Royals vs. Mariners Spring Training thread

Cole Ragans covers his face with a glove in a dark room
Who is this mystery | Getty Images

With their best players playing elsewhere, the Kansas City Royals are 6-9 (nice). And in today’s contest, they’ll face a team with a worse Spring Training record: the 4-12 Seattle Mariners.

It’s the Battle for Grass Creek, in other words, but a preseason version. The Royals will send Cole Ragans to the mound. As a reminder, Team USA had asked Ragans to pitch for them, but he declined in pursuit of a more normal Spring Training experience following an injury-filled 2025.

Royals 3/10 gameday lineup

Mariners 3/10 gameday lineup

2026 Fantasy Baseball NL-Only Dollar Values: Shohei Ohtani, Paul Skenes, Ronald Acuña Jr. lead the way

Presented below are our current dollar values for 2026 5x5 12-team NL-only leagues using two catchers. For convenience, the values are divided by position starting with catcher.

We'll be keeping these updated through Opening Day.

⚾️ Coming soon: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

2026 Fantasy Baseball NL-only League Dollar Values

PosPlayerTeam$$
CWilliam ContrerasBrewers$17
CAgustin RamirezMarlins$16
CHunter GoodmanRockies$16
CDrake BaldwinBraves$14
CWill SmithDodgers$12
CGabriel MorenoDiamondbacks$11
CJ.T. RealmutoPhillies$8
CFrancisco AlvarezMets$6
CTyler StephensonReds$5
CPatrick BaileyGiants$4
CFreddy FerminPadres$4
CJoey BartPirates$3
CHarry FordNationals$3
CCarson KellyCubs$2
CMiguel AmayaCubs$2
CSean MurphyBraves$2
CJoe MackMarlins$1
CDalton RushingDodgers$1
CHenry DavisPirates$1
CGary SanchezBrewers$1
CJonah HeimBraves$1
CJose TrevinoReds$1
CKeibert RuizNationals$1
1BFreddie FreemanDodgers$21
1BBryce HarperPhillies$21
1BSal StewartReds$16
1BMatt OlsonBraves$15
1BRafael DeversGiants$14
1BAlec BurlesonCardinals$12
1BMichael BuschCubs$12
1BAndrew VaughnBrewers$10
1BLuis ArraezGiants$8
1BSpencer SteerReds$5
1BRyan O’HearnPirates$5
1BSpencer HorwitzPirates$4
1BTroy JohnstonRockies$3
1BPavin SmithDiamondbacks$2
1BNathaniel LoweReds$2
1BChristian Encarnacion-StrandReds$1
1BJake BauersBrewers$1
2BKetel MarteDiamondbacks$22
2BBrice TurangBrewers$17
2BNico HoernerCubs$12
2BJorge PolancoMets$11
2BMatt McLainReds$11
2BBryson StottPhillies$9
2BLuis Garcia Jr.Nationals$9
2BBrandon LowePirates$8
2BBrett BatyMets$8
2BMarcus SemienMets$8
2BWilli CastroRockies$7
2BOzzie AlbiesBraves$5
2BTommy EdmanDodgers$5
2BJake CronenworthPadres$4
2BEdouard JulienRockies$3
2BJose FerminCardinals$2
2BLuis RengifoBrewers$2
2BNolan GormanCardinals$1
2BDavid HamiltonBrewers$1
2BHyeseong KimDodgers$1
2BAdael AmadorRockies$1
2BDylan MoorePhillies$1
2BNick GonzalesPirates$1
2BRamon UriasCardinals$1
2BJavier SanojaMarlins$1
3BAustin RileyBraves$22
3BManny MachadoPadres$19
3BEugenio SuarezReds$13
3BNoelvi MarteReds$13
3BAlec BohmPhillies$12
3BAlex BregmanCubs$11
3BMatt ChapmanGiants$9
3BMax MuncyDodgers$8
3BJordan LawlarDiamondbacks$7
3BNolan ArenadoDiamondbacks$5
3BBrady HouseNationals$5
3BConnor NorbyMarlins$3
3BKe’Bryan HayesReds$3
3BMark VientosMets$2
3BSung Mun SongPadres$1
3BMatt ShawCubs$1
3BMiguel AndujarPadres$1
3BRonny MauricioMets$1
SSElly De La CruzReds$32
SSTrea TurnerPhillies$25
SSFrancisco LindorMets$24
SSCJ AbramsNationals$23
SSGeraldo PerdomoDiamondbacks$17
SSBo BichetteMets$16
SSXavier EdwardsMarlins$13
SSMookie BettsDodgers$13
SSWilly AdamesGiants$11
SSEzequiel TovarRockies$11
SSXander BogaertsPadres$10
SSDansby SwansonCubs$9
SSOtto LopezMarlins$9
SSMasyn WinnCardinals$8
SSKonnor GriffinPirates$7
SSJJ WetherholtCardinals$5
SSJared TrioloPirates$4
SSHa-Seong KimBraves$3
SSJoey OrtizBrewers$2
SSThomas SaggeseCardinals$1
SSJorge MateoBraves$1
SSMauricio DubonBraves$1
SSNasim NunezNationals$1
SSMiguel RojasDodgers$1
OFRonald Acuna Jr.Braves$40
OFJuan SotoMets$39
OFKyle TuckerDodgers$33
OFFernando Tatis Jr.Padres$29
OFJackson ChourioBrewers$28
OFCorbin CarrollDiamondbacks$26
