Category: MLB

Free of charge for the discerning reader.Babe Didrikson* makes her pitch, and other stories. Important events in world history.

Today in baseball history:

• 1888 – Albert Spalding announces a baseball tour to Australia next winter with his Chicago team and a squad of National League All-Stars.
• 1918 – Although the major leagues optimistically keep the schedules at 154 games, the owners agree to halve the spring training time in an attempt to save money with the United States now engaged in World War I, as the St. Louis Cardinals open their camp at Hot Springs, Arkansas. In fact, the season’s last month will never be played, with the World Series starting at the beginning of September.
• 1934 – Mildred Didrikson* (also known as Babe Zaharias), the renowned all-around female athlete, pitches the 1st inning for the Philadelphia Athletics in a spring training exhibition game against the Brooklyn Dodgers. She gives up one walk but no hits. Two days later she pitches again, this time one inning for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Boston Red Sox. Didrickson is less successful the second time, giving up four hits and three runs. Bill Hallahan relieves her, as she does not have an at bat in either game. She will also play several games for the House of David this season. Didrickson is the second female to play exhibitions with a major league team. Previously, first baseman Lizzie Murphy played for an American League All-Star team on August 14, 1922. 
• 1953 – U.S. Senator Edwin C. Johnson offers a bill to give clubs the sole right to ban radio-TV broadcasts of major league games in their own territory. The antitrust division of the Justice Department outlawed this practice in 1949. Johnson believes that it started the decline of baseball in small towns and cities throughout the country. His bill aims to restore the equity between large communities and the small areas.
• 1954 – The Chicago Cubs send shortstop Roy Smalley to the Milwaukee Braves for pitcher Dave Cole, opening up the shortstop job for Ernie Banks.
• 1955 – While the Chicago Cubs are in Arizona beating their Los Angeles farm team, 7-0, major league baseball is played at Chicago’s Wrigley Field. In a rematch of last year’s World Series, the New York Giants beat the Cleveland Indians again, 7-3. Willie Mays and Dusty Rhodes hit home runs for New York, while Ralph Kiner’s ninth-inning homer is the first score for Cleveland. A crowd of 24,434 is on hand.
• 1976 – Leo Durocher, hired to manage the Yokohama Taiyo Whales (Japanese League), is sick with hepatitis and asks for a five-week delay in reporting. The Lip receives a telegram from the Whales stating: “Since the championship starts in twenty days, it’s better if you stay home and take care of yourself for the remainder of the season.“
• 2000 – The new World Umpires Association agrees to consolidate all umpires as part of an interim agreement with the commissioner’s office. The umpires will merge into a single unit reporting directly to Major League Baseball this season, after being employed by either the National League or the American League since the latter’s creation in 1901.
• 2019 – The Major League season opens at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, with the A’s hosting the Mariners in the first game of a two-game series. While most of the early attention is directed at 45-year-old Ichiro Suzuki, who starts in right field for Seattle, it’s the sluggers who define the game as the Mariners prevail, 9-7. Stephen Piscotty, Khris Davis and Matt Chapman all homer for Oakland, but the M’s reply with long balls by Domingo Santana — a grand slam — and Tim Beckham. Marco Gonzales pitches six innings for the win.

Cubs Birthdays:Emil Geiss, Johnny Butler, Clyde Shoun, Jim Willis, George Altman, Manny Alexander. Also notable: Joe McGinnity HOF.

Today in history:

• 1345 – Conjunction of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, thought by scholars at the University of Paris to be the “cause of the plague epidemic” known as the Black Death. Actual cause was the bacterium yersinia pestis spread by fleas, rats and other animals.
• 1616 – Walter Raleigh released from Tower of London to seek gold in Guyana.
• 1703 – Akō incident: 46 of the 47 surviving Ronin commit seppuku (ritual suicide) as recompense for avenging their master’s death in Edo.
• 1800 – Alessandro Volta reports his discovery of the electric battery in a letter to Joseph Banks, president of the Royal Society of London.
• 1815 – Napoleon enters Paris after escape from Elba, begins 100-day rule.
• 1854 – Anti-slavery activists within the US Whig political party opposed to the Kansas-Nebraska Act form a new Republican Party; notable politicians who switched allegiance include Abraham Lincoln, Rutherford B. Hayes, Chester A. Arthur, and Benjamin Harrison.
• 1942 – General Douglas MacArthur vows “I came through and I shall return” after escaping Japanese-occupied Philippines.

*pictured.

Greetings, Brew Crew Ball community. Opening Day is now just six days away!

