The Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, left, talks to reporters during DodgerFest at Dodger Stadium on Saturday. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts answered one key question heading into spring training.
Shohei Ohtani will not pitch for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic in March, Roberts told reporters during Saturday's annual DodgerFest at Dodger Stadium. The manager added it was Ohtani's decision and the Dodgers would have allowed him to do so if he had wanted to.
Ohtani said in November he would participate in the WBC but did not signal at the time whether he would pitch. When Team Japan's roster was announced Monday, manager Hirokazu Ibata did not say if Ohtani would pitch, only saying they would get a better sense in spring training.
And on Saturday, Ohtani — who spoke to reporters before Roberts did — said he was still unsure if he would pitch in the WBC and it would depend on how he feels as he began ramping up to pitch over the next few weeks. The expectation going into the season, he told reporters, had been he would be able to pitch without restrictions from the start for the Dodgers.
In the 2023 WBC, Ohtani won tournament most valuable player with a .435 batting average and 1.86 ERA, helping Japan to the title. He punctuated the event with his memorable strikeout of his then-Angels teammate Mike Trout for the final out in the championship game. But five months later, Ohtani was pulled from a home start against the Cincinnati Reds for what ultimately was revealed to be a torn UCL.
Ohtani had his second career Tommy John surgery in September and did not return to pitching until last June with the Dodgers.
MLB players like Ohtani and teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto are expected to join Team Japan for exhibition games on March 2. Japan will open WBC play on March 6 against Taiwan.
Shohei Ohtani said on Saturday that he remained uncertain whether he would be a two-way player for Japan in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was more definitive: He won’t be.
“He’s not going to pitch in the WBC,” Roberts said.
Shohei Ohtani of Team Japan reacts after the final out in the top of the 9th inning to defeat Team USA 3-2 during World Baseball Classic Championship at loanDepot park on March 21, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Getty Images
Focusing on hitting in the tournament was “absolutely” Ohtani’s call, according to the manager, who revealed the decision was made about a month ago.
If Ohtani had wanted to pitch in the WBC, would the Dodgers have given him their blessing?
“Absolutely,” Roberts said.
Playing in the 2023 WBC as a two-way player, Ohtani made two pitching starts and was Japan’s closer in its victory over the United States in the championship game. Ohtani registered the final out of the game by striking out Mike Trout in what became the signature moment of his career.
What might be welcome development for the other countries in the tournament could be bad news for other major league teams.
If the legacy-conscious Ohtani is willing to sacrifice potential glory on the international stage, what does that say about what he has in mind for the regular season?
He must have something big in mind – like a season in which he wins his fifth MVP award and becomes the first Japanese pitcher to ever win a Cy Young?
On stage at DodgerFest alongside right-hander Roki Sasaki, Ohtani shared his goals with the fans in attendance.
“It would be best if I can mix it up,” Ohtani said in Japanese to the Dodger Stadium crowd. “Stealing bases, hitting home runs, getting strikeouts – I think doing it all would be great.”
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays during first inning Game 7 World Series playoff MLB baseball action in Toronto on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) AP
Relayed Ohtani’s words, Roberts became visibly animated. Roberts recently told the California Post that he expected Ohtani to compete for the National League Cy Young Award with teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Roberts’ prediction was made in reaction to Ohtani’s interview with NHK that aired in Japan last month. In the interview in question, Ohtani acknowledged he was disappointed by how he was charged with three runs in only 2 ⅓ innings in his start against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series last year.
“There’s always something that Shohei needs to fuel him,” Roberts said.
Roberts never concealed his preference that Ohtani not pitch in the WBC, and he said he expected Ohtani to ultimately reach the decision he did.
“I wasn’t surprised, so I can’t even say I was relieved,” Roberts said. “Understanding what he did last year, what he had to go through to then how best to prepare himself for ‘26 to do both (pitch and hit), it just seemed like the right decision.”
In the season that followed the last WBC, Ohtani was a two-way player for the Angels and damaged the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. The injury forced him to undergo his second Tommy John operation.
Still recovering from surgery, Ohtani couldn’t pitch in 2024, his first year with the Dodgers. He made his mound return in June of last season. He went on to pitch in 14 regular-season games, posting a 3.14 earned-run average. He pitched in four postseason games, including a win over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series in which he struck out 10 batters over six scoreless innings and whacked three homers as a hitter.
With Ohtani only hitting in the WBC this year, the Dodgers won’t have to take any extreme measures to protect his arm early in the season, which means he should be able to make enough starts to merit consideration for the Cy Young Award. While Ohtani might receive extended breaks between some pitching appearances, Roberts said he would otherwise be “used as a normal pitcher.”
“It’s not going to be a two-inning, three-inning governor” per start, Roberts said.
Roberts said Ohtani would be “ramping up” his arm in spring training to prepare for the regular season, and Ohtani said he has already thrown “three or four” bullpen sessions. Addressing reporters before Roberts did, Ohtani made it sound as if his pitching status for the WBC was still undetermined.
“I think it will come down to the end, depending on how I’m adjusting, depending on the condition of my body,” Ohtani said in Japanese.
There’s no reason to question Roberts. Unless something was lost in translation, Ohtani isn’t pitching in the WBC. Assuming that’s the case, what that means doesn’t require any translation: Ohtani is preparing for another history-making season with the Dodgers.
The two were not only together during Stearns’ final year in Milwaukee, but Myers was also the starter who carved up the Mets in Game 3 of the 2024 Wild Card Series.
The right-hander allowed just two hits and struck out five batters over five scoreless innings of work in his first-ever postseason appearance.
That fearlessness is one of the things Stearns and the Mets’ front office valued when they picked up Myers as part of the blockbuster deal for Freddy Peralta.