OFJames WoodNationals$24
OFMichael Harris IIBraves$22
OFPete Crow-ArmstrongCubs$21
OFJackson MerrillPadres$19
OFDylan CrewsNationals$16
OFLuis Robert Jr.Mets$16
OFSeiya SuzukiCubs$15
OFOneil CruzPirates$15
OFKyle StowersMarlins$15
OFChristian YelichBrewers$14
OFDaylen LileNationals$13
OFBryan ReynoldsPirates$13
OFTeoscar HernandezDodgers$12
OFBrenton DoyleRockies$12
OFAndy PagesDodgers$11
OFJakob MarseeMarlins$11
OFIan HappCubs$10
OFJordan BeckRockies$10
OFAdolis GarciaPhillies$9
OFJung Hoo LeeGiants$9
OFHeliot RamosGiants$8
OFRamon LaureanoPadres$7
OFSal FrelickBrewers$7
OFMickey MoniakRockies$7
OFBrandon MarshPhillies$7
OFChristopher MorelMarlins$7
OFTJ FriedlReds$6
OFLars NootbaarCardinals$5
OFJordan WalkerCardinals$5
OFVictor Scott IICardinals$5
OFOwen CaissieMarlins$4
OFJustin CrawfordPhillies$4
OFJake McCarthyRockies$4
OFGavin SheetsPadres$3
OFNick CastellanosPadres$3
OFCarson BengeMets$3
OFTyler FreemanRockies$3
OFGarrett MitchellBrewers$3
OFMike YastrzemskiBraves$3
OFHarrison BaderGiants$2
OFJacob YoungNationals$2
OFAlek ThomasDiamondbacks$2
OFZac VeenRockies$2
OFJJ BledayReds$1
OFLuis MatosGiants$1
OFLourdes Gurriel Jr.Diamondbacks$1
OFMichael ConfortoCubs$1
OFWill BensonReds$1
OFJake MangumPirates$1
DHShohei OhtaniDodgers$46
DHKyle SchwarberPhillies$30
DHIvan HerreraCardinals$12
DHMarcell OzunaPirates$9
DHBryce EldridgeGiants$3
DHMoises BallesterosCubs$3
SPPaul SkenesPirates$44
SPCristopher SanchezPhillies$33
SPYoshinobu YamamotoDodgers$27
SPLogan WebbGiants$23
SPChris SaleBraves$23
SPShohei OhtaniDodgers$23
SPJacob MisiorowskiBrewers$20
SPZack WheelerPhillies$18
SPBlake SnellDodgers$18
SPJesus LuzardoPhillies$17
SPEury PerezMarlins$17
SPNick PivettaPadres$17
SPNolan McLeanMets$16
SPJoe MusgrovePadres$16
SPFreddy PeraltaMets$15
SPCade HortonCubs$13
SPMatthew BoydCubs$13
SPSandy AlcantaraMarlins$12
SPBrandon WoodruffBrewers$11
SPTyler GlasnowDodgers$11
SPEdward CabreraCubs$11
SPEmmet SheehanDodgers$11
SPShota ImanagaCubs$11
SPChase BurnsReds$10
SPMichael KingPadres$10
SPNick LodoloReds$10
SPJameson TaillonCubs$9
SPBubba ChandlerPirates$9
SPSpencer StriderBraves$9
SPHunter GreeneReds$9
SPClay HolmesMets$8
SPSean ManaeaMets$8
SPReynaldo LopezBraves$8
SPMerrill KellyDiamondbacks$7
SPBrandon PfaadtDiamondbacks$7
SPJustin SteeleCubs$7
SPLogan HendersonBrewers$7
SPBraxton AshcraftPirates$6
SPRyne NelsonDiamondbacks$6
SPQuinn PriesterBrewers$6
SPKodai SengaMets$6
SPAaron NolaPhillies$5
SPAndrew AbbottReds$5
SPRobbie RayGiants$5
SPZac GallenDiamondbacks$5
SPChad PatrickBrewers$5
SPAaron AshbyBrewers$4
SPBrady SingerReds$4
SPBraxton GarrettMarlins$4
SPSpencer SchwellenbachBraves$4
SPJonah TongMets$3
SPMax MeyerMarlins$3
SPMichael McGreevyCardinals$2
SPRoki SasakiDodgers$2
SPCarmen MlodzinskiPirates$2
SPJared JonesPirates$2
SPCade CavalliNationals$2
SPTyler MahleGiants$1
SPMitch KellerPirates$1
SPRhett LowderReds$1
SPChristian ScottMets$1
SPLanden RouppGiants$1
SPMichael SorokaDiamondbacks$1
SPAndrew PainterPhillies$1
SPKyle LeahyCardinals$1
SPDavid PetersonMets$1
SPMatthew LiberatoreCardinals$1
SPGrant HolmesBraves$1
SPGriffin CanningPadres$1
SPDustin MayCardinals$1
SPRiver RyanDodgers$1
SPKyle HarrisonBrewers$1
RPMason MillerPadres$26
RPEdwin DiazDodgers$23
RPJhoan DuranPhillies$21
RPDevin WilliamsMets$20
RPDaniel PalenciaCubs$16
RPRaisel IglesiasBraves$13
RPTrevor MegillBrewers$11
RPEmilio PaganReds$11
RPRyan WalkerGiants$10
RPAbner UribeBrewers$9
RPPete FairbanksMarlins$9
RPDennis SantanaPirates$8
RPRiley O’BrienCardinals$6
RPRobert SuarezBraves$5
RPGraham AshcraftReds$3
RPAdrian MorejonPadres$3
RPDylan LeeBraves$2
RPJeremiah EstradaPadres$2
RPOrion KerkeringPhillies$2
RPClayton BeeterNationals$2
RPKevin GinkelDiamondbacks$2
RPTanner ScottDodgers$1
RPPhil MatonCubs$1
RPJared KoenigBrewers$1
RPMason MontgomeryPirates$1
RPBrad KellerPhillies$1
RPLuke WeaverMets$1
RPJose AlvaradoPhillies$1
RPJoJo RomeroCardinals$1
RPJason AdamPadres$1
RPBen CaspariusDodgers$1