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-baseball sports, the Brewers, you name it. As long as it’s appropriate and is allowed by our moderators, it’s fair game here.

A few quick ideas for conversation this week: Dealing with traffic around the ballpark, best parking spots, best tailgate menu.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread:

Today is a good day. Not only is it Friday and the start of the weekend—one that may be chock-full of March Madness action—but it’s also the last one before Opening Day. Just two full workdays remain before Opening Day! Well, I suppose it’s three since for most people, the entirety of another workday will pass on Wednesday before the Yankees and Giants square off in the night game opener, but knowing it’s on deck that day will make the time go faster. Maybe. Possibly. Anyway, I’m feeling good.

On the site today, John will look at the varying career paths of the Yankees’ top 30 prospects from five years ago, and he’ll also preview the 2026 season of a new up-and-comer: flamethrower Carlos Lagrange. Nick will celebrate the birthday of Jersey boy-turned-Yankees southpaw Paul Mirabella, Sam will look ahead at what’s on deck for the defending AL champion Blue Jays, and Madison will answer your mailbag questions.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles

Time: 6:35 p.m. EST

Video: Gotham Sports App, MLB.tv

Venue: Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota, FL

Questions/Prompts:

1. Does Ryan Weathers’ first impression have you feeling uneasy about him, or are you more than willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because it’s just spring training?

2. Did your college basketball bracket suffer any serious damage on the first day? (I apparently was way too ambitious about Wisconsin, who will not, in fact, be going to the Elite Eight. Whoops.)

Giants' Matt Chapman explains where ‘great teammate' Rafael Devers is overlooked originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It was June of 2025 when Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey broke the internet, as he pulled off a blockbuster deal for Boston Red Sox infielder Rafael Devers.

The trade was somewhat of a shock, but those around Major League Baseball understood that the relationship between Devers and Boston had soured.

Former Red Sox players like Jonathan Papelbon and David Ortiz expressed their disdain with Devers—the former stating that he was a “bad teammate” and the latter stating that the 29-year-old didn’t return his communcation attempts.

However, Matt Chapman doesn’t feel like Devers got his fair shake when it comes to the situation, telling NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic how good of a teammate Devers has been.

“I think the whole Boston thing just kind of got maybe a little bit misconstrued,” Chapman told Pavlovic in the latest edition of “Giants Talk.” “I think they kind of just mishandled the relationship. I don’t think it had anything to do with Rafi. I talked to guys that played with him. They all loved him, Bregman loved him, all his teammates loved him. I think they were sad to see him go, [and] we’re happy to get him.”

Chapman added he hasn’t had a bad encounter with Devers, and while he may not be a “rah rah” guy, the veteran infielder has been a wealth of knowledge for younger teammates.

“All my experiences with Rafi have been unreal,” Chapman told Pavlovic. “He’s a great teammate, great person, everybody loves him, [the] team loves him, and maybe he’s not a guy that’s going to stand up in a meeting and call a meeting or do something like that, but you know he’s been called on, he speaks, he talks to guys one-on-one, really helps guys in the cage. He’s a good teammate, he cares about his teammates and I think he’s the right guy for us.”

While Devers struggled with the Giants last season, as he slashed just .236/.347/.460 in 90 games with San Francisco, Chapman says he’s still a consistent presence in the team’s lineup.

“He’s an elite hitter. He’s been elite his whole career and I think something that’s probably overlooked with him is he’s a smart baseball player; he’s a smart hitter,” Chapman told Pavlovic. “He understands how guys pitch him, what he’s looking for. He doesn’t just go out there and just swing. He’s got a real good routine. He’s always working on getting a good feel and getting in a good position. So, I think he’s just a very advanced hitter, and I think that’s why he’s so consistent.”

Devers had his best month with the Giants in August of last season, when he put up a slash line of .291/.397/.592 while cranking out nine home runs in 28 games.

He finished the season with 35 home runs, 109 RBI and an OPS of .851.

“Every year, you can freaking pencil the dude in for 30 [home runs] and 100 [RBI], .870 OPS, whatever it is,” Chapman told Pavlovic. “He’s just been super consistent, and I think for him to be in our lineup is going to be huge for us. He just is a presence in the lineup, he’s somebody that people circle and pay attention to. I think he’s going to be a guy that can help carry us.”

The Giants will get a full season of the three-time All-Star in 2026, and Chapman says that’s an exciting thing to look forward to.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

As Opening Day approaches, the Brewers are making their final tune ups before the start of the season. With Brandon Woodruff’s status still uncertain, he made a crucial start this evening. It ended up being the offense that dominated the game, as the Brewers defeated the Rangers 11-4.