“He’s not afraid,” Stearns said. “He fills up the zone, he goes right after people, he can zone up with pretty much his entire arsenal -- and he’s pitched well in very big moments, as we saw firsthand a couple of years ago.”
The Mets also like the versatility the 27-year-old brings to their staff.
Myers made 25 starts for the Brew Crew during a strong rookie campaign, but he enjoyed even more success as a long-man out of the bullpen last season.
He pitched to a 3.48 ERA as a starter, and a 1.62 ERA in 18 appearances as a reliever.
“Being able to have that success in both,” Stearns said. “We like his ability to give us multiple innings out of the pen, and also flex into the rotation if that’s the way it goes."
Myers will provide the Mets with strong rotation depth, but for now, he figures to begin the year in the bullpen.
He also has a minor league option, if the Mets decide to keep him stretched out in Syracuse.
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 23: David Cone smiles after throwing the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game between the New York Mets and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Back in August, I began a series here at Pinstripe Alley, where I was going to put together an All-Star Yankee team of players who were born in a given month. Since then, we as a staff have started doing daily posts for the year 2026, highlighting a Yankee from history whose birthday happens to land on that day. I thought, what better way to put a cap on a month’s worth of birthday posts then by using the all-month teams as a way to look back on who we covered — and maybe some we didn’t cover who shared a birthday with someone else.
With that in mind, here are my choices for the All-January Birthday Yankee Team.
There was only one real choice I could make for the January team’s pitcher. Cone helped the Yankees to four World Series titles, threw a memorable perfect game, and is still around as part of the YES Network’s broadcast crew. Coney rules!
On the other hand, there’s not an obviously great option to be Cone’s battery mate, so we’ll go with Nunamaker, who we highlighted back on January 25th.
The signing of Giambi was one of the Yankees’ acquisitions that truly did make them feel like an “Evil Empire” back in the 2000s, and he ended up being a very solid presence in the lineup over his tenure in the Bronx.
Considering that Soriano played outfield for much of his career in between his Yankees’ stints, we could’ve maybe finagled him into a spot out there, and rotated some others around to make the overall team stronger. However, his home for most of his Bronx life was at second base. We can’t really put him anywhere else.
Sojo was the utility infield on the Yankees’ dynasty teams of the 90s and early 00s. While he was hardly an all-star at the plate, he helped keep that dynasty going with a big hit in the clinching Game 5 of the 2000 World Series.
There are probably better players we could’ve maneuvered into this spot, but I couldn’t not include the 1978 World Series hero. He had a career OPS of just .392, however in the six-game triumph over the Dodgers, he posted a .938 OPS with a couple big hits.
Left Field: Stan Javier
This is probably the weakest spot in this team. Not because of the player himself, as Javier was a pretty good major leaguer over the course of a 17-year career. However, only seven games of it came with the Yankees (and he was overshadowed on January 9th by 1962 World Series MVP arm Ralph Terry). After he played a couple games with the 1984 Yankees, they traded him to the Athletics that offseason as part of the Rickey Henderson deal.
Center Field: Tim Hendryx
Hendryx is another player that we didn’t get to in our birthday series, but who still makes the team. He played on the Yankees from 1915-17. The last of those was the only one where he got a good amount of playing time, and he was pretty good, but the Yankees traded him that offseason. We ended up going with pitcher Duke Maas for January 31st, Hendryx’s birthday.
Selkirk was the man tasked with replacing literally Babe Ruth in the Yankees’ lineup after the Babe left in 1935. No one would ever confuse him with Ruth, but Selkirk did an absolutely admirable job, and had a very nice nine-year career with the Yankees.
Hall of Famer Johnny Mize would be a decent choice here, as he spent a couple seasons at the end of his career as a pinch-hitting/bench option for the Yankees. However, the DH didn’t exist in his career, and when you look up the dictionary definition of “designated hitter,” Chili Davis might be one of the pictures you’ll find.
Last season, the Seminoles were buoyed by their weekend rotation of Jamie Arnold, Joey Volini and Wes Mendes. Outside of Arnold being scratched for one start, head coach Link Jarrett did not have to change his rotation one time, and their consistency propelled FSU to a second-straight trip to the Super Regionals. For the staff as a whole, Florida State’s pitching ranked third in the ACC in ERA a season ago and had six arms drafted in the 2025 MLB Draft, including the No. 11 pick, Arnold.
The 2026 pitching staff will look completely different.
While Mendes returns, Arnold and Volini have turned pro, as have trusted bullpen options such as Peyton Prescott and Joe Charles. Seeking to rebuild his pitching staff, Jarrett aggressively pursued reliable veteran arms via the portal, landing FAU LHP Trey Beard, the No. 7 player in the portal according to On3. Beard appears to be a shoo-in for a weekend rotation spot, and his changeup may be the best pitch on anyone on the staff this season. But outside of Beard, here are three pitchers to know ahead of the 2026 baseball season.
No. 1: RHP Bryson Moore
Heading into the final weeks of camp, Moore appears to be in a battle with LHP Payton Manca for the final spot in the weekend rotation, and both have drawn rave reviews from Jarrett. Moore, who spent his last two seasons at Virginia, entered the transfer portal after Mississippi State poached former UVA head coach Brian O’Conner, but did not follow him to Starkville and instead came to Tallahassee. Moore has a commanding physical presence on the bump, standing 6’3” and weighing 215 pounds with a three-pitch mix, fastball, changeup and curveball.
The main concern with Moore is how he will hold up throughout the season. During the 2025 campaign, Moore only threw 18.1 innings and did not appear in a game from March 2nd to April 29th. However, early on in the season, the righty fired five innings of two-run ball (one earned) on 83 pitches, so he does have the capability to start and throw late in games. But 31.1 innings over two seasons does give cause for concern.