ST Game 19: San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Angels

San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Angels, March 10, 2026, 1:10 p.m. PST

Watch: None

Location: Tempe Diablo Stadium – Tempe, AZ

Listen: 97.3 The Fan



Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.

  • Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
  • Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
  • Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads

GB community, this is your thread for today’s game. Enjoy!

Mariners Spring Training 2026, Game #18

In case you are feeling poorly about your abilities today, a professional photographer took this picture of Cooper Criswell with this crop and published it
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 18: Cooper Criswell #64 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during photo day before a Spring Training workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida on February 18, 2025. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s been an…interesting day around Mariners camp, today’s lineup notwithstanding. Righty Cooper Criswell gets the nod to continue making his case for a spot in the Mariners’ bullpen.

Lineups:

Also scheduled to pitch for the Mariners: Michael Rucker, Cole Wilcox, Casey Legumina, and Robinson Ortiz

Roster moves:

The Mariners re-assigned RHP Gabe Mosser, OF Jared Sundstrom, and INF/OF Blake Rambusch to minor-league camp.

Game information:

Game time: 1:10 PT

TV: No

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports (delayed to 7 PM PT); Seattle Sports app, Mariners.com and Gameday

Colorado Rockies spring training game no. 19 thread: Brandon Williamson vs. Ryan Feltner

Apr 28, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner (18) pitches in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Today, the Colorado Rockies welcome the Cincinnati Reds to Salt River Fields.

Starting for the Reds is Brandon Williamson.

The lefty has a 4.0 ERA in 4.0 IP. He’s struck out six and has a 1.00 WHIP. 