The Brewers got on the board quickly. Sal Frelick led off the game with a walk, stole second, and scored on an Andrew Vaughn single. In the next inning, back-to-back home runs from Gary Sánchez and Luis Rengifo added two more runs. David Hamilton set up another run with a single and steal, and Joey Ortiz drove him in with a single. After two innings, the Brewers had a 4-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, the Brewers unleashed a barrage of runs. Vaughn led off the inning with a single, then Garrett Mitchell reached on a fielding error. Sánchez drew a walk after that to load the bases. After Rengifo flew out to center, Brandon Lockridge continued his strong spring with an RBI double, driving in two. Hamilton followed that up with another RBI double to bring in another two runs. That chased Rangers starter Jacob Latz from the game, and Dane Acker entered in relief. After a Frelick groundout and Ortiz walk, Christian Yelich punctuated the inning with a three-run home run. After the first three innings, the Brewers had scored 11 runs.

Meanwhile, Woodruff started the night with two 1-2-3 innings, striking out two. That started to unravel in the third inning. The Rangers got their first run from a Tyler Wade single and Alejandro Osuna RBI double. Woodruff recovered with strikeouts of Jonah Bride and Joc Pederson, but walked Evan Carter between them. Joe Corbett finished out the inning for Woodruff, striking out Danny Jansen to end the inning.

Woodruff returned for the fourth inning, but promptly allowed back-to-back home runs to Ezequiel Duran and Mark Canha. He got Sam Haggerty to line out, but that was it for his day. In total, he pitched a combination of three innings over the course of the first four innings. He allowed three runs and four hits, two of those going for home runs. He also struck out four and walked one while throwing 62 pitches. While he did get the four ups that he wanted in the game (his goal was to start four innings to get warmed up and pitch), his velocity was noticeably down at the end of his start. After the game, Woodruff said that despite the velocity, he felt great.

After the fourth, both bullpens buckled down for the rest of the game. Trevor Megill pitched the fifth inning and struck out two, but recorded four outs after Canha reached on a wild pitch swinging strikeout. Abner Uribe made his first appearance after returning from the World Baseball Classic, allowed a leadoff single but retired the next three in order, striking out one.

Jared Koenig got into some trouble in the seventh by starting the inning with back-to-back singles. He got two outs thanks to a double play from the defense, then a fly out from Canha ended the inning. Grant Anderson walked one in the eighth inning, but that was it in a scoreless inning of work. Stiven Cruz finished out the game for the Brewers, walked two but held the Rangers scoreless to end the game.

Vaughn and Hamilton each had two-hit days for the Brewers’ offense. Yelich had three RBI from his second home run of the spring, and Lockridge and Hamilton added on two RBI each. Ortiz also reached base twice with a hit and a walk, and also drove a run in. As a team, the Brewers had nine hits — three of those home runs — and four walks.

Tomorrow features a doubleheader of action for the Brewers. The day will start out with the first of two Spring Breakout games for the Brewers’ prospects, as the Mariners’ Prospects travel to face them in Phoenix. That game will take place at 4:10 p.m. and be broadcast on MLB Video. Then, at night the Brewers travel to face the Diamondbacks, with first pitch set for 8:10 p.m. That game will have an audio broadcast available on MLB.com.

Tonight, the Colorado Rockies welcomed the San Francisco Giants to Salt River Fields. In a high-scoring game, the Rockies lost, 14-11. For more game information, click here.

Let’s start with postgame comments from manager Warren Schaeffer:

Starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano also spoke with the media following the game:

And here are some game highlights for your viewing pleasure, especially since there were neither television nor radio feeds to follow.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

What a silly, precisely Spring Training baseball game. In celebration of the Mariners’ six-run seventh inning, we’re going to play six degrees of Kevin Bacon but with a Mariners twist (duh). I bandied about six degrees of Jerry Dipoto (yawn), six degrees of Jack Zduriencik (grim and boring) and six degrees of Alex Mayer (compelling, but not enough publicly available information). Ultimately, I settled on six degrees of Diego Seguí, because that seemed challenging but also a nice tie-in to the Mariners 50th celebration this season (the only player to have played for both the Mariners and the Pilots). A few additional parameters for my own sanity:

1. The connections must be through individual players, not just teams or geographic entities.
2. The connections can be statistical though, not just teammates.
3. When possible, try not to take the easy road.
4. Not every Mariner who played in tonight’s game needs to be included.