Moore was the 159th-ranked recruit in Perfect Game’s 2023 class and was the D.C. Gatorade Player of the Year for baseball in his senior year of high school. The talent is obvious, but the question will be whether Florida State can get a full season out of the junior right-handed arm. Here is Jarrett on Moore in his mid-preseason press conference with the local Tallahassee media on Thursday.
“Bryson Moore, start to finish, from fall to where we are right now, has been very, very consistent. It’s a good mix of a variety of pitches. He’s very conscious of how he works. He’s been spot on, and we need to keep him headed in that direction.”
No. 2: RHP Gabe Nard
In the last two seasons, the lack of consistent options out of the bullpen has been the downfall of the Florida State season. While throughout the year, the arms out in the ‘pen have been good enough, in the biggest spots, they faultered and FSU’s seasons have ended because of it.
Enter Duke transfer Gabe Nard, who could be the slow-heartbeat, reliable, shutdown bullpen arm the Seminole staff has desperately needed. Nard transferred from Duke, which lost their head coach to Virginia, and joined the FSU program in the spring after finishing his degree in Durham over the fall. In his junior season with the Blue Devils, the righty made 29 appearances with only two starts, but fired 50.2 innings with a 4.62 ERA and a 45:17 K:BB ratio. Nard spent three seasons with the Blue Devils, making 20 or more appearances in every campaign and racking up 120.2 innings pitched across his college career.
The one question mark about Nard will be where Jarrett decides to use him. Even though he has spent most of his career out of the bullpen, Nard has never recorded a save. Will he be a multi-innings eater in the seventh and eighth and give way to someone in the ninth, or will there be a different plan for him in his senior season in Tallahassee? Here was Jarrett on Nard:
“Different profile of fastball, tremendous sink-and-run, that’s going to help us. He’s still acclimating to the program, but he’s well on his way to being a serviceable piece of this thing for us.”
No. 3: RHP Cole Stokes
Florida State has a trio of flame-throwing, right-handed relievers, Cade O’Leary, Ben Barrett and Cole Stokes. All three face similar control issues, but if Stokes gets it right, he could be the dominant closer FSU has lacked under Jarrett.
Stokes transferred to Florida State after two seasons at Oregon. In his sophomore season, the 6’6” RHP was tied for the team lead in appearances with 24, but struggled with consistency as he handed out more free passes (31, 16 walks and 15 HBPs) than he had innings pitched (20.1). Stokes made only one appearance in Oregon’s regional last year and did not record an out while allowing two walks against Utah Valley.
As mentioned, though, what makes Stokes’ potential so great is his fastball. The junior consistently sat at 96, with the ability to reach 98-99, and is working on a slider to pair with the heater. Here is what Jarrett had to say on Thursday on Stokes’ most recent appearance in practice:
“The last outing he had was as good an outing as a right-handed pitcher I’ve seen on a college field. It was dynamic; it was 98. The slider profile was unbelievably good. That was a phenomenal outing. It was fun to watch.”
SAN FRANCISCO — When it comes to old school versus new, there isn’t a more polarizing player in today’s game than Luis Arráez.
The veteran infielder is a three-time batting champion who hit .292 last year in what was considered a down year for the San Diego Padres. By some traditional measures — All-Star appearances, Silver Sluggers, hits — his career has at times been on a path to Cooperstown. While picking up all those hits, including a league-leading total last year, he virtually never strikes out.
Arráez also rates as a poor defender by all modern analytics and the eye test. He might bat .300 just about every year, but by wRC+, he was roughly a league-average hitter last season. He ranked in the first percentile last year in hard-hit percentage and bat speed. His sprint speed puts him in the bottom quarter of the league.
What do you see when you watch Arráez play? That might vary greatly depending on how you view the game.
But it’s clear what the Giants see.
Arráez is their new second baseman, and while it’s an imperfect fit in a lot of ways, it also is one that makes a lot of sense given how Buster Posey has rebuilt the organization over the past year.
In just about every trade, and with many of their draft picks, the Giants have chased contact skills. They pulled a hitting coach from a Toronto Blue Jays team that led the big leagues in average last year and was second-to-last in strikeouts. They are, to put it mildly, tired of watching the strikeouts pile up, and with this latest move, they won’t have to worry about it at second base.
Arráez struck out 21 times in 675 plate appearances last year. He also drew just 34 walks and showed little power, which is why he was available for $12 million on a one-year contract. The Giants know exactly what they’re getting, although even with the one-trick profile, there have been extremes.
Arráez is two years removed from a wRC+ of 131, which followed a season of 130. If the 28-year-old regains that form at spacious Oracle Park, the Giants will have one of the most dangerous infields in baseball, with Arráez joining Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, Matt Chapman and Bryce Eldridge.
Of course, they might also have the worst right-side defense in baseball on Opening Day. Arráez made just 10 starts at second base last year and has been worth negative-20 Outs Above Average at the position over the past three seasons. He probably should be a first baseman or DH in 2026, but the Giants won’t have that option.
In that respect, this is risky. Posey believes Devers can turn into a Gold Glove-caliber defender at first and Eldridge worked hard on his defense over the offseason, but for a team filled with groundball pitchers, that is an awful lot of hope.
There are, though, ways to limit the exposure. The Giants have chased second base upgrades all offseason even though Casey Schmitt seemed deserving of a real shot, and their goal has been to turn Schmitt into a super-utility player.
It’s possible the young infielder now ends up in a trade, especially because there’s depth in Christian Koss and Tyler Fitzgerald, but if Schmitt is on the initial roster, he’ll back up second, short and third and offer a right-handed option at first base from time to time. Either he or Koss figures to enter for Arráez late in games.
