Category: MLB

Good morning, LSB.

Evan Grant says “Not so fast, my friend” and write that Sebastian Walcott could still maybe possibly see the field in 2026.

Grant also writes about the homecoming of Jordan Montgomery in what could turn into a Rangers Hallmark movie.

Kennedi Landry also writes about Montgomery’s return and how happy he is to be back in Texas.

Elsewhere Grant writes about a Rangers waiver claim catcher making a big impact with his “Austin Hedges personality.”

Wyatt Langford will not be in the World Baseball Classic.

FanGraphs has updated its 2026 MLB draft rankings.

And finally, Doug Melvin is the latest guest on the new episode of Evan Grant’s SportsDay podcast.

That’s all for this morning. Have a great weekend!

Nick Castellanos, whose career appeared to be in some jeopardy after revelations regarding his split with the Philadelphia Phillies emerged, will join the San Diego Padres, the New York Post first reported.

Castellanos, 33, is owed $20 million in the final year of his five-year, $100 million contract. But the Phillies will pay all but the pro-rated minimum salary after they released him.

The two-time All-Star fell out of favor in Philadelphia as his four years there progressed, coming to a head in 2025. The low point: His one-game benching after confronting manager Rob Thomson when he was removed from a game in Miami.

Shortly after his release, Castellanos revealed in a lengty handwritten note posted to social media that he'd brought a beer into the dugout. Teammates interceded and Phillies special assistant Howie Kendrick took the bottle from Castellanos.

His handwritten screed was intended to get ahead of a story in The Athletic detailing that incident and the growing rift between player and team.

Castellanos had a league average 100 adjusted OPS in his four seasons, and reached an apex there in 2023, when he made the All-Star team and hit four home runs in the Phillies' NLDS vanquishing of Atlanta.

In San Diego, he will fold into an odd mix of outfield/first base/DH types, presuming he makes the team. The club recently signed Miguel Andujar and also has lefty-swinging Gavin Sheets penciled in to take significant DH at-bats.

If nothing else, Castellanos provides more quality outfield depth behind the starting trio of Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill and Ramon Laureano.

The Mets have plenty of intriguing non-roster invites in camp this season.

There are some exciting young prospects like Carson Benge and Ryan Lambert trying to earn their opportunity, and then you also have veterans such as Craig Kimbrel, who is trying to find his way back to the big-league level. 

Kimbrel, of course, joined the club on a minor league deal just two weeks ago. 

It remains to be seen whether or not the 37-year-old closer has anything left in the tank, but he is coming off an awfully encouraging season in both the majors and minors. 

Because of that and his past experience, the Mets decided to take a chance. 

“We’re excited to have Craig,” David Stearns said this week. “This is someone who has an incredible amount of experience and success pitching in the backend of bullpens -- we saw him have success in Triple-A and the majors towards the end of last year.

“He certainly looks like he has the ability to get major league hitters out, and we value the wisdom he brings -- having someone like that in camp and potentially on our team, it made a lot of sense to give it a look and give him a chance.”

Kimbrel posted a 3.00 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts in 39.0 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last season. 

He also put together a scoreless frame in his lone big-league appearance during his brief stint back with the Braves, and allowed just four runs over 13 outings for the Houston Astros down the stretch. 

If he can find that same success during Grapefruit League play, perhaps he’ll be able to carve out a role for himself in the Mets’ bullpen to start the season. 

Kimbrel certainly feels he has a little something left in that right arm of his. 

“I want to go out there and compete and be part of that,” he told MLB.com's Anthony Dicomo. “I’m getting excited just talking about it -- the fact that I still want to do that, there’s no reason for me to be at home watching the game.”

According to Dicomo, Kimbrel added a changeup to his arsenal last year, which piqued the interest of Mets officials. 