Randy Dobnak: First MLB strikeout was Roberto Pérez in 2019; Pérez didn’t allow a passed ball in 118 games at catcher – only three catchers played more games without a passed ball: Bill Dickey, Johnny Bench and Al Todd; Johnny Bench helped lead the Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 World Series title thanks, in part, to securing a crucial Game 5 win, wherein Bench scored on a Dave Concepción sacrifice fly given up by Diego Seguí.

Randy Arozarena: Was traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Tampa Bay Rays alongside José Martínez; Martínez was the 2016 Serie del Caribe MVP; the Dominican League hosted the tournament that year and dedicated it to Hall of Famer Juan Marichal, who threw out the first pitch; Marichal was teammates on the 1974 Red Sox with Diego Seguí.

Mitch Garver: Played for the University of New Mexico alongside D.J. Peterson, where the two shared Mountain West Conference Player of the Year honors in 2012; when Peterson was hit in the face by a pitch while playing for the Clinton LumberKings in 2013, Alvin Davis, then a roving minor league instructor for the Mariners, accompanied him to the hospital; Davis, of course, was the 1984 Rookie of the Year, where he played alongside such luminaries as Larry Milbourne; Milbourne, whom the Mariners traded for twice, despite him being objectively quite bad at baseball, played on the 1977 Mariners with Diego Seguí.

Brock Rodden: Helped the 2023 Modesto Nuts, led by manager Zach Vincej, to the California League Championship; Vincej played just one game for the Seattle Mariners in 2018, when he went 2 for 4 at third base while Kyle Seager was on the paternity list for the birth of his third child; Seager made his big league debut for the Mariners in 2011, where he was coached by hitting coach Chris Chambliss; Chambliss, famously a Yankee, was scouted heavily – and drafted unsuccessfully twice over – by Cincinnati Reds scout Al Zarilla; Zarilla was in Tucson, Arizona in 1958 where he scouted and successfully convinced the Athletics to sign Diego Seguí.

Box Office Bonanza

The game was not televised (to my knowledge), but I understand some of you may be interested in the actual baseball game played tonight, not just my newest method of entertaining myself. Here are the key notes best I can discern:

• Good job Garver, Arozarena and Rodden on having two hits apiece tonight! You won the baseball game, and also the honor of being featured in this weird recap.
• Bad job Cal Raleigh for contributing 4 of the team’s 15 strikeouts (good thing it doesn’t matter, and that he also hit a very far double).
• Okay job, pitchers! Dobnak got the start (and the bonus weird recap glory) and allowed four hits over 3.2 innings, with no walks and two Ks. Jason Ruffcorn and Reese Lumpkin (absolutely and for sure a real human person (can you tell I haven’t watched much Spring Training?)) turned in scoreless innings, and Dane Dunning gave up a double, threw a wild pitch and allowed the runner to score on a clunky groundout, but otherwise remained solid over three innings. They get only an “okay” from me, because though a six hit, four run, one walk, seven strikeouts game is objectively solid, it is also quite boring when none of it matters. Sorry.

Game 1

The White Sox split their doubleheader on Thursday, and in Game 1, the Good Guys did just enough to walk away with a 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite a bit of an early wobble and a whole lot of frustration against a familiar face, they held on for the W.

Davis Martin’s outing started rough. The righthander got tagged in the first inning, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks before things threatened to spiral. Enter Jairo Iriarte, who came on with two outs to bail out Martin, though not without a little extra drama, issuing a walk before punching out Kristian Robinson to close the door on the inning.

Because Spring Training rules allow, Martin trotted back out for the second and looked much more like himself. He worked around a one-out walk and then cruised through the third and fourth innings with minimal fuss, allowing just one additional free pass. His final line: 4 2/3 innings, two hits, two runs, four walks, and three strikeouts. The outing lands squarely in the “not great, not terrible” bucket. Even if the command wasn’t exactly crisp, it was a good sign that he was able to regroup.

From there, the bullpen did its job and then some. Ryan Borucki kept things quiet in the sixth, Brandon Eisert danced around a couple of singles in the seventh, and Lucas Sims worked through traffic in the eighth without incident. Chase Plymell brought a little flair to the finish, striking out the side.

For the Friars, former South Side righty Michael Soroka looked like he had a personal vendetta. He absolutely carved through the Sox lineup, allowing just one hit and one walk over five dominant innings while racking up eight strikeouts. Whether it was revenge, motivation, or just one of those days, Chicago’s bats had no answers early. (I’m not saying Soroka read the game thread, but I’m also not not saying it.)

