research.
• (4) — Baseball Hall of Fame.
• (5) — This Day in Chicago Cubs history.
• (6) — Wikipedia.
• (7) — The British Museum
• (8) — For world history.

*pictured.

Some of these items spread from site to site without being fact-checked, and that is why we ask for verifiable sources, in order to help correct the record.

Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! We are now in the month in which real baseball will take place. In less than three-and-a-half weeks, the Orioles will take the field at Camden Yards to kick off the 2026 season. It’s way too early, of course, to look ahead to the weather on that day. But things are trending upward, and we could see 70 degrees by the end of the week.

The Orioles faced the Red Sox on the road yesterday in Grapefruit League action. They came from behind with seven runs in the fifth and sixth innings to capture an 8-7 win. Chris Bassitt made his spring debut and allowed two runs in two innings. Jeisson Cabrera (#92) allowed four runs in just two-thirds of an inning. No, I don’t know who that is either.

The best news from yesterday’s game was that Samuel Basallo was back in the lineup. He was pulled from Thursday’s game with an apparent injury, but it was thankfully minor enough to only keep him out a few days. He celebrated his return with a single, a double, and a walk. He did make an error, one of three in the game for the Orioles. I dunno about this defense, guys.

Basallo took a baseball to the hand early in the game while blocking a pitch. It seemed to bother him a bit after it happened, but he shook it off and stayed in the game. Stop scaring us, Samuel!

Other offensive standouts in yesterday’s game were Dylan Beavers, with two doubles, and Heston Kjerstad, who had three more hits. The Hestonaissance continues to be one of the most pleasing things of the spring for me. Also, Enrique Bradfield started the game and impressed with a single and a walk, along with some sparkling defense in right field. You won’t hear much more about Bradfield out of Sarasota as he will be representing Team Panama in the World Baseball Classic.

The Orioles are off today, just one of two off days they have this spring. Tomorrow, they welcome Team Netherlands to Ed Smith Stadium for an exhibition game. Trevor Rogers will make the start, but the game will not be broadcast anywhere. We’ll have to rely on the beat writers to tell us how impressive he looks.

Links

With feats of speed and fielding, Orioles outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. turns heads – The Baltimore Banner
Andy Kostka has more on Enrique Bradfield’s skillset, with quotes from Bradfield after his good game yesterday.

Bassitt’s debut and impressive days for Basallo, Kjerstad, Beavers, and Bradfield – MASN Sports
Roch Kubatko’s rundown of yesterday’s win.

Albernaz looks at new Orioles bench coach Donnie Ecker as an extension of him – Baltimore Baseball
Rich Dubroff has a lot of words about Donnie Ecker, the new bench coach

Birthdays and History

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have five birthday buddies, including Jay Gibbons (49). Gibbons was a Rule 5 pick by the Orioles in 2000 who went on to play in 779 games with the Orioles from 2001-07. He was something of a poster boy for those dark days teams and was ultimately released after being named in the Mitchell Report.

Also born on this day in history are former Orioles Bud Norris (41), Leo Gómez (60), Joe Taylor (b. 1926, d. 1993), and Cal Abrams (b. 1924, d. 1997).

There isn’t anything interesting on this day in Orioles history, but on this day in baseball history:

• In 1927, Babe Ruth became the highest-paid player in Major League history with a $70,000 salary announced by the Yankees.
• In 2005, Jackie Robinson was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. It is accepted on his behalf by his widow, Rachel Robinson.
• Also in 2005, the Washington Nationals played their first game since moving to DC from Montreal.
• In 2012, MLB announced that the playoffs would be expanded to ten teams, with an additional wild card. That was good news for the Orioles, who captured one of those wild-card spots that year.

1901
Billy Sullivan of the National League’s Boston Beaneaters jumped to the upstart AL and the White Sox, where he would end up catching for 13 seasons.

With a 63 career OPS+, Sullivan was considered a glove-first leader on the field. He was always among the AL leaders in fielding and had the best throwing arm in the game. Sullivan complied 12.4 defensive WAR with the White Sox, which remains 10th all-time and second behind Ray Schalk among catchers.

But in reality, just 8.8 WAR for his career indicates a pretty subpar player, even as a part-timer (87 games per year). His .213 lifetime average is the second-lowest in history for a player with more than 3,000 at-bats.

However, Sullivan did have two starter-plus seasons, in 1904 (2.1 WAR) and the title year of 1906 (2.2). Ironically, Sullivan went hitless in the 1906 World Series upset (0-for-21, nine Ks).

Sullivan also caught the first-ever major league AL game, with two hits in Chicago’s 8-2 win over the Cleveland Blues on April 24, 1901. He took over for Fielder Jones as White Sox player manager in 1909, finishing 78-74 before stepping back down into a player-only role. Sullivan also partnered with Jones in retirement, running a farm in Portland, where both ex-players settled.