This would be an interesting way for any team to build in 2026. For the Giants, it’s downright fascinating.
The team that always talks about winning with pitching and defense is chasing batting average at second base, a crucial position when Logan Webb and others are on the mound. The lineup now appears to be strong enough to compete for a playoff spot. But the clear weakness of the roster is the bullpen, and the rotation isn’t that far behind.
The Giants tried to reload another way, making multiple offers for St. Louis’ Brendan Donovan and chasing Nico Hoerner, CJ Abrams and others. All would have been better defenders and offered more all-around offensive upside, but the front office grew frustrated with the nature of trade talks, believing that opposing executives pulled back at times when a deal was approaching the one-yard line.
On Friday, after signing Harrison Bader — a glove-first player — Posey said he still had some balls in the air and was hopeful he could add before pitchers and catchers report. His lineup now appears set, and most of the bench pieces are in place.
The pitching staff needs help, but the Giants got their new center fielder and second baseman without dealing prospects, so they’re still equipped to try and swing a deal for a pitcher if they find the right fit. If this is it, it will go down as a modest offseason class, but maybe one that shouldn’t be all that unexpected.
Posey won titles with pitching and defense, but he also spent most of his career playing with good infielders. He was instrumental in helping the club reach an extension with Chapman and has signed or traded for new starters at first, second and short over the past 14 months.
There were a lot of different ways the Giants could have gone over that time. They have chosen to line up behind their infielders, and while Arráez’s defense will be an issue that new manager Tony Vitello has to work around, the Giants are betting on his bat, or more specifically, his batting average.
SoxFest 2026 Night One interview with Chris Getz and Will Venable. | South Side Sox
Chris Getz and Will Venable definitely seem to understand that earning fan loyalty is not an easy task. Fresh off one of the strongest offseasons in recent club history and a 19-game improvement from 2024, the White Sox front office must balance providing fans with hope for the future while keeping their focus on the club’s young talent. After the first night of SoxFest 2026, it’s clear that Getz and Venable are committed to doing just that, and doing it right.
Throughout a night of vibrant music, engaging interviews and player meet-and-greets, the same key messages were reiterated to season ticket holders and press eager to know what this year will bring to Chicago’s rebuild.
Young development above all Despite the latest addition of veteran outfielder Austin Hays, development remains the key focus. When asked whether the primary goal this season is player development or playing .500 baseball, Venable emphasized that the two go hand-in-hand. The skipper told Connor McKnight on stage, “Both. The expectations are growing here … development is not something we do without winning, and that is what we do to get to win.”
And that’s not just a sugar-coated front office answer to excuse a 100-loss season. It’s evident in SoxFest itself. Anthony Kay was the only featured veteran, with most attention paid towards upcoming sophomores and even soon-to-be Charlotte Knights Tanner McDougal and Sam Antonacci.
Beyond SoxFest, Getz and Venable know that these young players will drive the organization’s success for years to come. Miguel Vargas and Mike Vasil were named the “glue guys” in the clubhouse for their personalities, ability to communicate with everyone, and leadership. The faith and trust placed in these players who haven’t reached their prime show where the Sox are prioritizing their time and money.
Building an organization, not just a team The Sox know that, with a strict budget, the best investment for sustainable success lies in the front office. Getz highlighted specifically the expansion and growth of research as a significant improvement this offseason. With labs in Arizona and Chicago, data is becoming the heart of player development. Venable added that emphasis on health, specifically with the medical and nutrition staff, is also a critical component to winning.
In his almost three years of serving as Chicago’s GM, Getz is getting the organization caught up to league standards. Although there’s still plenty of progress to be made, the South Siders are finally taking a page out of the Rays and Guardians playbooks and spending money on something that carries no risk of injury or sudden decline.
Attitude and ethic matter Part of creating a franchise is fostering a clubhouse that holds players accountable. Getz and Venable made it clear that the chaotic clubhouse from the early 2020s won’t be tolerated. As seen last year, Venable sets the expectation that attitude, effort and aggressiveness are expected on the first day of Spring Training. Getz doubled down on the sentiment, calling out that it begins even before guys don a Sox uniform. He recalled the Garrett Crochet trade last offseason and the process of vetting Chase Meidroth, Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery and Wikelman González before finalizing the trade: “If we’re going to build a foundation, let’s make sure we know what we’re getting.”
That standard was evident in interviews with players throughout the event. Teel is set to arrive in Glendale nearly a week before pitchers and catchers report, eager to get an early jump. Vargas said he hasn’t stopped training since the season ended, carrying momentum straight into the offseason. Across the board, the message was clear that this group of players isn’t waiting around. They’re ambitious, excited, motivated and ready to get back on the field.
SoxFest is a chance to show White Sox fans why they should believe in this franchise. Everyone left on Friday feeling that the organization seems to be headed in the right direction. Be sure to check back for our SoxFest Day 2 coverage right here at South Side Sox!
The Yankees and Mets shored up their outfields, and Austin Hays then headed to the Windy City.
The veteran outfielder agreed to a one-year, $6 million deal featuring incentives with the White Sox, The Post’s Jon Heyman reported Saturday.
Heyman listed early Saturday the Reds, Rangers, White Sox, Tigers, Cardinals, Padres and Cubs among the teams that had shown interest in or made an offer for the outfielder, while the Mets and Yankees had interest earlier in the offseason before their recent notable moves.
Austin Hays during the 2025 season. Getty Images
Hayes, an eight-year veteran, had a solid season for the Reds in 2025, particularly offering value against left-handed pitching.
He slashed .319/.400/.549 with a .949 OPS against lefties, although he exhibited more power against righties with 13 homers compared to two while facing southpaws.