Eventually, though, the tide turned as the Good Guys finally broke through in the sixth against Brandyn Garcia. Andrew Benintendi got things started with a one-out double, and Colson Montgomery followed with a grounder that should’ve ended the threat, except that old friend Jacob Amaya had other ideas, misplaying it just enough to let Montgomery reach and Benintendi score.

Then came the avalanche-by-walk. Munetaka Murakami and Edgar Quero drew back-to-back free passes to load the bases and chase Garcia. With Ryan Thompson now on the mound and the count sitting at 2-2, Chase Meidroth delivered the big swing of the evening, ripping a line drive single to left that brought home Monty and Mune. Just like that, Chicago flipped a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead.

The Sox tacked on an insurance run in the eighth when Austin Hays hit a two-bagger, and then Meidroth doubled him home, and suddenly the margin felt a bit more comfortable at 4-2.

It certainly wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing game early on, but the boys showed some resilience by surviving the early mess, breaking through late, and letting the bullpen lock it down.

Game 2

This one was fun, until it wasn’t. The White Sox jumped out early but couldn’t hold anything resembling momentum, eventually getting steamrolled 13-6 in a game that went from promising to unraveling to full-on tire fire.

Things actually started pretty great. Everson Pereira led the first off with a single, and after two quick outs, LaMonte Wade Jr. absolutely demolished a homer to right.

Derek Hill followed with a base hit, swiped second, and came around to score when Sam Antonacci lined a single. Just like that, Sox up 3-0 before the Padres even picked up a bat. You take that 10 times out of 10.

Then came the first “wait, what?” moment of the night.

Jonathan Cannon was originally slated to start, but instead, Adisyn Coffey took the ball with zero explanation on the broadcast. Coffey promptly gave the lead right back, getting tagged for three runs in the first, highlighted by a two-run shot from old friend Gavin Sheets. Sheets finished the night 3-for-5, because of course he did. Revenge game? Revenge game.

The Sox nudged back ahead in the second thanks to a little chaos. Ramón Laureano completely whiffed on what should’ve been a routine fly ball, gifting Pereira a double. Tristan Peters had walked to start the inning and moved to third, then Miguel Vargas brought him home with a sac fly. Sox back on top, 4-3.

For a brief moment, things stabilized. Tyler Schweitzer worked around a leadoff walk to Fernando Tatis Jr. in the third, striking out Jackson Merrill before Manny Machado bounced into a double play.

And then the fourth inning happened.

Ben Peoples came on and got absolutely ambushed: five singles, a walk, and an error from Derek Hill all piled up into a mess that turned a Sox lead into a 6-4 deficit in a hurry. Peoples recorded just one out before being pulled, and while Frankeli Arias managed to finish the frame, the damage was already done.

To their credit, the Sox didn’t fold immediately. In the fifth, Curtis Mead and Wade went back-to-back with two outs, each launching a solo shot to knot things up at 6-6. Tie game, new life, maybe something brewing.

Also happening in that same inning was the Padres broadcast somehow asking Manny Machado if playing in the World Baseball Classic gets “funner and funner,” which… sure. Spring Training for everyone, I guess.

The game drifted into a lull after that, with both teams trading quiet innings. The Sox had a golden opportunity in the eighth, loading the bases, but, in keeping with the theme, couldn’t cash in. Runners in scoring position remained an unsolved puzzle for the South Siders as they went 1-for-6 on the night.

Next up: the meltdown.

Eric Adler took the mound in the bottom of the eighth and immediately lost the plot. He walked the bases loaded, and then Jake Cronenworth cleared them with a double to blow the game open at 9-6. Adler exited without recording an out, and things somehow got worse. Luke Bell entered and gave up a ground-rule double, then Ty France put the exclamation point on the disaster with a two-run homer. Seven runs, just like that, and any hope of a comeback was long gone.

Then, the Sox went quietly in the ninth, and that was that.

A tale of two games in one day: one where the Sox bent but didn’t break, and one where they absolutely shattered. Spring training, baby.

Record: 12-13-1. Change on 2025: -1. 5-inning Record: 9-15-2.

The Diamondbacks’ five-game unbeaten streak came to an end tonight at Camelback Ranch. But it wasn’t without merit. In particular, an excellent outing by starting pitcher Michael Soroka, who was almost untouchable in his first start back from the World Baseball Classic. He went five scoreless innings, allowing just one single and a walk, while striking out eight. However, he didn’t get the win, being undone by a three-run sixth off Brandyn Garcia and Ryan Thompson. To be fair, all three runs were unearned, due to a error by 2B Jacob Amaya. But Garcia still retired only two of six batters faced. Jonathan Loasiga was charged with the sole earned run in the eighth.