Spring training has some definite patterns, particularly when watching from afar. First, there’s the huge enthusiasm for a few days as pitchers and catchers report and the sound of baseballs popping into gloves and off of bats rings around the Tigers’ Lakeland complex. Then there’s first full squad workout day, which takes place on Sunday for the Tigers. Then the anticipation of the first Grapefruit League games. Typically, what follows is a growing mixture of annoyance and impatience as many games aren’t televised and March arrives and the proceedings start to drag. Injuries occur, and typically by mid-March everyone is just desperate to get the show on the road as the starting pitchers start to get fully stretched out for the beginning of the regular season.

This season, we’ll get some big events to break things up at least. The World Baseball Classic will have pool play underway from March 3 to March 11. Those early games are fun, but it’s not until the quarterfinals start on March 13 that full attention will start being paid. From that point until the championship game on March 17, the WBC will take center stage, and the last two editions have been an absolute blast. We’re all looking forward to that, if only to break up the monotony of the middle period of spring camp.

On Friday, March 20, the final week of camp will kick off with the Tigers-Pirates matchup in the Spring Breakout series. The Tigers prospects will square off against the Pirates farm system in what has become a really fun event now entering year three. Tigers shortstop prospect Bryce Rainer announced his presence in the 2025 edition, drilling a couple of high velocity line drives in the first at-bats we’d seen from him since the Tigers took him with their first round pick of the 2024 draft.

So the calendar is pretty full, with more to look forward to than the usual Grapefruit League action. For once, we might actually be in danger of losing sight of the key questions that need answers in spring camp for the Tigers. There will be all kinds of smaller issues to keep an eye on. How is Riley Greene moving in the outfield after losing a step and appearing pretty banged up at times in 2025? How is 43-year-old Justin Verlander moving and throwing in camp? Is Matt Vierling finally past the shoulder issues that cost him pretty much all of the 2025 season?

We can go on and on, but the overall theme circles around health. We all know a big spring at the plate or on the mound doesn’t necessarily mean anything, but a few players will get us excited, while a few will look like they’re struggling.

Beyond the ever present injury risk, there are five big issues on the table all throughout camp to keep tabs on.

Can Parker Meadows turn things around?

The status of center fielder Parker Meadows is obviously a crucial point of concern. When he’s healthy and making good contact, he’s one of the most dynamic outfielders in the game. Gifted with power and speed, and high end defensive ability, the 26-year-old center fielder doesn’t even need to be that good a pure hitter to be a very valuable player for the Tigers this year. Still, he’s been incredibly streaky so far in his major league career, with some abysmal slumps mixed in, and the strange nerve injury in his right biceps suffered on the first throw he made in Grapefruit League action last spring set him way back and he never got right once he was back on the field full-time.

Through 656 plate appearances, basically one full season spread out over parts of three seasons from 2023-2025, Meadows has 16 home runs, a 95 wRC+, and a slashline of .232/.308/.386. As long as he can continue to give the Tigers that much, he’ll be in center field most days as a 3-4 WAR player because his defensive ability is so valuable. But with his raw power and speed, we’d love to see more.

Without Meadows, this is a signficantly worse team defensively, and they don’t really have any great options to replace him until top outfield prospect Max Clark is ready, presumably later on this summer. A good, healthy camp for Meadows would go along way to boosting confidence in the position player group to start the season.

How does Colt Keith look at third base?

Colt Keith has shown himself to be a productive hitter through his first two seasons in the league, but certainly nothing special. He put up above average numbers in his second year, but basically in a strong side platoon role where he rarely faced left-handed pitchers. He also hasn’t really found a steady position. He broke in as a second baseman, but Gleyber Torres has taken that position for 2025-2026. Keith was told to work at first base more last offseason, but Spencer Torkelson finally put together a more consistent season, leaving Keith with only third base and some DH days as options for playing time.

Now 24 years old, still younger than many players who will debut this season, but now a third year player, it’s time for Keith to seize the day. His work at third base last year left plenty of room to be desired, but perhaps finally knowing where to focus his offseason work will help him settle in at third base, the position he was drafted at out of high school. We’ll be looking for greater comfort and fluidity in handling pop-ups on the other side of the infield, and how his arm looks making those longer throws.

It would also be nice to see a little more power from him at the plate this year.

Which of the Tigers depth starters will move to the bullpen?