Taking the mound for the Rockies will be RHP Ryan Feltner.

Currently, he has an ERA of 11.81 in 5.1 IP. He’s struck out 8 while giving up 39 and has a 2.06 WHIP.

And now to the details.

First Pitch: 2:10 pm MDT

TV: None

Radio: Reds WLW 700

Lineups:

For the visiting Reds:

And the home Rockies:


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

Dombrowski has long bet on southpaws, decision on Luzardo: ‘unanimous'

Dombrowski has long bet on southpaws, decision on Luzardo: ‘unanimous' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

It’s fair to say that Dave Dombrowski has a history with left-handed starters.

Trading top prospects for southpaws, then turning around and extending them to nine-figure deals.

On Monday, the Phillies president of baseball operations closed the loop again. The Phillies and Jesús Luzardo agreed to a five-year, $135 million extension covering the 2027 through the 2031 seasons, with a club option for 2032.

“Everybody in the organization was unanimous in wanting to keep him part of us,” Dombrowski said at Tuesday’s press conference. “It starts with the person — the hard work, the dedication, the drive to be the best. You combine all of that with one of the best arms in the game.”

It rang a familiar tune.

In 2014 with Detroit, Dombrowski acquired the ultra-durable David Price to add to a rotation that already featured Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. When Boston hired him the following year, one of his first moves was signing Price to a seven-year, $217 million deal.

In December 2016, he traded top prospects Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech to Chicago for Chris Sale — 27 years old, coming off a 32-start season — and later extended Sale after back-to-back sub-3.00 ERA campaigns.

Neither contract played out exactly as Dombrowski envisioned, but one came with a World Series and the other arrived just after their title. If Luzardo delivers something similar, it would make this one well worth it.

How ‘Zeus’ got here

The Phillies swung a deal with Miami two days before Christmas two years ago, trading fourth-ranked prospect Starlyn Caba and Emaarion Boyd. With Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm and top-ranked prospect Aidan Miller anchoring the infield, the depth was there to make the move.

Luzardo, 27 at the time, was coming off a 2024 season that ended early with a back injury and a 5.00 ERA in just twelve starts, a discouraging year for a pitcher who had posted a 3.58 ERA over 32 starts the season prior.

Luzardo didn’t know what to expect in Philadelphia, but the culture made it easy.

“Coming off a tough year in [2024] with injuries, I was looking forward to getting into this organization,” Luzardo said. “I knew it was a winning organization with high expectations and I wanted to meet those expectations and live up to that standard.”

He delivered.

Luzardo tied the rotation together behind Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez and Aaron Nola, stepping up when Wheeler and Nola fought through injuries. He made a team-leading 32 starts for the second time in his career, went 15-7 with a 3.92 ERA, threw a career-high 183 2/3 innings and struck out 216.

He finished seventh in NL Cy Young voting.

His biggest outing came in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies had dropped the series opener and needed something. Luzardo gave them six innings of two-run baseball, retiring 17 straight at one point, then returned out of the bullpen in Game 4 without allowing an earned run.

It’s easy to forget the Phillies chose Luzardo over Ranger Suárez for that start. Luzardo had finished the year strong, but his postseason track record wasn’t close to Suárez’s entering October. That performance made a lasting stamp on a durable 32-outing year.

“When you saw what he did during the postseason, it only added to our desires to keep him,” Dombrowski said.

When the offseason came, the Phillies watched Suárez walk to Boston on five years and $130 million — then gave Luzardo five years and $135 million. Dombrowski favors durability and consistency. Suárez has never made 30 starts in a season.

The staff’s staff

Luzardo credits pitching coach Caleb Cotham and the rest of the staff for his development in 2025. Last season, he added a sweeper — a pitch Cotham had first mentioned early on. He threw it 31 percent of the time, and it was nearly unhittable.

His sweeper posted a run value of 15, best in baseball according to Statcast.

“Caleb and Mark do such a good job of simplifying things,” Luzardo said. “They put me on a good path of understanding what our strengths are, what we need to do to get guys out. We share that passion for finding an edge.”

J.T. Realmuto, a former Marlin who caught Luzardo on the other side, wasn’t surprised by any of it.

“I faced him enough in Miami where he just ate our lunch,” Realmuto said. “I knew he had the stuff. It was just more honing in on his command, working with his pitch mix, giving him that confidence. Once you have those three things, he’s one of the best left-handers in the entire game.”