Arizona got all their productive offense out of the way early, scoring both runs in the top of the first. Pavin Smith opened the scoring with an RBI single. He stole second and was walked in later in the frame. Jorge Barrosa and Amaya each had two of the Diamondbacks’ six hits, as well as a walk. Gabriel Moreno drew three walks, and also stole a base himself. Remember that tomorrow will see another evening game – this one was changed from the original day game due to the expected high temperatures. It therefore gets under way at Salt River Fields at 6:10 pm, with Zac Gallen the scheduled starter for the D-backs.

Every year, the Purple Row staff makes predictions for the upcoming Colorado Rockies season. We predict the 162-game record; division and league winners; and MVP, CY Young and Rookie of the Year winners.

For a third year in a row, we’d like you to join us in the fun! You can view your predictions from last year here.

We will still post our own staff predictions, and in a separate post, we will share predictions from you — our valued community members!

Please fill out this survey by Monday, March 23 at 11:59pm MT.

As an update for this year, we have made some questions optional (namely about the AL awards), but please answer to the best of your ability! If you don’t have an answer, feel free to put “N/A” or “I don’t know.”

Now, as James Dalton says in that cinematic masterpiece Roadhouse, “Be polite!” We’ll share the most interesting answers on Opening Day!

★ ★ ★

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: As we wrote yesterday afternoon, the Yankees made the “difficult decision” to option top pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange. The 22-year-old fireballer has been the standout pitcher across all of spring training, posting a 0.66 ERA in 13.2 innings with 13 strikeouts thanks to a fastball that averages triple digits and has topped out at 103 mph. Lagrange — the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline — might justifiably feel disappointed with the decision despite just 16 appearance above A-ball, but he’s certainly opened the major league coaching staff’s eyes with his performances this spring, Aaron Boone not ruling out an opportunity for Lagrange to impact the big league club this season, whether that be in the rotation or out of the bullpen:

“He’s definitely got everyone’s attention. I love where he’s at. I would not be surprised if he is impacting us early, middle, later part of the season … I can just tell you, we’re all very excited about his continued development and what we think he could mean to our team at some point.”

ESPN: The World Baseball classic was a resounding success, setting broadcast and attendance records as Venezuela beat Team USA to secure their first ever WBC crown. However, with MLB teams restricting the availability of several big name players in the final, calls have been made to adapt it into a midseason tournament. Six nations are already slated to participate in Olympics baseball in Los Angeles in 2028, those games taking place during an extended All-Star break, and the WBC could follow that model in the future. Commissioner Rob Manfred is said to be pondering whether to continue to stage the WBC every three years or make it ever four years, his decision impacted by the possibility of a short turnaround from the Olympics in July 2028 to the WBC in spring training 2029.

San Francisco Chronicle | Susan Slusser: Opening Day at Oracle Park is just five days away, with Netflix carrying the exclusive broadcast of the Yankees against the Giants. It’s the streaming service’s first foray into live baseball, and they’ve just announced that they’ve landed Barry Bonds as an analyst for the pregame and postgame shows alongside anchor Elle Duncan and fellow former big leaguers Albert Pujols and Anthony Rizzo. The all-time home run king has been reticent to speak publicly since his retirement, so several around the industry are viewing this as a major coup.

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Max Fried will be the Yankees’ Opening Day starter and feels encouraged with where he’s at. He gave up three runs on five hits in five innings against the Orioles in his final spring tune-up, and maintains that he’s actually glad to have struggled in the outing than have it be a walk in the park. He received valuable feedback about which of his pitches and locations were working vs. those that need to be tweaked. This will be the fourth time Fried has been named Opening Day starter, the previous three occasions coming with the Braves.

MLB Trade Rumors | Darragh McDonald: Paul DeJong has an upward mobility clause that would allow him to opt out of his minor league contract with the Yankees, but the veteran shortstop declared that he will not exercise that option and is happy to try to win a roster spot. DeJong has an opportunity to force himself into the shortstop conversation with Anthony Volpe recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and major league incumbent deputies José Caballero and Oswaldo Cabrera better suited for utility roles. DeJong is a one-time All-Star and has a 30-home-run season to his name, but was replacement level last season with the Nationals and is batting .194 with a 94 wRC+ in 12 Grapefruit League appearances.