The signings of Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander, along with season-ending shoulder surgery to Reese Olson, shuffled the deck for the Tigers rotation already. At the same time, nothing has changed for their depth options. Troy Melton, Drew Anderson, Keider Montero, Sawyer Gipson-Long, and a finally healthy Ty Madden will all be trying to find their role in spring camp. Gipson-Long’s quest to return from 2024 Tommy John surgery is already setback by an oblique strain, illustrating the attrition that usually occurs in February/March as pitchers start ramping up their workload.

The core of the Tigers’ bullpen is currently Will Vest, Kenley Jansen, Kyle Finnegan, Tyler Holton, and Brant Hurter. So there are already three jobs available from the start. Probably one or two at most will go to a dedicated relief only option, and the Tigers have collected a big pool of relievers on minor league deals to compete for those spots. But the starters who don’t end up in the rotation will play a big role there as well. Who ends up back in Toledo to stay stretched out as reserves for the rotation? Who slots in best as a relief option?

Drew Anderson is here on a major league deal, so if everyone is healthy, he’s almost certainly starting the season in the pen. Melton is the best arm among the group, but hasn’t quite mastered his splitter as a third pitch yet. The Tigers won’t want to give up on him long-term as a starter, but he may fit best in the bullpen from the start. He has all his options remaining, while Montero has just one left and showed out somewhat in saving the Tigers’ bacon last fall and in the postseason when options were running scarce. Gipson-Long and Madden both have options remaining as well, but after the injuries they’ve suffered, stretching out in Toledo might be best for both until they find their footing and the Tigers have a better idea of their long-term utility to the club.

However it shakes out, pitching depth is hugely important, so this group will be worth tracking throughout spring camp.

Can Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark make a big impression?

The most fun part of this spring camp is the fact that the Tigers have the best hitting prospect in baseball in camp, along with the consensus best outfield prospect in the game. McGonigle and Clark are good friends at this point, drafted in the same year and moving up through the minor leagues together along with fellow top 100 prospect, C/1B Josue Briceño. None of the group has spent much time at the Double-A level yet, and the Tigers probably would like to see them both exposed to the ABS challenge system and a more experienced brand of pitching at the Triple-A level before they arrive. Still, they’re not far away, particularly McGonigle, who looks like he could adapt to major league pitching with only a month or two of experience.

Clark is waiting in the wings to take over in center field later this year should Meadows struggle. Ideally, Meadows does fine and Kerry Carpenter spend a lot more time in the DH role while Clark provides plus defense in the corners, particularly in right field where his strong, accurate arm would play nicely.

The big question in camp for this pair is where McGonigle fits into the roster. A shortstop by trade, who has repeatedly said he’s doing everything possible to improve and stick there, his modest arm strength and occasional difficulty making plays to his right side means he’s got to convince the Tigers to play him there. McGonigle played some third base in the Arizona Fall League, and is taking balls at both positions so far this spring. We’ll see if the 21-year-old’s offseason work to improve his footwork and release pays dividends, both in terms of how he looks in both positions, and where the Tigers seem to be emphasizing his role in Grapefruit League action.

The fun part, is going to watch McGonigle facing major league pitching a lot more in camp than he did last year. The most precocious young hitter the Tigers’ farm system has boasted since at least the 70’s, he’s still pretty young and has some things to learn. Still a monster camp is going to have A.J. Hinch begging the front office to take him north. The dynamic duo have some boxes to check yet, and scrutiny will be fierce this time around, but they’re going to be a lot of fun to watch this spring.

Battle for the final roster spot

While not the most exciting feature of spring training, the fight for the last spots on the bench is always a crucial component of spring camp. Things often get a bit overwrought, as who lands the final spots is often fiercely debated, only to change mere weeks into the regular season anyway. Still, with much of the roster pretty well set for now, it’s only natural for the roster battles to get a lot of attention.

Right now, the Tigers have a group of 10 players who are pretty well locked in.

Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, Parker Meadows, Spencer Torkelson, Gleyber Torres, Javier Báez, Zach McKinstry, Colt Keith, Dillon Dingler, Jake Rogers.