Backed by support

By the time Luzardo arrived at Tuesday’s press conference, the decision to stay had been made long before negotiations began.

“It wasn’t one specific moment,” Luzardo said. “Coming into spring training last year, I made some good relationships with the guys in the clubhouse, really got along with the coaching staff, the training staff, the strength staff. It was very eye-opening to me how good the supporting staff is here. I wouldn’t be here without them.”

The city itself played a role.

“I like Philadelphia,” he said. “The fans, the stadium — the energy going to the ballpark every day and just the expectation to win.. all those things was just the perfect combination for me and a match made in heaven.”

All of his teammates showed up to hear him say it. His family flew in. The whole room.

Andrew Painter, who grew up roughly 40 miles away and remembers watching Luzardo throw in high school, has spent offseasons working alongside him. The 6-foot-7 right-hander has picked up on something beyond the stuff.

“He’s big on the sink or swim mindset,” Painter said. “When you’re on that mound, there’s no one else that’s going to come and save you. That conviction — I think that’s what really elevates him.”

Realmuto sees a ceiling that’s hard to put a number on.

“If you told me he’s going to win a Cy Young, I wouldn’t be shocked,” Realmuto said. “He’s got that type of stuff and that type of work ethic.”

Luzardo isn’t thinking about awards. He’s a team-first guy.

“Every five days, I want to go out and be as great as I can and give us a chance to win,” he said. “Over these next five, six years, the only thing I expect is to be great every time out.”

Cubs vs. Rangers at Surprise preview, Tuesday 3/10, 3:05 CT

Tuesday notes…

  • FORMER CUBS IN RANGERS CAMP: Chris Martin, Joc Pederson, Ryan Brasier. Of note: Andrew McCutchen signed with the Rangers for what is likely his final season.
  • CUBS SPRING LEADERS (minimum 15 AB): BA, Dansby Swanson, .467. OBP: Dylan Carlson, .571. SLG: Swanson, 1.067. OPS: Swanson, 1.567. HR: Swanson, Carson Kelly, Jefferson Rojas, 2. RBI: Swanson, Rojas, Pedro Ramirez, Moisés Ballesteros, 6. SB: Ramirez, Matt Shaw, Scott Kingery, 4.

Here are today’s particulars.

The Cubs lineup was not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Cubs lineup.

Rangers lineup:

Cade Horton will start for the Cubs. Other Cubs pitchers scheduled today: Ethan Roberts, Ryan Rolison, Collin Snider and Vince Velasquez.

Jacob deGrom will start for the Rangers. Other Rangers pitchers scheduled today: Kumar Rocker, Chris Martin, Cole Winn and Gavin Collyer.

No TV or radio today. That’s really kind of a shame because this is a good pitching matchup, even if neither starter is likely to go more than four innings.

MLB.com Gameday

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

Please visit our SB Nation Rangers site Lone Star Ball. If you do go there to interact with Rangers fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

As we have done in the past, we’ll have a first pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time. For today, that will be 3 p.m. CT and 4:30 p.m. CT.

These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked ”Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher photos and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Baseball America 2026 mock draft: Braves take college, prep bats with first two picks

We are still four months away from the 2026 MLB Draft, but of course that doesn’t stop pundits from releasing the first of what will be many mock drafts.

Baseball America on Monday unveiled their 1.0 version of the draft, predicting each team’s first-round selections. Among the first 30 picks of this year’s draft, Atlanta will possess two of them — selecting at 9th and 26th overall.

In recent drafts, the Braves have gone extremely heavy on arms with their first couple of selections. However, the franchise bucked that trend in 2025, selecting Nevada high school shortstop Tate Southisene with the team’s first selection and following that up by taking Florida State shortstop Alex Lodise with their second choice.

Obviously it remains to be seen if the Braves will dip back into the pitching well once again in this year’s draft, but one of the sports top media outlets has the team going right back to the positional player pool not once, but with both of their first selections.

9th overall pick — AJ Gracia, OF, University of Virginia

The pundits at Baseball America have the Braves going the collegiate bat route with their first pick in the upcoming draft, selecting University of Virginia outfielder AJ Gracia 9th overall.

A two-year standout player at Duke University, Gracia transferred to Virginia during the offseason and has continued to rake with the Cavaliers. In 120 games played with the Blue Devils, Garcia batted .299 to go along with 29 homers and 112 RBI.