The Yankees had been linked to Hays in case they did not re-sign Cody Bellinger, since Hays could have potentially platooned with Jasson Dominguez.
Cody Bellinger re-signed with the Yankees. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The Post reported in December that the Mets showed interest in Hays, but once they added Luis Robert Jr. in a trade, in addition to already having Tyrone Taylor, they seemingly did not need his bat.
The Mets’ acquisition of Robert, though, ultimately factored into his decision since the White Sox needed to replace the talented yet often-injured center fielder.
Chicago White Sox’s Luis Robert points to teammates in the dugout after arriving at second base with a double against the Colorado Rockies. AP
The White Sox went 60-102 last season, which means Hays could be on the trade market this summer.
Hays is a career .262 hitter with a .748 OPS and has slugged 83 homers. He started his career with the Orioles in 2017 before a 2024 trade to the Phillies. He then joined the Reds last offseason.
The Yankees haven’t made rotation splash some thought they’d make so far this offseason, but they did bring in an intriguing arm earlier this month.
New York acquired lefty Ryan Weathers from the Marlins for four prospects.
Weathers has flashed big-time upside with Miami and San Diego over the years, but keeping himself healthy has been his biggest issue to this point in his five-year big-league career.
If the Yanks can keep him healthy, Matt Blake likes what he can bring.
“This is an exciting arm,” the pitching coach said on Yankee Hot Stove. “It’s a kid who I’ve been following since high school when we were scouting him in the Amateur Draft, he’s done a nice job of growing into a major league version of himself.
“The biggest thing is just keeping him on the field. We have to do a good job of having a nice onramp for him this spring and keeping him healthy, but an electric arm with a nice arsenal -- there’s definitely a ceiling for him he hasn’t touched yet.”
Weathers was limited to just eight starts last year due to flexor and lat strains.
Blake confirmed that the Yanks have talked to hard-throwing southpaw about leaning on his two-seam more to help open the zone for his four-seam fastball and sweeper.
He threw the pitch just 4.9 percent of the time last season, despite having some success.
“I’m looking forward to learning,” Weathers said during his intro presser. “You look at the rotation, you look at the bullpen guys, there’s no excuse for me not to pick their brains and learn from some of the best.”
A healthy Weathers gives the Yanks a relatively steady, young arm to help stabilize their starting rotation until Gerritt Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt are ready to return from injuries.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 25: Brad Miller #13 of the Philadelphia Phillies in action during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park on September 25, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Stats with the Phillies (in 2021): 140 games, .227/.321/.453, 20 HR, 49 RBI, 0.5 WAR
Brad Miller spent the 2019 season with the Phillies, serving mostly as a utility man off the bench. He played multiple infield and outfield positions (albeit none of them especially well). He left for a season to join the Cardinals in 2020 but then returned to the Phillies for 2021.
Once again, he played multiple positions (poorly) and provided some decent pop from the left side of the plate. The problem was, he tended to run very hot or cold. He could have a multi-home run game (three times in 2021) but then go a month without hitting another. On the other hand, he introduced a bamboo plant to the clubhouse and that was a big hit.
Us: We're not going to go overboard with this bamboo stuff.
Stats with the Phillies: 18 games, .231/.244/.308, 0 HR, 3 RBI, -0.1 WAR
After a solid career, spent mostly in Pittsburgh, Walker was coming off two disappointing years by the time 2020 hit. The Phillies signed him before 2020 (as part of an odd trend of signing former Pirates), hoping he could serve in a utility infield role.
Maybe in a normal season, Walker would have had more time to find his footing. But he was largely awful in the COVID-shortened 202o season. His defense was never his strong suit, but the former Silver Slugger winner didn’t do much at the plate either.
The Mets still have a couple of bullpen openings as currently constructed, and right-hander Adbert Alzolay is among the group who will be competing for a spot in camp.
Alzolay is expected to be healthy and a full-go in spring training, according to Will Sammon of the Athletic.
The reliever, of course, signed on a two-year minor league deal last offseason.
He spent the entire campaign sidelined following Tommy John surgery, and after working through the rehab process, he’s ready to get back out there.
Alzolay returned to the mound during the Winter League, making four appearances.
The 30-year-old presents a potentially intriguing option for New York, as he was a relatively reliable late-inning arm for the Cubs prior to the injury.
He was limited to just 18 appearances in 2024 before being forced to the IL.
The year before that, though, Alzolay pitched to a 2.67 ERA and locked down 22 saves.
Sammon notes that some of the others in the mix include Dylan Ross, Ryan Lambert, Jonathan Pintaro, Alex Carillo, Nate Lavender, and veteran Craig Kimbrel.
(Original Caption) Yankee catcher, Yogi Berra, center, hands out the balls to the top hurlers of the Yankees as the New York team opened it's spring training camp today for pitcher and catcher. Left to right, Ed 'Whitey' Ford, Bob Turley, Berra, Art Ditmar and Duke Mass. heavy rains shortened today's workout.
If you look at Baseball Reference WAR, pitcher Duke Maas was technically a below replacement level pitcher over his seven year MLB career. He finished with a -0.2 rWAR, -2.2 of which came with the Yankees. FanGraphs vastly differs, having him at an above par 6.1. The difference likely comes from having high ERAs over the course of his career, but having lower FIP numbers. However you look at it, Maas is hardly a household name in Yankees or baseball history.
That being said, Maas still has a place there, and is the answer to at least one notable trivia question. Today also would’ve been his 97th birthday, so let’s look back at his career.