Sullivan’s son, Billy Sullivan Jr., had a 12-year playing career and when he appeared in the 1940 World Series with the Detroit Tigers, the two Billys became the first father-son duo to have appeared in the Fall Classic.

1902
Moe Berg, never a notable player but finding notoriety as a spy leading up to World War II, was born in New York City.

While Berg would see an equal number of seasons for both Sox (Chicago and Boston), he played by far his most major league games (279) with the South Siders. When the White Sox snagged him off of waivers from the Brooklyn Robins in 1925, Berg was still a shortstop (and was possibly regarded as the original good-field, no-hit player), but a succession of injuries to Chicago backstops in 1927 led him to give catcher a try — and he stuck there. Berg’s only two career positive-WAR seasons came with the White Sox, both 0.7 WAR, in 1928 and 1929. All in all he was a -0.2 WAR player for the White Sox, with a .250/.292/.294 slash and 54 OPS+. He did catch 76-of-157 (48.4%) base-runners stealing, so Berg’s arm was nothing to trifle with. That defensive reputation propelled Berg to a 30th-place finish in the 1928 AL MVP race.

It was as his playing career was winding down that Berg found a second job. His linguistic ability (speaking 12 languages) led to spy opportunities for the Office of Strategic Services (predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency) during overseas baseball tours. He filmed industrial sites in Tokyo during an All-Star trip (Berg was added for his language abilities, not his hitting), and he did OSS work in Zurich as well. There, Berg was charged with killing German atomic scientist Werner Heisenberg, but the catcher determined that Germany was nowhere close to developing an atomic bomb, sparing Heisenberg’s life. Berg also influenced Italian atomic physicist Enrico Fermi to work for the U.S. instead of the Nazis.

In 2018, Paul Rudd starred as Berg in the film The Catcher Was a Spy, and the Baseball Hall of Fame dedicated an exhibit to Berg’s espionage and baseball careers.

1995
Reece McGuire, who briefly caught for the 2022 White Sox but will forever live in tabloid headlines after lingering a bit too long in a strip mall parking lot, was born, in Seattle.

1999
Orlando Cepeda, whose White Sox ties extend to just one year as a batting coach despite owner Bill Veeck’s attempts to snatch him away from San Francisco in 1960, headlined a four-member Veterans Committee Hall of Fame election. Joining him was legendary Negro Leagues pitcher Smoky Joe Williams, 19th Century manager Frank Selee and umpire Nestor Chylak.

Veeck extending an offer to get Cepeda into coaching after a drug trafficking arrest in the mid-1970s allowed the legend to get back into the better graces of baseball, and ultimately election to the Hall.

After falling to Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic,Team USA has assembled a roster loaded with MLB stars for the next iteration of the tournament.

While Team USA's roster was strong in 2022, the pitching staff had some issues. In 2026, though, Team USA and manager Mark DeRosa were able to convince top-end pitching talent to join the roster, despite the tournament being held before the regular season and likely requiring a quicker ramp-up process.

REQUIRED READING: Team USA World Baseball Classic roster revealed, 2026 WBC schedule

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith are the lone position players returning from the 2023 squad. They'll be joined by some of the world's best, including Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper and Cal Raleigh, among others.

Team USA is the favorite for the WBC, but it won't be easy, as Japan, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela are also top contenders.

Here's a look at USA's projected lineup for the WBC, which will be held from March 5-17:

Team USA projected lineup for World Baseball Classic

Team USA is only carrying four outfielders for the WBC, which includes Judge, who's expected to play every game. Corbin Carroll was recently replaced by former No. 1 prospect Roman Anthony, one of the best young talents in MLB.

The infield could also get interesting, as Team USA boasts both Gunnar Henderson and Witt Jr. at shortstop. Witt Jr. likely has the leg up as a returner from the 2023 squad, but Henderson should still see his fair share of playing time at his natural position.

Team USA will likely rotate its position players group throughout the group stage, thanks to having a deep roster of MLB stars. The lineup could, and likely will, also change based on if it's facing a right-handed or left-handed pitcher. Byron Buxton could also take designated hitter when Team USA faces left-handed pitchers, with Schwarber taking duties against right-handers.

Here's a look at Team USA's projected lineup when playing its best nine players:

1. SS Bobby Witt Jr. (R)
2. DH Kyle Schwarber (L)
3. RF Aaron Judge (R)
4. 5. 1B Bryce Harper (L)
5. C Cal Raleigh (S)
6. LF Roman Anthony (L)
7. 3B Alex Bregman (R)
8. CF Pete Crow-Armstrong (L)
9. 2B Brice Turang (R)

• Bench: Byron Buxton (R), Paul Goldschmidt (R), Ernie Clement (R), Will Smith (R)

Team USA projected pitching rotation

Team USA's rotation is led by the two reigning Cy Young winners in Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes. However, Skubal said he'll only make one start, which will come during the group. Skenes said he expects to make two starts/

Team USA has solid starting pitch depth, especially with top prospect Nolan McLean capable of shifting from the bullpen to the rotation once Skubal is done. Logan Webb is also capable of leading a rotation.