Since joining Virginia, Gracia has continued to develop into one of the premier bats in the collegiate ranks this year. In 16 games so far this season, the 21-year-old is hitting .362 with an OPS of 1.243 in addition to six homers and a dozen RBI to his credit as well.

While the power and contact rates are exactly what you want from a top-10 selection, what really makes Gracia stand out is his discipline at the plate. In 130 NCAA games, he has only struck out 98 times while walking 117 times. It’s that kind of judgement at the plate that has catapulted Garcia into the top-10 discussions.

Defensively, Gracia is almost destined for one of the corner outfield spots as his speed isn’t what you’d typically want from a centerfielder. His arm isn’t the best, so right field may be out of the question, but if can work if you’re in a pinch.

If he continues to hit the way he has early on in the season, there’s a strong chance Garcia isn’t available for the Braves to take him at 9th overall. However, if they’re able to land him, it would be a tremendous pickup of a guy who will undoubtedly move fast in whatever system he finds himself in.

26th overall pick — Rocco Maniscalco, SS, Oxford High School (AL)

With their second pick — 26th overall — the Baseball America writers have the Braves going the high school route by taking one of the youngest players in the upcoming draft in Maniscalco.

Maniscalco popped onto the radar of scouts back in 2024 when his former teammate Carter Johnson — who was eventually taken by Miami as a second round choice — when he was playing as a freshman for Oxford.

Standing at 6-foot-2 as a switch-hitter, there is plenty to like in what Maniscalco brings to the table. His tools are very solid across the board for someone his age and there’s enough there in his frame to project some raw power to come into play as he continues to develop.

According to MaxPreps, Maniscalco has played in seven games so far for Oxford in which he his hitting .500 with a double and an RBI to his credit as well.

A Mississippi State commit, it will likely take a sizable signing bonus to lure him away from the Bulldogs. However, if you’re Atlanta and can land premium bats with a ton of room for development like Maniscalco, breaking the bank should be a no-brainer.

What If Carlos Santana Hits a Grand Slam as a Diamondback?

Carlos Santana (team Dominican Republic) bats in World Baseball Classic exhibition game. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Inspiration.

Before looking at offense, it must be said that in the last two seasons Carlos Santana’s defense at first base was elite.   In 2024 he won the Gold Glove at first base, and in 2025, he was one of the three nominees.  Averaging the last two seasons, his yearly Outs-Above-Average (OAA) was 11 (truly elite). 

The Diamondbacks will benefit from the synergy of four excellent infield defenders (Santana at first base, Ketel Marte at second base, Geraldo Perdomo at short stop, and Nolan Arenado at third base). 

The interesting question is, “How well will Santana bat?”

Worth seeing would be a grand slam.

In his career so far, Carlos Santana hit 6 grand slams.  His latest grand slam happened last season.  Certainly, it could happen in 2026.

The oldest Diamondback to hit a grand slam was Steve Finley.  On 5 May, 2004 he hit a grand slam against the Mets.  It increased the win probability from 85% to 98%.  Steve Finley was 39 years old (plus almost two months).  Data from Stathead in Baseball Reference.

Honorable Mention goes to the Diamondbacks’ Lourdes Gurriel Junior.  He hit a grand slam in the 2023 World Series.  But he was a relatively young 30 years old.

If/when Carlos Santana hits a grand slam for the Diamondbacks, he will become the oldest Diamondback to hit a grand slam in either the regular season or the postseason.  He will be 39 years old (prior to April 8) or 40 years old (on April 8 or later).  Carlos Santana has a realistic chance to break a record!

His batting has strengths and weaknesses.

In 2019, Carlos Santana won a Silver Slugger award.  Six years later, in his age 40 season, his batting is on the declining side of the aging curve.  The question is not whether he will again win a Silver Slugger award.  Instead, the question is whether his batting will be better than league average.

Last season, one weakness was a career high swinging at out-of-zone pitches (25.1%) with a career low contact rate for out-of-zone pitches (53.6%) per FanGraphs.  However, his first 11 PAs in spring training showed improvement in contact percentage (26.3% O-swings with 80% contact).

Another weakness is that last season, his batting performance dropped against sliders and sweepers (based on 22 balls in play against those pitches against left-handed pitchers per Baseball Savant).

Although he is a switch hitter, he bats better against left-handed pitchers.