The A’s dropped the night contest against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, blowing a late lead in front of an A’s Spring Training record-breaking 10,876 crowd to secure the loss with one week exactly to go until Opening Day. Good thing these games still don’t count quite yet, but dropping a game where we went with our starting lineup and our starting pitcher struck out 11 isn’t a great sign.

A’s, Mariners trade early zeros

Right-hander Aaron Civale was on the mound for the A’s in what was his final tune-up start before the start of the regular season. The Mariners meanwhile countered with minor league acquisition Randy Dobnak, who is likely ticketed for Triple-A thanks to a stacked Seattle starting rotation.

Both righties traded zeros for the game’s first three innings. The A’s didn’t manage anything against Dobnak during that time while Civale escaped a small jam in the second before striking out the side in the bottom of the third.

A’s attack first

Now going through the second time through the lineup the advantage shifted to the Athletics. Back-to-back doubles from Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers put the A’s on the board to kick off the scoring and the A’s weren’t done there. An RBI knock off the bat of Brent Rooker brought in the second run of the frame for the Athletics and they scored their third thanks to a passed ball by the Seattle catcher. That would be all the damage the A’s would do for the inning but that would be enough… for now.

The A’s did have a slight scare in the fifth when left fielder Tyler Soderstrom was hit in the knee by a changeup during his at-bat, but it seems the A’s dodged a major bullet just a week before camp breaks as he stayed in the game to run the bases (but was later pulled out on defense for Carlos Cortes).

Seattle strikes back

Civale, now given a bit of a lead to work with, retired the next six batters he faced, going on cruise control for the rest of his night. He’d end his day after six full shutout frames and reaching 81 pitches. He also racked up an impressive 11 punchouts to go with zero free passes. By the looks of things from tonight, the righty looks ready and a full-go for the regular season. There’s been some pessimism about Civale taking a spot away from someone young and exciting like Gage Jump, but could he surprise fans this coming year?

Time for the bullpen to hold things together for three more innings. Mark Kotsay decided to turn to another right-handed pitcher in JT Ginn. The righty began his camp with two scoreless appearances but had gotten knocked around in his previous two entering tonight. In this matchup against the Mariners it was the latter Ginn that we got.

Seattle was all over him from the start. He didn’t do himself any favors plunking the first batter he faced but he was going to get lit up tonight anyway. Two outs, five hits, and another plunked batter later it was 6-3 Seattle. In the blink of an eye the 3-run lead had flipped and became a 3-run deficit. Ginn would not be able to finish the inning, getting chased by the back-breaking bases-clearing double off the bat of Cal Raleigh. Fellow righty Brooks Kriske mopped things up for Ginn and got the A’s out of the frame.

The A’s were now shell-shocked. And they weren’t able to snap themselves out of it in time. They managed to push across a small-ball run in the bottom of the eighth but not much else. Elvis Alvarado and Jack Perkins did their job not letting the lead expand but it was too much for the lineup to overcome. The A’s brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth but couldn’t get the big hit to keep this game going as they dropped their 15th game of spring.

Well, not a great way to end an evening spring game but still some major positives to dwell on. Civale looked on fire out there and solidified his spot as the #3 in the rotation. Lawrence Butler went 1-for-2 with a walk as he continues his hurried prep for the season. Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers will give pitchers problems at the top of the batting order.

We do it all again tomorrow with another night cap, this time against the Chicago Cubs. They’ll be set to send right-handed vet Jameson Taillon to the bump for them in what’ll be his final tune up before camp breaks. Meanwhile the A’s have yet to announce who they’ll send to start tomorrow’s game. Any guesses?

Juan Soto returned to the Mets lineup on Thursday after two weeks playing for the Dominican Republic at this year's World Baseball Classic, and the slugger was thrilled with his experience.

Although Soto and Team DR fell to the USA in the semifinals, Soto called it "one of the best experiences" he's ever had after he was pulled in the Mets' 6-2 win over the Astros. But it was more than just an experience for Soto, in fact, the Mets superstar credits the tournament for how he feels just a week out from the team's Opening Day. 

"I feel really good right now," Soto said. "My body, everything feels good. I feel like my swing is in a good spot to start the season. I cannot be more prepared.”

Before the WBC, Soto was 2-for-12 with just one extra-base hit in five spring games. Soto upped that production during the tournament, going 6-for-23 (.261) in the team's six games to go along with two bombs, four RBI, five walks and a stolen base. 

And although he went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored on Thursday, Soto looks back fondly on his time with his countrymen and recommends it to others, if not for the competition, but for the knowledge that's dropped from teammates and coaches.