Joe Ryan was projected to be in the rotation, although he was scratched from his first Spring Training start on Feb. 20 due to lower-back tightness, and was eventually placed by Yankees LHP Ryan Yarbrough.

Here's a look at Team USA's projected starting pitching rotation:

1. Tarik Skubal (L)
2. Paul Skenes (R)
3. Logan Webb (R)
4. Ryan Yarbrough (L)
5. Michael Wacha (R) /Matthew Boyd (L)

• Other starters on roster: Clayton Kershaw (L), Nolan McLean (R), Clay Holmes (R)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Team USA projected lineup, rotation for World Baseball Classic

The Yankees, knock on wood, have seemingly done OK with injuries early on in camp. Often, when players report to spring training, there’s a deluge of injury news as injuries that occurred during the offseason come to light, such as Francisco Lindor’s wrist injury or Anthony Santander’s shoulder ailment. They’ve had very small scares thus far, such as Cam Schlittler taking a few days off of throwing a couple weeks ago, or Cody Bellinger’s back acting up over the weekend, but as of now, everyone seems to be on track.

Still, injuries happen, and Bellinger’s balky back was a good reminder that guys are going to pick up bumps and bruises. With that in mind, which Yankee would you least want to see get injured?

Of course, this is only a conversation if we exclude Aaron Judge, so let’s set aside the three-time MVP for now. Other than Judge, who do you think would be the toughest guy to see go down? He’s not fully back into action, but could it be Gerrit Cole? We haven’t gotten to see Cole in pinstripes since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, a crushingly long time to wait and a bitter note to have left off on. Moreover, he stands to provide a huge boost once he returns; is there anyone else that could be as hard to lose?

Sure there is. Max Fried was the team’s MVP on the pitching side last year, buoying the club in Cole’s absence. The prospect of him and Cole as co-aces at the front of the rotation by mid-summer is tantalizing. There’s the aforementioned Bellinger, who was the Yankees’ second-best position player last year behind Judge, bringing all-around production at the plate, on the bases, and on defense, and now in the first year of a long-term contract. Not to mention, Cam Schlittler, whose production down the stretch was outstanding and whose continued rise should be one of the most fun storylines to follow this year, or Jazz Chisholm Jr., who might have the highest ceiling of any hitter on the Yankees not named Judge.

What do you think? Who, other than Judge, is the player you most want to see stay healthy in 2026? Let us know in the comments below.

The Yankees are off today, but we’ll still have plenty on the site to keep you busy. In the morning, we’ll start prepping for the World Baseball Classic, as Peter previews WBC Pool A. Later, Sam will celebrate Miguel Andújar, Nick continues our Yankees preview series with an analysis of Amed Rosario. Also, Andrés runs down the Braves as part of our broader MLB preview, and Madison puts out the call for this week’s mailbag.

Today’s Matchup

Off-day.

MESA, AZ — Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete-Crow Armstrong can’t wait to catch up again with former roommate Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., and hang out with one of his heroes, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper.

San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb plans to hang around as much as possible with three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, picking his brain until the future Hall of Famer gets tired of him.

Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman, who is hosting a few of his new teammates this week, including Boston Red Sox slugger Roman Anthony, wants to spend as much time as possible with New York Yankees three-time MVP Aaron Judge.

The World Baseball Classic is back, with Team USA arriving over the weekend in Arizona, joined by four other national teams. The Americans will gather for a team dinner and have their first practice Monday in Scottsdale with exhibition games Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants and Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies before flying to Houston for the first round of the WBC.

They have assembled easily their finest team in WBC history, loaded with future Hall of Famers, MVPs, Cy Young winners and All-Stars. It’s gold medal or bust after winning the WBC in 2017, but losing to Japan in the finals in 2023.

While Team USA has had difficulty attracting pitchers and a few stars like Aaron Judge in the past, this time had virtually everyone begging to play for them.

No one took a bigger financial gamble than the Detroit Tigers' two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. He’s in line for a historic $400-million-plus contract as a free agent after the season, and everyone would have understood if he declined. He originally planned to decline, but after talking to several of his close friends who were playing, relented and signed up.

“It says a lot about him as a competitor," =Crow-Armstrong tells USA TODAY Sports. “It’s sick that he wants do this on his walk year. His mound presence is how a lead singer would command a crowd or a really good speaker would command the room.

“It’s almost like everybody goes silent when he takes the mound."

Still, as much as Skubal is looking forward to representing the United States, he also realizes he needs to be smart about the potential risk. He informed Team USA he will pitch just once for perhaps two or three innings, likely March 7 against Great Britain, and return to the Tigers’ camp in Lakeland, FL.

“I’d love to do the whole thing, it’s just a timing thing," Skubal told reporters in Florida. “It kills me. I think I got the best of both worlds, getting a start, being in the room, learning from all those guys, but also by being healthy and pitching this season."