That leaves three more spots up for competition. Sure, a really bad camp from Meadows or even Keith could force the Tigers’ hand, but it would have to go pretty badly to alter that top 10.

Wenceel Pérez and Matt Vierling will both be fighting for time in the outfield, with Vierling probably still getting some work at third base as a possible pinch-hit alternative at the position for Keith. Jahmai Jones was the Tigers lefty masher of choice last season and should have an inside track to that role once again.

There’s your most likely starting 13 on the active roster. That doesn’t mean they’re locks, however.

Minor league deals brought Austin Slater and Corey Julks in as right-handed hitting outfielders to try and compete for one of those spots. Tigers farmhand Trei Cruz is a versatile switch-hitter who can play anywhere, including center field and shortstop in a pinch. Infielders Trey Sweeney and Jace Jace will be trying to position themselves to find a role again after failing at the major league level in their first looks. Finally, infield prospects Hao-Yu Lee and Max Anderson are currently at the Triple-A level, trying to crack the roster at either second or third base.

It may take an injury to really open a spot for any of that group, but we’ll have to see how the next six weeks plays out. A big camp for someone, and a real struggle for one of the likely starting 13, could certainly change the equation.

Catcher Luis Campusano has been in the San Diego Padres system long enough to be out of options. He has to make the roster out of Spring Training if he wants to remain in San Diego. Each of the past two managers, Bob Melvin and Mike Shildt, seem to have soured on Campusano during their time with the Padres. Under new manager Craig Stammen, Campusano gets his best opportunity to succeed at the MLB level. The question is simply, Will he take advantage of the opportunity, or will he be put on waivers for all of MLB to claim? Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball says she is hoping Campusano takes his last best chance and runs with it.

Padres News:

• Freddy Fermin came to the Padres at the 2025 deadline. He had to learn the pitching staff on the fly as the team engaged in a pennant and postseason race in the final weeks of the season. Fermin enters the 2026 season as the top backstop on the Padres roster and has had all of season to work with and get to know his pitchers. Hopes are high for Fermin and what he can do in his first full season as a starting catcher at the big-league level.
• Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that most of the San Diego roster is in camp. The first weeks are critical to build chemistry between teammates before the players competing in the World Baseball Classic must leave to report to their respective countries for the tournament.
• The top three spots in the San Diego rotation are set with personnel, but when they are deployed is completely unknown to anyone but Stammen at this point. The ability to mix and match Michael King, Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove will be key in keeping arms healthy and getting players rest as the season progresses. Randy Vasquez is expected to take the No.4 spot, but the fifth and final spot in the rotation is wide open.

Baseball News:

• Zac Gallen will return to Arizona and re-join the Diamondbacks after signing a one-year contract with his former team Tuesday. Gallen will make $22.025 million for the 2026 season.
• The Toronto Blues Jays and the Houston Astros lined up on a trade that sent Jesus Sanchez to the Astros and Joey Loperfido.
• The Milwaukee Brewers and infielder Luis Rengifo agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract.

Edwin Diaz’s defection to the Dodgers still isn’t quite adding up for Steve Cohen.

The Mets’ owner was asked during an interview with longtime radio voice Howie Rose about the star closer bolting for the two-time defending World Series champions in free agency this winter after seven years in Queens. 

Cohen still seemed to be searching for an answer for how things worked out, as Diaz signed a three-year, $69 million contract with Los Angeles.

“I did find that one perplexing,” Cohen said.

“I’m not sure exactly how Edwin arrived at that decision. Obviously, it’s a personal decision on his part and I thought we made a pretty respectable bid.”

The Mets offered the 31-year-old Diaz $3 million less but reportedly had “wiggle room” to go higher.

The three-time All-Star said during his introductory press conference with the Dodgers that his decision wasn’t about the money. 

“It wasn’t easy. I spent seven years in New York — they treated me great,” Diaz said. “I chose the Dodgers because they’re a winning organization. I’m looking to win, and I think they have everything to win, so picking the Dodgers was pretty easy.”