Duane Frederick “Duke” Maas Born: January 31, 1929 (Utica, MI) Died: December 7, 1976 (Mount Clemens, MI) Yankee Tenure: 1958-61
Born in 1929 in Michigan, Duane Maas took on the nickname “Duke” as a child, as he disliked his given first name. He grew up working on his family’s farm and said that milking the farm’s cows helped strengthen his wrist. The farm work also kept him from playing any organized baseball until he made his high school’s team when he was a senior.
Maas apparently took to baseball quite quickly after that, as by the end of that season, his high school coach was writing to the Detroit Tigers to get him a tryout and the team eventually signed him before the 1949 season. While he got signed very quickly, it then took awhile for him to make his way to the majors.
Not including two seasons in 1951-52 where he served in the military during the Korean War, Maas played parts of five seasons in the minor leagues before he was called up. However, steady improvement over the course of those seasons eventually earned him a trip to Tigers spring training in 1955, and eventually got him a spot in Detroit’s rotation.
Maas ended up appearing in 18 games — making 16 starts — for the Tigers in 1955, going 5-6 with a 4.88 ERA. He ended up getting sent back to the minors, and was replaced on the big league roster by future Hall of Famer Jim Bunning. Maas got another chance in 1956, but struggled even more, going 0-7 with an ERA over six.
Another minor league stint allowed Maas to get back on track and he returned to the majors with Detroit in 1957. This time, he took his chance, putting up a 3.28 ERA in 219.1 innings. While he was still starting in the majority of his games (and went 10-14 in an era where that would’ve mattered a lot), the Tigers also gave him some bullpen work, and he recorded six saves as well.
Despite that, Maas found himself traded to the Kansas City Athletics after the season. He was part of a large 13-player deal that most notably sent Billy Martin to the Tigers. After getting off to a decent start in Kansas City in 1958, Maas ended up traded to the Yankees, as many A’s of that era did.
Following the trade, Maas was decent down the stretch, putting up a 3.82 ERA in 22 games, 13 of which were starts. He was the starter on September 14th against his former Athletics teammates. That day, he went 8.1 solid innings as the Yankees won and clinched the AL pennant. That year in the World Series, Maas was reportedly in line to start for the Yankees in Game 3, but ended up being needed to clean up in Game 2 after starter Bob Turley was knocked out after just 0.1 innings. Maas also struggled and ended up recording just one out as well, having allowed three runs. That ended up being his only appearance in the series, although the Yankees ended up winning it in seven games, giving Maas his only World Series ring.
Maas never quite reached those highs again. His 4.43 ERA in 1959 was below average, and then he dealt with arm injury issues in 1960. He did make an appearance out of the bullpen in Game 1 of the 1960 World Series, but the Yankees would lose that game and, famously, the series in seven.
After the 1960 season, Maas was left unprotected for the expansion draft for the Angels and new Senators teams. The Angels ended up selecting him with one of their picks. The Yankees weren’t thrilled at having to leave him unprotected though, and eventually reacquired him before he ever appeared in a game for the Angels.
However, he appeared in just one more game as a Yankee. After giving up two runs in just 0.1 innings in one April 1961 game, the Yankees sent Maas back to the minors. He continued to deal with arm injuries down there and struggled with the Triple-A Richmond Virginians. The Yankees cut bait with him and Mass gave up baseball and returned to his native Michigan. He lived and worked there until he passed away from congestive heart failure at the too young age of 47 in 1976.
Maas was clearly liked by his Yankees’ teammates. Despite recording just one out in all of the 1961 season, the Yankees still awarded him a share after they won that year’s World Series. He also got invited to a Old-Timers’ Day game after his playing career. He may not be a household name, but you don’t need to be to make an impact.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
San Francisco is in agreement with veteran infielder Luis Arráez on a one-year contract, a source confirmed to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic on Saturday.
The Giants are in agreement on a deal with Luis Arraez, per source. The three-time batting champ ends the search for a new second baseman. @jorgecastillo was on it.
The agreement between the Giants and Arráez is a one-year, $12 million contract, El Extra Base’s Daniel Álvarez-Montes reported Saturday, citing sources.
Free Agent INF Luis Arráez and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a one-year / $12MM deal, sources tell @ElExtrabase.
The three-time All-Star and batting champion will remain in the NL West and is expected to play 2B.
Arráez is a three-time MLB All-Star and already has familiarity with hitting at Oracle Park after spending the last two seasons with the San Diego Padres.
The 28-year-old widely is respected as one of MLB’s preeminent contact hitters, winning the batting title in three consecutive seasons from 2022 to 2024.
Arráez is a career .317 hitter, and the veteran infielder led the major leagues with 181 hits in 154 games for the Padres during the 2025 MLB season.
After breaking into the big leagues with the Minnesota Twins, Arráez spent parts of two seasons with the Miami Marlins before being traded to the Padres midway through the 2024 campaign.
Now he will stay on the West Coast and seek to revamp a Giants lineup that should benefit from Arráez’s ability to make consistent contact and get on base.
The World Baseball Classic will be without several of its top stars because they have been unable to acquire insurance coverage in case they are injured during the tournament.
No team has been hit harder than Puerto Rico, which couldn’t secure insurance coverage for several of its biggest names in Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Jose Berrios and Emilio Pagan. Puerto Rican officials are so frustrated that they are considered pulling out of the WBC, according to veteran Dominican reporter Hector Gomez, editor of Deportivo.
The Major League Baseball Players Association said that Lindor is unable to play in the WBC because of an elbow procedure early in the offseason, although he will be fine to participate in spring training for the New York Mets.
“Francisco is obviously disappointed that he was be unable to participate," the MLBPA said in a statement. “However, because of WBC insurance constraints, he is ineligible to play in WBC games. He was participate fully in all spring training activities."