Pitching just once was a perfect compromise between the Tigers, Team USA, and his agent, Scott Boras.

So, will Boras be traveling to Houston to keep an eye on Skubal?

“No," he told USA TODAY Sports, “I’ll be home on my couch watching with a knot in my stomach."

Sportsnet: Another Yankee is off to represent their country at the World Baseball Classic. This time, it is southpaw Ryan Yarbrough, who is joining Team USA as an injury replacement for Joe Ryan. If the US advances past the group stage, Ryan can theoretically rejoin the club. But for now, Yarbrough, the veteran left-hander, will take his place representing the United States.

New York Post | Howie Kussoy: Jasson Domínguez has had an outstanding spring training. Alas, it will almost certainly not be enough to have him on the Opening Day roster. Saturday, General Manager Brian Cashman remarked that “all he can do right now, him and [Spencer] Jones, as well as [Randal] Grichuk and anybody else, is put themselves in a position for us to take notice and we’ll evaluate what opportunities exist at the end of camp and make calls.” With Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and Aaron Judge holding down the starting outfield spots and Giancarlo Stanton at designated hitter, even if The Martian managed to make the 26-man roster, playing time would be scant.

New York Post | Howie Kussoy: Paul Blackburn has also had a nice spring. His four shutout innings Saturday bring his scoreless spring streak to six frames. Blackburn looked much better last season after lowering his arm angle and provides the Yankees with another arm, one who can pitch in relief as well as start. For his part, Blackburn commented that the more he pitched out of the bullpen last season, the more comfortable he got. With any luck, he’ll carry this strong spring into the regular season and shore up a ‘pen that saw plenty of turnover this offseason.

PORT ST. LUCIE — Troy Snitker spent the past seven years as the Astros hitting coach, but that came after nearly a lifetime with the Braves.

The new Mets hitting coach spent much of his childhood watching his father, Brian, manage and coach in the Braves organization before he became the manager in Atlanta in 2016.

“He influenced me a ton,” the younger Snitker said of Brian, who signed as a player with the Braves in 1977 and continued working in the organization once he stopped playing in 1980.

“I got to sit in the dugout and watch him my whole life,” Troy Snitker said of his father Sunday at Clover Park. “I was the batboy and saw how he managed a game, communicated with players and staff and how he worked and treated people.”

Through those years, Snitker grew up in Snellville, just east of Atlanta, but spent his school breaks traveling to see his father in minor league cities around the area.

“I have so many memories of being in motels and jumping to different apartment complexes in a small town with the family,” Snitker said. “We never moved, but every summer, spring break or last day of school, my mom would pack the minivan and we’d go.”

Snitker played two years in the Braves system after being drafted in the 19th round and he eventually joined his father in the majors as a coach.

The duo’s journey culminated in 2021, when Brian Snitker managed the Braves to a World Series title, beating Troy’s Astros.

“I got to see the sacrifices he and my mom made,” Troy Snitker said. “He’s never done any of it for attention, but to see him do it at the biggest stage was extremely gratifying for my family. It was unbelievable.”

Troy Snitker won a title with the Astros a year later and now he’ll try to help the Mets get their offense going, as the 37-year-old joined the team’s director of major league hitting, Jeff Albert, in the offseason, replacing Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes.

“I just want the guys to work together like some of our offenses did [in Houston] to do great things,” Snitker said. “I think we have a chance to have a great lineup like I’ve had experience having. We want the same type of culture and teamwork, [with the] ability to pass it to the next guy. We want to work together, build off each at-bat and not have guys feel they have to do it themselves. I think we can do that.”

Snitker said he had interest from other teams after he and fellow hitting coach Alex Cintron were let go by the Astros before opting to join the Mets staff.

“It was an easy decision for me,” Snitker said of coming to Queens. “I think there’s so much depth here and I’m excited to get to work.”

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The best offensive season of Trent Grisham’s career was also his worst defensively.

The end result was Grisham accepting the qualifying offer and coming back to the Yankees with a chance to prove that not only was his offensive breakout not a fluke, but also that there is more in the tank defensively that he did not show consistently enough last season because of a lingering hamstring issue.

While Grisham’s biggest impact last season came with the bat, when he slugged 34 home runs and took over everyday duties in center field, he did not play up to his track record as a two-time Gold Glover, the most recent one coming in 2022.

The 29-year-old is typically not big on looking at defensive metrics — in part because he did not usually have to worry about them when they were strong — but he acknowledged on Sunday that he likes to know where he stands among center fielders when there is enough data by the middle of the season.

“And I knew I was down towards the bottom of that list last year, so I kind of took that personally this offseason,” said Grisham, whose minus-11 defensive runs saved were fourth lowest among qualified center fielders. “I definitely wanted to get better and get back to how I was when I was younger.”

A big part of that, the Yankees believe, is getting healthier.