Diaz and the Mets reached the postseason just twice during his seven years there, including losing to the Dodgers in six games in the 2024 NLCS.

The Mets were prepared if things did not go their way with Diaz, having already signed closer Devin Williams to a three-year, $51 million pact.

Cohen praised David Stearns, his president of baseball operations, for his forward thinking.

“When it was getting hot and heavy when this was coming down,” Cohen said, “I felt pretty good about the fact that we had signed Devin Williams. I described it to David, that was pretty clever because it was a really good hedge in case it was an unfavorable outcome with Edwin.”

Diaz was among the best closers in Mets history and was coming off a season with a 1.63 ERA and 28 saves, even as the team collapsed and missed the playoffs by one win.

His departure was part of an overhaul of the team’s roster after that disappointing finish.

Stearns did not re-sign Diaz or Pete Alonso and traded away Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil.

Cohen, like most Mets fans fell some of the uneasiness of breaking up the core of the franchise.

“I felt it too, by the way,” Cohen said. “The players that left were the players that I started with in my ownership, Day 1. And so I had developed pretty close relationships with some of these players. From a personal standpoint, I really felt it. First time I’ve ever been through something like that. That creates anxiety when people leave.”

Meet the Mets

Come on, Superman, say your stupid line: Francisco Alvarez is in the best shape of his life as spring training begins.

Christian Scott is very confident as he makes his return from Tommy John surgery.

Unlike past springs, Jonah Tong is now firmly in the spotlight for the Mets.

Steve Cohen spoke to Howie Rose about the various departures the Mets experienced this offseason and the outlook on the 2026 squad.

As we inch closer to the start of baseball, here is another roster projection for the 2026 opening day Mets.

Around the National League East

Several people with the Phillies offered their thoughts about Nick Castellanos’s acrimonious departure from the organization.

Spring training camp has begun, yet the Braves are still seeking to add a playoff-caliber starting pitcher.

To the surprise of no one, Sandy Alcántara will be taking the mound for the Marlins on opening day.

The Nationals’ spring training stadium has leaped into the 21st century.

Around Major League Baseball

One of the biggest name free agents remaining on the market is now off the board, as Zac Gallen is returning to the Diamondbacks on a one-year deal.

Milwaukee has filled an infield hole on their roster by signing Luis Rengifo to a one-year deal.

The Blue Jays and Astros have swung a trade, with Jesús Sánchez heading to Toronto and Houston receiving Joey Loperfido in return.

Shelby Miller will likely miss the entire 2026 season, but the Cubs are signing him to a two-year deal to secure his place on their 2027 squad.

Gerrit Cole is feeling good as he seeks to make his return to the mound this season following last year’s elbow surgery.

Alex Vesia offered an emotional statement to the media in response to his missing the World Series last October due to the death of his infant child.

Which teams had the biggest WAR improvements over the course of the offseason?

We still have a ways to go until opening day, but the college baseball season has begun with a splash, i.e. three grand slams from one player.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

We asked the community to provide their prediction for the 2026 NL East standings.

Brian Salvatore examined Christian Arroyo, one of many depth options the Mets have with them in spring training.

This Date in Mets History

Mets legends José Lima (RIP) and Liván Hernández were signed on this day in 2006 and 2009, respectively.

Here's what happened in Mets Land during spring training workouts on Friday, in case you missed it...

• Jonah Tongis looking forward to developing his secondary pitches and growing mentally as a first-time big league camper
• The Mets are excited about the defensive versatility and untapped potential from MJ Melendez, who recently signed a one-year deal 
• While the club is still preparing for Grapefruit League action, it's not too early to predict what the Opening Day roster might look like
• On the latest episode of The Mets Pod, Connor and Joe reacted to Francisco Lindor's hand injury and Juan Soto's position change
• WATCH:Bo Bichette’s move to third base is in full swing for Mets

• WATCH: Mets manager Carlos Mendoza on starting rotation, development of Jonah Tong
• WATCH:Mets starter Jonah Tong reveals what he’s working on in live BP sessions

As you may know, MLB will use an automated ball-strike system in nearly all games this season. Teams only get two of these in the first nine innings of a game, which isn’t nearly enough. If an umpire misses less than five ball-strike calls in a game, it’s a very good effort. So they probably have a strategy for using their challenges. They will need one to use it effectively. We already know how Chris Sale feels on the subject. He’s borrowing a page from a Braves pitcher from yesteryear.