"It’s an experience that I recommend to anyone who has a chance to play," Soto said. "When you leave for those two weeks, it’s incredible. It helps my game. We had David Ortiz, Pedro Martinez, Albert Pujols, Placido Polanco, [Fernando] Tatis Sr. - we have guys that played this game for so long and they gave us so much advice that can help me with my game. I cannot ask for more."

In his first season with the Mets, Soto had one of the best of his career. He slashed .263/.396/.525 with an OPS of .921 to go with his career-high 43 homers and 105 RBI. He also smashed his previous career-high in stolen bases, swiping 38 bags a year ago. Now, heading into year two in Flushing, Soto hopes to produce even more for the Mets and get them back into the postseason.

The Mets and ace right-hander Freddy Peralta are "highly unlikely" to reach a long-term contract extension before the 2026 MLB season starts, according to a report Thursday by the New York Post's Jon Heyman, who cited "people familiar with the discussions."

Peralta, 29, previously told Heyman that he was seeking a new deal for seven or eight years. The Mets "generally oppose deals of that length" and "are believed more comfortable with something in the range of four years, or perhaps five," according to Thursday's report.

The Mets acquired Peralta and right-hander Tobias Myers in a Jan. 21 trade with the Milwaukee Brewers for top prospectsJett Williams and Brandon Sproat.

Through three spring training starts, Peralta is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA. He has allowed three runs on four hits while striking out 12 and walking two in 10 innings.

"What I can say is that everything has been amazing, talking from the bottom to the top, people in the front office, everyone," Peralta said in February, via SNY's Chelsea Janes. "They’ve been very easy for me, easy to work with, and I’m just happy because I feel they have my back."

Peralta, a two-time All-Star, went 17-6 with a 2.70 ERA in 176.2 IP last season with the Brewers. He is set to make his Mets debut as New York's Opening Day starter for next Thursday's 1:15 p.m. game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

TAMPA — Time for Giancarlo Stanton to fast forward to the regular season.

Opening Day is now less than a week away, but the Yankees veteran DH has spent the past two days smoking the ball like he is ready to roll in games that count.

“If we can just bottle this up and move it north …” manager Aaron Boone said with a grin after a 5-4 win over the Orioles at Steinbrenner Field. “He looks great, feels great, obviously.”

Between Wednesday and Thursday, Stanton put six balls in play.

Five of them registered at exit velocities over 100 mph, and if the wind hadn’t been blowing in on both brisk days, Boone is convinced Stanton would have more to show for it than only one of them leaving the yard.

“Probably with the weather switch, he’s probably got five homers the last couple games,” Boone said.

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Stanton finally got one out Thursday, his fourth home run of the spring, on a ball hit 100.1 mph down the right-field line.

He also flew out on balls hit at 110.5 mph and 104.8 mph (a sacrifice fly) after flying out on Wednesday on balls hit at 112.4 mph and 104.1 mph.

Max Fried made his final tuneup before starting Opening Day against the Giants on Wednesday, giving up three runs and walking four across five innings while throwing 81 pitches.

The left-hander acknowledged he was “not sharp,” but said he liked being able to work through jams in his last chance before the games are real.

“I know who I am and I know the kind of pitcher I am, but the more I can try to push myself, it’s only going to help in the end,” Fried said.

Carlos Rodón threw two innings and 35 pitches of live batting practice Thursday afternoon, continuing his buildup from elbow surgery with the hope that he could be back at some point in April.

“Physically, fine,” he said. “Just working to get a feel of things, third live [batting practice]. Obviously I would like everything to be crisp, but it’s hard to do that when you got to build up and come back from surgery. So it’s coming. I try not to get frustrated myself.”

Rodón is expected to pitch in a minor league exhibition next week when the Yankees are out west to start the season.

Aaron Judge is expected to start at DH on Friday night against the Orioles, his first game back since playing in the WBC.

Paul Goldschmidt, who only got three plate appearances for Team USA, took live at-bats against Rodón on a back field, and an hour later was in the starting lineup against the Orioles, going 1-for-3.

Cody Bellinger was initially expected to play on the road Thursday against the Blue Jays, but instead he stayed back after getting hit on the right arm in Wednesday’s game.

He is said to be fine, and looked no worse for wear while taking at-bats off Rodón on the back field.

The Yankees optioned reliever Angel Chivilli to Triple-A, eliminating another name from the bullpen competition.

Chivilli, acquired from the Rockies this winter, remains a work in progress after posting a 12.91 ERA in eight appearances this spring.