Grisham came into camp last season with a hamstring strain but was able to start the season on time. Then, after he came back from the paternity list in late April, he said he had “a little ankle thing that I was dealing with.” Then on June 30 in Toronto, Grisham left a game early after getting his cleat stuck on the turf while making a running attempt on a sinking liner — “probably another [hamstring] strain,” he said, but he returned to the lineup a few days later and played through it.

“Maybe not quite 100 percent, but it wasn’t really about that,” Grisham said after making a diving catch and going 0-for-2 in a 5-3 win over the Phillies at BayCare Ballpark. “It was about wanting to be out there playing. I felt like I could do a pretty good job out there.”

The offense did not take much of a hit, as Grisham continued to deliver some big hits, but his defense took a step back — in part because he had trouble stepping back.

“For me, that was the main factor last year, the [physical] limitations,” outfield coach Luis Rojas said. “I think a lot of balls, specifically straight back really hurt him, because he had to drop step and then push really hard on those hamstrings. Those were the ones where he was a tad slower than in the past and he couldn’t get to some baseballs and it crushed his metrics.”

Grisham came into camp this year feeling healthy and, according to Rojas, said, “I’m going to show everyone that I’m fast,” perhaps only somewhat jokingly.

The Yankees do not necessarily need Grisham to be as fast as he was earlier in his career — which helped him record 10 DRS in 2022 — but just enough to be able to play the level of defense he is capable of, matching his strong offensive production.

“I didn’t go into this offseason and overstress on the defensive side of the ball,” Grisham said. “It was more mentally and putting a chip back on my shoulder to get that edge again. It’s more of a personal thing than anything.”

Of course, if Grisham is looking for chips, he can also find one in the questions about whether he can actually repeat his breakout offensive season from 2025. The Yankees clearly believe he can — pointing to the strong underlying metrics that suggest it was not a fluke — which is why they made him the $22.025 million qualifying offer.

Grisham said Sunday he took the full 12 days he was allotted to decide to accept the offer, a decision he called “weighty.” He might have been able to make more money overall in a multiyear deal had he declined it, especially since he would have been the second-best center fielder on the free agent market behind teammate Cody Bellinger, but ultimately opted to return.

“At the end of the day, I want to win baseball games,” Grisham said. “I think that’s how you get the best out of yourself. I want to win. … That was just my priority.”

The Athletics ensured a good start to March, putting together their best team-wide spring training performance to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 12-4.

J.T Ginn started on the mound, picking up where he left off in his last outing. The A’s right-hander pitched three scoreless innings, continuing his impressive start to spring training. In the third inning, Ginn found himself in a bit of trouble as the Reds got runners on third and first with only one out. Ginn wiggled out of the jam by striking out Will Benson and then he got some help from his catcher Austin Wynns, who threw out a Reds player trying to steal second base to end the inning.

Meanwhile, the A’s catching tandem gave the team an early lead that they never relinquished. Starting catcher Shea Langeliers, who served as the designated hitter today, bashed a two-run home run to right field off of the Reds left-handed starting pitcher Andrew Abbot in the first inning. He added an RBI double in the third inning before coming around to score on Wynns’s three-run home run later that inning.

Up 6-0 after three frames, the A’s got their second glimpse at top pitching prospect Gage Jump. The highly-regarded left-hander sailed through the fourth and fifth innings, only allowing one hit while recording three strikeouts. If Jump continues pitching as well as he did today for the rest of spring training and first month or two of the minor league season, the pitching-needy A’s may not wait long to promote him to the Major Leagues.

Following Jump’s encouraging outing, four non-roster pitchers combined to pitch the rest of the game for the A’s. Cincinnati scored four unanswered runs via two home runs off relievers unlikely to make the A’s bullpen, making what was shaping up to be a blowout A’s win less certain.

With their seven-run lead cut to three, the A’s held on and then got important insurance runs in the eighth inning. Non-roster invite first baseman Joey Meneses came through with the bases loaded, blasting a grand slam over the right field wall. The A’s were not done that inning. A couple batters later, third base prospect Tommy White, aka Tommy Tanks, joined in on the fun as he hit a home run to cap the A’s scoring this afternoon.

This type of game is what A’s fans were expecting to see from the team this year. Four home runs, 11 hits and 12 runs scored signifies that the team’s offense is finally waking up from their offseason slumber, while Ginn and Jump’s performances serve as reason for optimism that the A’s pitching will be improved this season.

The A’s will look to make it two in a row tomorrow against the San Diego Padres. Right-hander Mason Barnett is scheduled to make his second spring training appearance. He is looking to improve after allowing two runs in two innings in his last outing. The Padres will counter with veteran right-hander Michael King, who will also be making his second preseason start.