I feel that emotion and it may play into what the Braves want to do. He’s going to (A) let the catcher to decide on a close call and (B) bank those calls for later in the game. What I think you want to avoid from a pitching standpoint is having a third strike being called a ball and having it immediately hurt you. Did the Braves benefit from this situation last year? Yes, twice it happened where the Braves hit a home run. This is Drake Baldwin on the Fourth of July.

Then later:

The second was Matt Olson on September 26. Statcast had this a ball, but it didn’t appear egregious.

And on the next pitch:

The Braves had 88 third strikes called a ball. They yielded two home runs. If you think you have the hitter struck out, that would be a good time to ask. 88 times over the course of a year would be 27% of your challenges. But that’s if you spot every error. In reality, your odds of overturning may be closer to a coin flip. So that’s over half your challenges. I would run the query the other way (Braves pitching versus opponent hitting) but it’s a tougher task. That is, until I can quit being lazy and fully upgrade my data collection.

Notice here that we’re not considering the game’s leverage here. In a close game late, a challenged third strike feels like a given. But trying to grab an out, whenever you can get, it seems like a good idea too. What we’re also not doing is considering how the Braves use innings and score instead of leverage when it comes to bullpen selection, and that might extend to this as well.

There’s lots more to consider. But there’s 400 of my words. So how will the Braves employ ABS this season? I yield back the balance of my digital ink to the commentariat.

Let’s assume for a second that Nick Castellanos finds gainful employment this offseason. It’s a likely supposition since he was still an above average hitter by wRC+ not long ago and likely would be unburdened of the yoke of outfield defense by whatever team decides to sign him. Wherever he goes, he will ultimately be compared to the player that is replacing him in Adolis Garcia. Together, the Phillies are spending ~$30 million on that position this year, paying one to stay and one to go away.

They will be linked all season, so let’s put our guesstimation hats on. Who will have the better season by WAR: Castellanos or Garcia? It’s going to be something worth following all year, from up close and from afar, to see if the money spent was done so wisely.

With Opening Day only 40 days away, we are winding down on what has been a busy Orioles offseason. Punctuated by the big-money signing of slugger Pete Alonso, the 2026 offseason has seen the O’s bring in Alonso, Ryan Helsley, Chriss Bassit, Zach Eflin and Leody Taveras through free agency, while trading for Taylor Ward, Shane Baz, Andrew Kittredge and Blaze Alexander. Mike Elias & Co. haven’t always met Birdland’s hopes and expectations with these moves, but no one can say they haven’t been busy.

The front office pulling the trigger on the Ward and Baz trades may signal an increased willingness to be aggressive in the trade market. Previously, Elias had been accused of clutching too tightly to the prospects he drafted/acquired, instead preferring to make trades using low-level prospects for players with lower upside. Even the hallmark acquisition of his tenure in Baltimore, the trade for Corbin Burnes, cost relatively little in terms of prospects.

The recent trades certainly paint a picture of a bolder, more “win-now” Mike Elias. Acquiring Ward came at the expense of starter Grayson Rodriguez, formerly the top pitching prospect in all of baseball and the presumptive future ace of the Orioles, who missed all of 2025 with shoulder and elbow injuries. The trade for Baz saw the O’s send away four Top 30 prospects, including two of Elias’ top four picks from the most recent draft.

Should the Orioles dip back into the trade market to bridge the gap between “playoff hopeful” and “true contender,” determining who is off limits in trade talks in now harder than before. Gunnar Henderson, as the Orioles’ best player and Top 20 player in all of baseball, surely isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Samuel Basallo and his $67M contract would also undoubtedly be on the no-trade list. The same goes for the recently-signed Alonso.