  • A strength is that against left-handed pitchers, when he puts the first pitch in play, his batting results are monstrous (.333 OBP, .850 SLG, and .477 wOBA per Baseball Savant).
  • Another strength is that against left-handed pitchers is that when he hits line drives, his batting results are great (.519 OBP, .556 SLG, and .471 wOBA per Baseball Savant).

To answer the interesting question: It’s likely he will hit above-league average against left-handed pitchers. 

His mental game is a good fit with the Diamondbacks.

Carlos Santana prepares every day.  That reflects his strong desire to play well and that reflects excellent mental discipline. 

Carlos Santana focuses on playing hard one day at a time.  That reflects his focus on making a positive impact in every game and that reflects his strength in ignoring distractions.

In 2023, the Diamondbacks made it to the World Series and lost.  Players needed to mentally deal with that loss.  Carlos Santana had previously dealt with a similar loss.

“…Disappointment? I don’t think there was any disappointment after losing to the Cubs in the World Series, because I felt like a champion. Yes, we felt like champions, even though we didn’t win it all. Crazy, right? We lost, but we still felt very grateful to God. And I think the main reason we felt like champions is because we fought until the end. We gave it everything we had. Somebody had to lose. We lost, but this town loved us the same as if we won. And we loved them right back.” —  Carlos Santana, April 2017

How to know it’s him.

If a fan sees a Diamondbacks player wearing shorts and tall socks (baseball attire that he is comfortable wearing), and if that fan hears other players calling him grandpa, then they can be sure it’s Carlos Santana. Perhaps an easier way to be sure is to look at the number on his Diamondbacks jersey (it is #41).

“…they [Guardian teammates] told me my nickname, Grandpa.” — Carlos Santana, March 2025

Summary.

In 2024 he won a Gold Glove. His defense at first base is elite.

If he hits a grand slam with the Diamondbacks, he will break the record for the oldest Diamondback to hit a grand slam.

It’s likely he will hit above-league average against left-handed pitchers. 

His mental game is a good fit with the Diamondbacks. Also, his team has lost in the World Series.

His nickname with the Guardians was Grandpa.

Red Sox News & Links: Caleb Durbin is your third baseman

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 22: Caleb Durbin #17 of the Boston Red Sox makes a leaping catch during the first inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 22, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

To the extent that there ever was any intrigue about whether Caleb Durbin, Marcelo Mayer, or someone else would be playing third base for the 2026 Red Sox, you can put that intrigue to bed. Alex Cora, while going out of his way to clarify that he wasn’t announcing anything official, basically made it official: “Caleb, he’s playing third base again. We’ll probably decide that next week. But I feel very comfortable with him at third base. Honestly, (the intrigue) is more for (reporters). It’s kind of like, ‘What are we going to do?’ Five (straight) days of playing third base. He played the whole season… Like, what are we looking for? Two ground balls in spring training. You know, so…” Got it, Alex, thanks for the update! (Sean McAdam, MassLive)

Despite being ready to give the third base position to Durbin, the Red Sox are still not ready to give second base to Marcelo Mayer. What is it that the Sox brass is still waiting to see from him? Better swing decisions. (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)

If Mayer doesn’t get the opening day job, we’ll probably be looking at Isiah Kiner-Falefa pairing up with Trevor Story up the middle. But Nick Sogard is in the conversation as well, and he has the mental advantage of already knowing what it feels like to fight for a roster spot. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

Someone who won’t be competing for a roster spot this spring, though, is Triston Casas. Yesterday, he made it official that he will not be healthy enough to participate in any Grapefruit League games:

Casas’s power bat will be missed. Though it won’t be missed quite as much if Masataka Yoshida and Jarren Duran continue performing the way they are right now in the World Baseball Classic. The two outfielders/DHs have arguably been the best performers in the tournament right now, as the Red Sox organization as a whole is putting on a show. (Ian Browne, MLB.com)

Garrett Crochet, though, still doesn’t regret his decision to decline the invitation to play for Team USA. He’s focused on getting his mechanics right for the regular season. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)

Song’s status for Opening Day in question

PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 5: Sung-Mun Song #24 of the San Diego Padres hits a home run during a Spring Training game against the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Stadium on March 5, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Diego Padres were not incredibly involved in the bigger free agents on the board this offseason. Their one marquee signing came in KBO superstar Sung-Mun Song. The Friars signed him to a four-year, $15 million contract a few weeks after the Winter Meetings in December 2025.