Notes

• Following the game, the A’s made several roster cuts. They optioned right-handed pitcher Eduarniel Nuñez to Triple-A Las Vegas and right-handed pitcher Henry Baez to Double-A Midland. Additionally, they sent left-handed pitchers Wei-En Lin and Domingo Robles, right-handed pitchers A.J Causey, JJ Goss, Kenya Huggins and Yunior Tur, catcher Shane McGuire and infielder Joey Meneses to their minor league camp. None of these moves are surprising, although it sucks for Meneses coming after he hit the grand slam. It would not be a shock to see him in Sacramento this year if he is doing well in Triple-A and the A’s need someone to fill in for Nick Kurtz and/or Brent Rooker if they get injured. Likewise, relievers Nuñez, Causey and Tur could be options to help the A’s bullpen this season.
• In addition to the prospects mentioned above, Henry Bolte had a good day. He singled twice in three at-bats.
• Kurtz is off to a slow start this spring with one hit in 15 at-bats. It is still early, so he has a long time remaining to get in a groove before the regular season starts.
• Colby Thomas got two at-bats today off the bench. He has been dealing with inflammation in his right elbow, which is why he has not started a game during the first week of the Cactus League.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Trea Turner went down swinging on a four-seam fastball.

J.T. Realmuto followed, returning to the bench after taking a 96 mph pitch looking.

Then came Alec Bohm, ending the first inning after whiffing on heat.

After striking out a two-time batting champion, three-time Silver Slugger Award winner and former All-Star, Will Warren walked off the mound, having given a glimpse of his ceiling, and a showcase of his growth, entering his second full season in the majors.

“If I see, like in that first inning, I thought that they were off the heater, I’m just gonna keep [throwing the] heater until they prove that they can hit it,” Warren said after the 5-3 win over the Phillies at BayCare Ballpark. “Last year, I may have been trying to overdo stuff or trying to make this super nasty pitch. And it’s like, you don’t really need to do that. Your stuff’s good enough as it is. Just execute and stay in control, stay smooth and be aggressive.

“A lot of times in spring training, it’s hard to get that amped-up feeling going, but when we roll out there in the first inning and it’s Turner, Realmuto and Bohm, that’s going to give you a little juice.”

Warren, 26, was nearly flawless in his second spring training outing, throwing 3 ²/₃ scoreless innings, while allowing one hit and no walks.

The right-hander — who allowed one run in 2 ²/₃ innings with four strikeouts in his previous start — threw 50 pitches (33 strikes) and struck out four, facing off against Phillies starter Andrew Painter, one of Philadelphia’s top prospects.

“I thought he was excellent,” manager Aaron Boone said of Warren. “Four-seam was crispy. I thought his command was really good. I thought he was really sharp. I thought Painter was kind of crispy early, got my attention, and then Will answered.

“I think he’s really talented. I think he’s got all the weapons … He’s confident, so I know there’s more and I know he expects that. I don’t know what the ceiling is.”

Warren’s new shift to the third base side of the rubber may reveal it.

“I think the attack angle is really weird to righties,” said Warren, who went 9-8 with a 4.44 ERA in 33 starts last season. “I think you saw that today. I get really late swings over there. The lefties, I think the backdoor sweeper is going to be a huge pitch for me. It’s been a big pitch in the past, but moving over there, it looks like it’s never going to come back. The lines are getting sharper as we go throughout the spring, so I really like the adjustment we made.

“I think everything’s in a good spot … I think everything’s going in the right direction.”

PORT ST. LUCIE — A day after SNY analyst Ron Darling said the Mets should go to a five-man rotation instead of having to “work around” Kodai Senga’s preference to pitch in a six-man rotation, Senga threw live batting practice on a back field and looked good again.

Carlos Mendoza, when asked about the possibility of going to a five-man rotation, told The Post it was not currently a consideration.

“We have six starters,” Mendoza said.

If everyone remains healthy, Senga will be joined in the rotation by Opening Day starter Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Sean Manaea and Nolan McLean.

Of those starters, Mendoza said Peralta is likely the only one who won’t be asked to pitch on an extra day’s rest, but he will talk with the rest of the rotation about their usage.

Senga’s next outing will come in a Grapefruit League game and the Mets have been encouraged by the intensity with which he has attacked this spring.

And before they make any decisions about how to best utilize their rotation, they want to make sure everyone remains in good form throughout the spring.

Last spring training, the Mets lost Manaea to a strained oblique and Frankie Montas to a strained lat.

So far, the rotation is in solid shape — and they hope it remains that way, as Holmes and McLean head to the WBC to pitch for Team USA.

Holmes was impressive again in Sunday’s 4-3 win over Houston at Clover Park, integrating his cutter into his arsenal more.

He allowed one run in four innings.

He threw the cutter 21 percent of the time Sunday after using it just 8.3 percent of the time a year ago.

Holmes said the pitch “felt good” and could help augment his sinker.

Mendoza added if Holmes can use it effectively and add it to his sinker/sweeper mix, it will make the right-hander even better.

“There’s so much movement, life, sink and cut on his pitches,” the manager said.

The Mets announced after Sunday’s game that right-hander Alex Carrillo was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse and lefties Anderson Severino and Matt Turner were reassigned to minor league camp.

The moves left the Mets with 70 players in major league camp.