Houston Astros All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve was also denied insurance and won’t be able to play for Venezuela in the WBC.
“Due to the criteria for WBC insurance coverage, Jose Altuve was looking forward to participating in the WBC and representing Venezuela, but unfortunately is not eligible to do so," the MLBPA said in a statement.
Venezuela will also be without Dodgers World Series hero Miguel Rojas, who announced on his Instagram account that he was also denied insurance.
“Today I am very sad,” he wrote in Spanish. “A true shame I can’t represent my country and put that flag on my chest.”
The inability to secure insurance kept three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw from participating in the WBC in 2023 because of his back issues. Now that he’s retired, there’s no need for insurance and he’ll be on this year’s USA team.
MLB requires all players on their 40-man roster to have an insurance policy that protects the team if a player sustains and injury during the WBC that requires them to miss games during the regular season. Most of the insurance issues are over a player’s prior injury history.
Players like Edwin Diaz and Altuve who were injured in the 2023 WBC were covered by insurance policies, and were still paid, but not by the team.
Diaz missed the entire 2023 season when he suffered a complete patellar tendon tear in his right knee celebrating Puerto Rico's win over the Dominican Republic. Altuve suffered a broken right thumb when he was hit by a pitch from Team USA pitcher Daniel Bard. He missed the first 43 games of the 2023 season.
There have been no publicly known cases of any player this year who were prevented from joining Team USA because of an inability to acquire insurance.
Yet, perhaps no one in the tournament is taking a bigger financial risk than two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers. He’s a free agent after the season and is expected to secure the largest contract by a pitcher in MLB history, perhaps exceeding $400 million.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - APRIL 09: Cincinnati Reds mascot Mr. Redlegs pumps up the crowd prior to a game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park on April 09, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Leo Balcazar landed in spot #13 in this year’s Community Prospect Rankings here at Red Reporter, doing so after putting a major injury that required surgery further into the rear-view mirror and once again looking more like his previous top-prospect self. Interestingly enough, I’ve added a player with a similar tale to the group for this round of voting.
Per usual, you can find the link to the Google Form for voting right here, yet it’s also embedded at the bottom if you want to read through first and not have to embark upon the painstaking process of scrolling all the way back up here. Both link and embed will be removed once voting closes so you can’t stuff the ballot post facto, however, so be advised that this paragraph will make zero sense if you stumble back across it a year from now.
Here’s how the list has materialized so far:
Sal Stewart
Alfredo Duno
Rhett Lowder
Hector Rodriguez
Edwin Arroyo
Cam Collier
Steele Hall
Tyson Lewis
Chase Petty
Arnaldo Lantigua
Jose Franco
Zach Maxwell
Leo Balcazar
A large list of talented names exists below for spot #14. Have at it with the votes!
Adolfo Sanchez, OF (19 years old)
2025 at a glance: .339/.474/.504 with 2 HR, 10 SB in 154 PA with DSL Reds (Dominican Summer League)
Pros: Left-handed hitter who profiles to have a plus hit tool and potentially plus power; arm good enough to play RF if he doesn’t stick in CF; shaved 20% off his K% year over year; plus runner
Cons: Questions whether he’s already physically matured to the point where projecting him to be much better exist
The Reds signed Sanchez for $2.7 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2024 and kept him there to ply his trade professionally in the Dominican Summer League. Things went quite poorly for him there during his age 17 season, and he subsequently stuck around there to repeat in 2025 – though this time, things went swimmingly.
He’ll undoubtedly play in the States in 2026, but the question now is just how quickly the Reds might try to move him up if he hits the ground running. At 6’3” and 200 lbs already, he’s not the kind of prospect where you say he’s X now, but when he gets bigger and stronger he’ll be Y in two years. In other words, if he looks the part now, he needs to be challenged immediately, and my hope is that he gets time with Daytona right off the bat.
He’s got a hit tool that comes with all-fields power, excellent patience at the plate, and I really do think his swing will continue to play. Still, it’s likely he ends up in a corner spot in the OF, which means the power’s going to need to continue to show up for him to project as an everyday regular – at least vs. RHP.
Aaron Watson, RHP (19 years old)
2025 at a glance: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2nd round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Trinity Christian Academy (FL); signed overslot $2.7 million bonus to forego commitment to the University of Florida
Pros: 6’5” frame; potential 60-grade slider; fastball that runs up to 96 mph from a three-quarter arm slot and already has a solid three-pitch mix with his change rotated in
Cons: Did not pitch professionally after being drafted, so he’s a complete unknown
One glimpse of Watson on the mound and you immediately think yep, I bet that guy can turn into a pretty dang good pitcher. He’s got an ideal frame to produce downhill offerings, and his fastball/slider mix is already something on which he can hang his hat.
However, command of all three of his pitches – specifically a very developmental changeup – will be what he needs to work on to begin to move quickly through the ranks. He possesses a good ‘feel’ at the moment in terms of what pitches to throw, which part of the zone to attack vs. which hitters, etc., but how well he can build in more deception with his offerings will be vital.
Carlos Jorge, OF (22 years old)
2025 at a glance: .251/.342/.355 with 6 HR, 40 SB in 469 PA with High-A Dayton Dragons (Midwest League)
Pros: Plus speed; former infielder moved to CF in 2023 and in 2025 looked like a natural there; plus speed; shaved 12.5% off K-rate from down 2024 season; 60-grade arm strength a weapon in CF
Cons: ISO declined for third straight year, this time precipitously; prone to extreme streakiness
If you threw out every other stop of Carlos Jorge’s pro career and just focused on the good ones, he’d already be ranked by now. The good parts of the best of his years have been quite tremendous, all told. He’s flashed great speed (40 steals in 2025), good pop for a small-ish CF (12 HR in 2023 and 2024; .483 SLG in the cavernous Florida State League in 2023), and the ability to play pretty elite CF defense (as recently as 2025).