But are there truly any other no-brainer, must-be-included candidates for an Orioles’ no-trade list? A year ago, it would have been unfathomable to consider trading Adley Rutschman. However, after his battles with injuries over the last 18 months, and the major financial commitment to Basallo, is that still the case? Infielders Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday have both shown flashes of All-Star potential. And yet, with Westburg’s own mounting injury concerns and Holliday’s general inconsistency, it’s also hard to label them truly untouchable.

In the outfield, Colton Cowser and Dylan Beavers are the players with the most long-term upside, but is their potential high enough to keep them far away from the trade block? And while I’d personally love to see Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers spend the rest of their careers in Baltimore, the front office may not be so steadfast in their admiration for the Orioles top two pitchers.

So we turn it over to Camden Chat’s best would-be GMs. Who are the Orioles you would never trade, no matter what the offer was?

Baseball is finally back as Spring Training has just begun this week and teams are reporting in to lay the groundwork for the upcoming season. In a lot of ways this is a new look Pittsburgh Pirates team on many levels. Even with the new look however I fear there may be some factors that would cause fans to tune out long before the All-Star break.

Poor team defense hampering the pitching rotation

The heart and soul of the Pirates is the pitching staff. The rotation of Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft and Jared Jones (eventually) is going to be what elevates this team in the win department. Pittsburgh’s offense was putrid last year, but luckily the organization has added plenty of pieces to help their lineup and offer some more run support for their pitching core.

The downside of adding to this offense is that the Pirates were not able to address any major defensive concerns. Since the Ke’Bryan Hayes trade there has not been another third baseman acquired by the club, leaving that spot to likely be played by Jared Triolo. However, there’s a chance that Triolo will have to play shortstop if phenom Konnor Griffin is not deemed ready for the majors following Spring Training, leaving a question mark at third if that’s the case. The outfield needed some depth added and the Pirates just didn’t sign anyone that moves the needle defensively.

Last season the great pitching rotation that the Pirates had was hampered by the lack of offensive output, and regularly lost close games because of the lack of runs. It will be a disaster if all the Pirates did this offseason is flip the equation on its head and causes the pitching staff to again be hampered by a lineup that doesn’t make the required plays to keep opposing runs in check. ESPN projected that the Pirates will win 80 games in 2026, citing that the team defense will hold this club back from reaching its full potential.

A lack of Konnor Griffin

An argument could be made that Konnor Griffin is the most exciting prospect for the Pirates since Barry Bonds. In his lone season of professional baseball he absolutely crushed it in the minor leagues and at just 19-years-old is in a position to be on Pittsburgh’s opening day roster.

Now if Griffin is not a part of the Pirates immediately following Spring Training, it’s not the end of the world. The organization notably did not elevate Paul Skenes past triple-a until May 11 his rookie year. Sometimes it’s just about seeing how a player adapts to the next level and giving them time to adjust. However, if the Pirates give Griffin the Bubba Chandler treatment I will stop tuning in.

Chandler was infamously not called up until August 22 last season. The top pitching prospect in baseball was stuck in triple-a for most of the year and when he was called up the Pirates were already way out of the playoff race and were obviously not in a position to compete. I understand the idea of maintaining team control as long as possible and earning that extra year of control over a player’s career, but when there is a generational star sulking in the minor leagues it shows that the organization is not serious about winning. Griffin is the real deal, and if he’s not on the Pirates before June 1 I’ll have lost my patience.

Same old same old

For the first time in franchise history, the Pirates are projected to have a payroll over $100 million with FanGraphs projected the team to have a payroll of $105 million. This still puts the team well in the bottom half of the league of total payroll. While the teams with the highest payroll doesn’t always win the World Series, it does at the very least show that the organizations at the top are willing to do whatever it takes to win.

Because of the questionable team culture from previous seasons, the Pirates missed out on marquee free agents like Kyle Schwarber and Eugenio Suarez. Even if the Pirates were willing to pay top dollar, they weren’t going to get top dollar talent because of the preconceived notions surrounding ownership. The same owner that traded away Andrew McCutchen in 2018. The same owner that did not build upon the core of the team that brought the Pirates back to the postseason after 20 straight losing seasons. The same owner that covered up Roberto Clemente’s number with a drink ad. The one constant in this recent history of the Pirates is Bob Nutting, who will be public enemy number one as long as he sits atop his ivory tower as the owner of Pittsburgh’s ball club.