Cristian Pache, known primarily for his defense in the outfield throughout his career, has hit well so far this spring.

He added a double Sunday.

“He’s an elite defender,” Mendoza said. “Offensively, his at-bat quality, he’s hit the ball hard up the middle and run the bases [well]. There are a lot of tools there. It’s good to see the results.”

St. John’s announced the athletic department would honor the life of longtime Mets media relations official and St. John’s alumna Shannon Forde on Tuesday during the men’s basketball game versus Georgetown at Madison Square Garden.

Forde passed away 10 years ago from breast cancer.

PHOENIX –– In Game 1 of last year’s National League Championship Series, Blake Snell made the start of his life.

Eight innings. No runs. One hit. Ten strikeouts. Utter, total and pure domination of the Brewers.

In the days that followed, however, he knew something wasn’t right. 

“After that start,” Snell recalled Sunday, “it was like, ‘Holy s—.’”

Turns out, the shoulder injury that dogged Snell for much of his debut season with the Dodgers didn’t end once he returned from the injured list in early August. Following that NLCS masterclass last October, his shoulder pain returned again –– and, despite Snell making three more outings in the World Series, continued to linger over most of the winter.

That’s why Snell now finds himself behind schedule leading up to the new season.

Entering spring training, he acknowledged he was going to slow-play his ramp-up, after spending most of the winter getting physical therapy on his shoulder. 

And this week, manager Dave Roberts confirmed the inevitable, acknowledging Snell’s chances of being ready for Opening Day are “probably zero” as he still waits to even throw off a mound.

In the past, this might have been a bigger frustration for the 33-year-old left-hander. Despite being a two-time Cy Young Award winner with what is widely regarded as some of the best raw stuff in the sport, questions about workload and durability have long followed him over his 10-season career.

Yet, when asked about his status Sunday, Snell sounded more upbeat than deflated by his delayed start to the season.

“I feel really good,” he told The California Post. “The whole offseason was tough. But finally, I’m where I want to be. So now it’s building up and getting ready for the season. … Trust my arm, get everything synced up.”

Last spring, Snell noted, he pushed himself too hard to be ready for the start of his first Dodgers season. He began his ramp-up several weeks early, after his $182 million signing in the offseason. He tried to pitch through shoulder pain that first popped up after an exhibition outing during the team’s season-opening trip to Japan. Although he started the Dodgers’ home opener, Snell went on the injured list following his next outing against the Braves a week later, missing the next four months with what the team described as shoulder inflammation.

“Last spring, I was so excited to pitch, and I just got myself in a bad spot, getting ready too quick,” Snell said. “What I should’ve done –– once we went to Japan, that’s when I started feeling the shoulder –– I should’ve stopped. But I wanted to pitch Opening Day. And then I wanted to pitch against the Braves after that. And that’s when it was like, ‘Ah.’ I could barely get my shoulder up to throw after that. So then it took a while to get back to normal. … And in the postseason, I felt it again.”

What Snell is proud of, in hindsight, was his ability to “battle through” the playoffs.

He spun gems in the wild-card round (seven innings, two runs) and Division Series (six scoreless innings) even before his near-complete game in the NLCS. And though he struggled in his two World Series starts, his 1 ⅓ scoreless innings of relief in Game 7 allowed the Dodgers to get to Yoshinobu Yamamoto in extra innings.

“Pitching in the postseason is the best feeling in the world,” he said. “There’s no better feeling than pitching (in that atmosphere), the crowd, the excitement, all the emotions that go into each start. It’s a rush of adrenaline, man. So I want to pitch in more meaningful games.”

“But,” he added, “I gotta do everything right to get there.”

Thus, Snell is taking things slower this time around –– hoping to avoid the extended absence he endured last year.

He is still only out to 90 feet in catch play but has seen an uptick in his velocity in recent days. The Dodgers are hopeful he will be able to throw off a mound before the end of camp, at which point they can set a firmer target date for his return to the rotation.

“Sooner is better,” he said, noting his ultimate goal is to be in position to star in the playoffs again this fall. “But I’m taking my time, trusting them. … Just gotta take this slow, take the course.” 

There is a lot going on in spring camp besides what we see in the games played. The backfields, the B games, the live BP and the bullpen sessions thrown are all just as important or more important as what we see on the field.

I spent three days this past week watching practice and games in Peoria, Ariz. There is quality competition for the last rotation spots and the last player spots on the 26-man roster. It is too early to pick a favorite, but I liked what I saw as far as options for the team.

Rotation arms

Griffin Canning will probably not be available for the start of the season. He is being slow-played as far as building up his field work. I saw some agility work and bullpen work but no simulated games or live BP while I was there. It seems the organization wants to be very conservative with building him up to start and to field his position.

Germán Marquez has had bullpen and live BP sessions. He has shown a mid-90’s fastball and has featured a slider, changeup and a knuclecurve in the past. His return from surgery of two years ago has not been successful so far. He pitched in Sunday’s game against the Giants and allowed three runs in two innings with two strikeouts and no walks allowed.