However, he’s added some real clunkers in there, too. He hit just .220/.291/.394 with a K-rate over 31% at Dayton in 2024, and that came on the heels of hitting just .239/.277/.398 in 23 games once he reached Dayton at the end of 2023.
Maybe it’s just Dayton, where he was again in 2025 in a much better all-around year, even though his power dried up again. He’ll surely begin with AA Chattanooga of the Southern League in 2026, and at 22 (with his position in CF now settled) the former 2B might finally have a one-track shot to focus on his all around game in a new locale. After acing his move on defense, shaving off a ton of strikeouts, and bumping his walk rate back up over 11.1% (where it’s been for most of his career), perhaps 2026 will have a lot more in store for him.
Liberts Aponte, SS (18 years old)
2025 at a glance: .247/.368/.461 with 7 HR, 9 SB in 193 PA for DSL Rojos (Dominican Summer League)
Pros: 29/35 K/BB showed greatly improving strike zone awareness; already a plus defender at short where he projects to be excellent both with range and arm long-term
Cons: Still not viewed as a potential plus with the bat, though early returns are already better than original scouting reports; has a long way to go in terms of physically maturing
The Reds doled out $1.9 million to sign Aponte last January, and that marked the single largest contract they doled out in that particular international signing window. MLB Pipeline ranked him as the #18 player overall in that class, noting he was ‘one of the most skilled defenders in his class’ and ‘offers solid wheels’ with ‘magic in his hands’ while doling out a 65 grade on his fielding ability.
The rest, we knew, would take time, as he was just liked at 6’0” and 160 lbs, and that even felt like a slight exaggeration. To his credit, though, he mashed 7 homers as a 17 year old in DSL play while showing more power than anticipated, and if that aspect of his game grows to match what’s already known the Reds have found themselves a gem.
It will be interesting to see if the Reds push him up to Arizona Complex League play at all in 2026 or give him another year in the DSL seeing as he just turned 18 years old in November.
Luke Holman, RHP (23 years old)
2025 at a glance: ER, 2 H, 10 K, 4 BB in 9.0 IP with Daytona Tortugas (Class-A Florida State League
Pros: Two plus breaking pitches (slider, curve)
Cons: Not a ton of velocity on his fastball, which sits 91-94 mph
Luke Holman threw 109 pitches for LSU in a 6-2 loss to North Carolina on June 1st, 2024, a game in which he yielded 4 ER in 6.2 IP with 7 H, 11 K, and a lone walk. Since then, he’s thrown just 9.0 IP on a mound, total.
Holman, Cincinnati’s 2nd round pick in 2024, sat out the remainder of 2024 after being drafted, finishing his calendar year with 91.2 IP of 2.75 ERA ball that included a wonderful 0.98 WHIP and 127/33 K/BB. When his 2025 began in Daytona, all signs looked promising in his first pair of starts only for an elbow issue to subsequently sit him down and require Tommy John surgery, and we’ve not seen him since.
He sat 91-94 with his fastball (and touched 96) before, and has a pair of wicked breaking balls that he uses as his out pitches. If he returns to form in 2026 the way he ways before (or even better!), he still profiles as a back-end starter who should move quickly through Cincinnati’s system after dominating SEC play in stints first with Alabama and later with LSU.
Mason Morris, RHP (22 years old)
2025 at a glance: 9.00 ERA, 7/1 K/BB in 4.0 IP with Class-A Daytona Tortugas; 3.29 ERA, 78/31 K/BB in 54.2 IP with University of Mississippi
Pros: Fastball that can touch 100 mph; four-pitch mix
Cons: Lack of experience
Mason Morris landed with Ole Miss in 2023 primarily as a corner infielder, and the now 6’4” 225 lb righty only recently became a full-time pitcher prior to the Reds selecting him with their 3rd round pick in 2025. He’s got projection through the roof, though, with a 100 mph heater, plus cutter, and a pair of other breaking balls that look like they’ve also got the juice.
The question, though, is how Cincinnati plans to use him.
Morris only got a pair of outings as a pro after being drafted, and it appears the Reds have intentions on seeing if he can develop into a starting pitcher. That’s something he’s never really done before, however, and he’ll turn 23 years old in August of 2026. So, we’ll see how long of a leash the Reds give him with that avenue, since if they want to simply keep him in the bullpen there’s very little reason why he shouldn’t rocket through the minors and give them a legit relief arm at the big league level in short order.
Julian Aguiar, RHP (25 years old)
2025 at a glance: Did not pitch
Pros: Four-seam fastball that flirts with 100 mph; five-pitch pitcher with a pair of breaking balls and potentially plus change-up
Cons: Missed all of 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery; roughed up in 31.2 IP in MLB debut in 2024 (22 ER, 8 HR)
Julian Aguiar has risen quietly through the ranks of the Reds after being a 12th round pick out of Cypress College back in 2021, and his 2024 season saw him rocket from AA Chattanooga all the way through AAA and then to the Reds. Unfortunately, his short stint there ended with him requiring Tommy John surgery, and he missed all of 2025 while recovering.
He’s got plus potential with at least three pitches, and has another two that are still passable to keep hitters off-keel. His 360/93 career K/BB in 346.1 IP across the minors shows he’s got good strikeout stuff and a passable ability to keep hitters from free passes, and if his command returns as quickly as his velocity does post-surgery he should be in the mix to get big league batters out in some role as early as Opening Day. My best guess, though, is that he’ll be slated for AAA Louisville’s rotation to re-establish himself as a starter first, and he won’t actually turn 25 until June.