I want to believe in this new era of Pirates’ baseball with Don Kelly at the helm, but having a general manager as average as Ben Cherington and an owner like Nutting makes me fear that nothing has really changed. Groundhog Day just passed, and there’s a real possibility that we will witness the same Pirates’s season that we’ve seen year after year now since the last postseason appearance 2015. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result. I’m already insane enough during the Steelers’ season, and I refuse to be driven insane during the Pirates’ season too.

What do yinz think? Will there be anything that will make you check out from watching the Pirates early on or will you be around for the full 162 games? Let us know in the comments!

Alex Vesia threw a bullpen session as did many other Dodgers pitchers on the first official day of workouts at Camelback Ranch in Arizona. Then the veteran left-hander spoke to reporters en masse for the first time since the death of his newborn daughter Sterling in October.

Vesia read a prepared statement for six minutes on Friday, the transcript of which you can read here from Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic and can watch the video here courtesy of SportsNet LA.

“I was not prepared to not bring my baby girl home, but we’re carrying her with us every day,” Vesia said Friday. “It’s been hard, but we’re doing okay.”

“I know his teammates are excited to have him back,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Friday. “Our hearts went out to him and Kayla. You don’t wish that on anyone.”

More on Vesia from Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register and from Jack Harris of The California Post.

Max Muncy’s contract extension signed Thursday has him under contract with the Dodgers through his age-36 season and, if the 2028 club option is exercised, at age 37 as well. He talked to Rowan Kavner at Fox Sports on Friday about staying in Los Angeles.

“I like to be loyal and my relationships mean a lot. I’ve created such a relationship with the staff, the front office, the coaches, the medical and training staff, the clubhouse guys,” Muncy said. I just don’t want to create that somewhere else. Being here for my entire career at this point would mean the world to me, and this gives me the chance to do that.“

One day after getting traded to the Twins, Anthony Banda penned a thank you to Los Angeles on Instagram for his two years in the Dodgers, thanking the city, his teammates, coaches, and fans.

“The last two seasons changed my career,” Banda wrote. “I’ll always be grateful for my time in LA. This chapter meant a lot to me.”

The Tulsa Drillers, the Dodgers’ Double-A affiliate, unveiled a new alternate uniform for this season, with an oil derrick on the cap and honoring Route 66 on the jersey. From the press release: “A reflection of the infamous Route 66 neons, the blue outline imitates the familiar glow.”

We all know Jose Ramirez is the greatest of all-time – but who is your next favorite player on the Guardians?

This is not a question asking you who is next BEST. But, instead, whom does your heart prefer? Who do you like rooting for? Which player matches your personal preferences?

We will have another question about Jose in specific, but for this time, let us know who is your guy outside of Jose.

Let us know why you like that player and help us enjoy their presence on our favorite team in the comments below.

Good morning baseball fans!

As we approach Spring Training and the beginning of the season, we’re going to be doing some questions for y’all about your thoughts about the San Francisco Giants and baseball in general!

Today’s question: What are your 2026 predictions that you will stand by all season?

I am not great at making predictions. My predictions tend to be more about what I want to see, not necessarily what I think will actually happen. So I’ll try to make one of each.

In terms of what I would like to see happen this season, I predict Jung Hoo Lee will have an absolutely standout season and make the All Star team. I don’t know if that will actually happen, but it is the prediction I would like to see happen so I’m going with it.

In terms of what I think is likely to happen, I’m predicting that the team will have a below .500 season. I think the fact that they ended last year at exactly .500 was mostly due to having an unexpectedly strong start to the year that fizzled out before the All Star break. I don’t know that that will repeat, and I don’t think this team is meaningfully better than the 2025 team, so I think even .500 might be out of reach. But I hope to be wrong!

What are your 2026 prediction that you will stand by all season?