Marquez and Walker Buehler both get intensive, one-on-one sessions with pitching coach Ruben Niebla. Buehler pitched in a sim game on Saturday, Feb. 28 against the NC Dions of the KBO with velocity in the low 90s and issues with location but he pitched in three innings.

Triston McKenzie has increased velocity on his fastball but location/command has been an issue for him. Time will tell if he can improve and be competitive as the spring camp progresses.

JP Sears has low 90s velocity on his fastball and must command his pitches in order to be effective as a starter. He had a disastrous first start but improved and finished three innings with one run in his second start. He has been an innings-eater in the past with an ERA in the 4.3 to 4.5 range and could use his newly refined cutter to help him get back to that level this season. That profiles as an acceptable number five starter.

Matt Waldron had surgery on his hemorrhoidal issues and is out until he isn’t. It is possible he could start the season on the IL. His situation is difficult as he no longer has minor league options and must be on the roster in order to avoid being placed on waivers. His only start showed increased velocity and effectiveness over last season. Enough to make the improvements something to watch as he returns from surgery.

Marco Gonzales is another low velocity, command-based pitcher who is working his way through the spring. His 1.2 innings pitched in games so far has not been impressive but continued work will show if he is someone that could be competitive for the last spot.

Randy Vasquez has shown that he is serious about winning the fourth spot in the rotation. He came into camp slimmer than last year, with sustained velocity from the end of last season. His stuff is also playing up from last year and he has seven pitches to pull from in his mix a a starter.

Bullpen options

The bullpen depth is well-known and there will need to be important decisions made before the end of spring. Yuki Matsui is recovering from a groin strain and his availability for the start of the season is unknown. The back end of the bullpen seems set, barring injury, with Mason Miller as the closer and a combination of Adrian Morejón, Jeremiah Estrada, David Morgan and a healthy Jason Adam providing high-leverage relief.

The other three spots are the middle relievers. Matsui, when healthy, and Wandy Peralta are holdovers from last year and will be on the team unless there is a trade involving them. That leaves one spot for what would probably be a swing man or long-reliever. Ron Marinaccio, who is out of options, Kyle Hart and Bryan Hoeing are the leading contenders but we heard Saturday that Hoeing is experiencing elbow soreness and is being evaluated.

This would leave Bradgley Rodriquez and Alek Jacob off the roster and they have both been dominant so far this spring. This situation again suggests that a late spring trade could be an option to add more quality to the roster by trading from bullpen quality.

The line up

Manager Craig Stammen surprised most everyone by starting the spring with a different lineup than we have seen before. With the past week only providing consistency to that new lineup. Xander Bogaerts leading off with Jackson Merrill second, Manny Machado third and Fernando Tatis Jr. cleaning up.

Bogaerts has left for the WBC, along with Machado and Tatis Jr. The lineup will not look the same until they are all back from their WBC teams. Until then, there will be many different lineups and there will only be a week or so to set the final lineup before Opening Day.

Jackson Merrill has been a free swinger as the second hitter. Having Machado hit second or third, in rotation with Merrill, is not an issue but Tatis Jr. hitting fourth has many questioning the logic of having your best player getting less at-bats over the course of a whole season.

Position battles

Nick Castellanos and Miguel Andujar were signed to major league contracts and it is likely they are both on the roster. They would fill the 1B/DH jobs and be in rotation with Gavin Sheets.

Sung-Mun Song is the utility infielder and looks athletic with good range at third base. His challenge is adding shortstop and/or the outfield to his skillset.

That leaves one spot open for either another outfielder or an infielder between Ty France, Bryce Johnson, Will Wagner and Mason McCoy. Minor league sign Jose Miranda has four years of MLB experience and could be an option for staying with the organization as minor league depth. He has had a good spring at the plate so far, hitting .429 with six RBI.

Joe Musgrove

Joe Musgrove is slow-playing his return to the rotation with a lot of backfield work and a sim game thrown on Feb. 26. He threw into the third inning and 36 pitches with reported velocity in the mid-90s. His next step could be a Cactus League start early this week.

Luis Campusano

Luis Campusano is tasked with earning the backup catcher job and is getting lots of work behind the plate in every part of spring camp. He has shown increased focus and efficiency behind the plate, with a .966 fielding percentage in 5 games.

Team sale update

It was reported by both the San Diego Union-Tribune and The Athletic that a bid was placed last Wednesday by Vuori founder Joe Kudla and former San Diego Chargers quarterback Drew Brees for purchase of the Padres. That report was amended on Friday to state that there was no bid from that party and that they had expressed interest in being part of a bid by another party for the team.

That shortens the list of reported bidders to three groups. Joe Lacob, owner of the Golden State Warriors, Jose E. Feliciano who owns English Premier League Chelsea and Dan Friedkin, who owns Italian Serie A Roma and English Premier League Everton.