Throughout the offseason, Song has figured to act as a super-utility player in the 2026 clubhouse. His bat may not translate as well over to MLB as his glove will. But he’s able to play all over the infield and is learning how to play the outfield so that the club can insert him wherever and whenever. 

The delayed ramp-up to spring

During batting practice in January, Song sustained an oblique injury. This halted his introduction to Spring Training and led to him begin Cactus League play late.

But once he joined the team, he began to prove to be exactly what the Padres hoped he would be. In 19 plate appearances Song notched four hits (including one home run) and three walks. 

It’s a far cry from the incredible numbers that Song put up in the KBO. From 2024-25, Song managed a .328/.398/.524 slash line and 45 home runs. But, given time, it’s likely he could produce during the regular season.

Defensively he’s managed quite well. Song has played two games at second base, four at third, and one at shortstop. He has yet to make his debut in the outfield but has been near-perfect in the various infield roles, with only one error across 31.0 innings between the three positions.

The injury stalling his MLB debut

Unfortunately, after belting his first home run of the spring in Thursday’s 27-6 rout against the Seattle Mariners, Song exited the game with a tight oblique. It’s now being reported that his status for Opening Day may be in question.

Song himself said that he feels “fine…play[ing] defense and running,” but that he has difficulty hitting. Manager Craig Stammen stated they would rather wait for Song to be fully rehabilitated as opposed to taking him on and off the injured list throughout the season. 

Thankfully the soreness wasn’t a total recurrence of the injury so it shouldn’t take nearly as long to heal from it. That being said, Song has only played light catch. He’s yet to swing or bat or field a ball since Thursday’s game.

The question of the Opening Day roster

Whether or not Song makes it to the clubhouse on Opening Day seems to be a question of his health more so than his performance. If the oblique problem is fully solved by March 26 then he’s an easy selection for the utility role.

It’s uncertain if Song will make the 26-man roster, but if he doesn’t it will create a spot for someone else. Possible options include hot hitters Jose Miranda and Samad Taylor, as well as 2025 Gold Glove winner Ty France.

Whatever the case, Song will hopefully be a major piece of San Diego’s plans for 2026. If he can battle back from the oblique injury, he’ll easily be one of the Friars’ most interesting players to watch this season.

Game Thread: White Sox (11-7) at Athletics (7-10)

Shane Smith makes his third start of the Spring after locking down the Opening Day start for the South Siders. | (Rick Scuteri/Imagn Images)

Chicago’s offense hopes to stay hot in Tuesday’s game against the Athletics after the White Sox dropped 11 runs on the Colorado Rockies in just one inning on Monday afternoon for their fourth consecutive win. The irony here is that both the Sox and the Rockies are essentially the worst teams in baseball, yet they both rank in the top four in Spring Training OPS — just like they drew it up.

Typically, the A’s would be right there with them at the bottom, but they, too, have an exciting young core of players. They’ve flipped a switch offensively over the past week and are currently riding a three-game win streak. Just in the last seven days, the Athletics have the most hits (78), home runs (13), and RBIs (53), and are also tied for most doubles (17). Their pitching staff, however, hasn’t experienced the same success recently. While the A’s pitchers are leading MLB with 72 strikeouts over the past week, they have also allowed the most walks, hits, and earned runs while posting a 6.21 ERA.

With righthander Shane Smith taking the mound for the Good Guys, ideally, the Athletics are brought back down to earth as Smith prepares for his 2026 Opening Day debut. In two spring starts, Smith has accumulated a 5.79 ERA in 4 2/3 innings with two strikeouts. Yes, it’s in a tiny sample size, but his strong performance last season tells us that we shouldn’t be worried about a few Spring Training innings. It also certainly helps that the South Side offense has mashed the most hits (174) and triples (10), and is slashing .282/.363/.483 as a team.

Lefthander Jeffrey Springs is making his third start of the preseason for the Athletics, with a rough 9.00 ERA in only four innings, but like Smith, he was decent for the A’s in 2025 with a 4.11 ERA across 171 frames. Springs holds a 3.64 career ERA across 177 games and 67 starts, though if there’s a team that has been hitting lefties well, it would be the White Sox. Against southpaws, the South Siders hold the third-best OPS (.877) and are tied with the LA Dodgers for the top slugging percentage (.505).

While there isn’t a live television broadcast for this game, an MLB.TV or MLB+ subscription will allow you to listen in via the A’s radio broadcast. First pitch is at 3:05 p.m. CDT — let’s get five in a row!

Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks spring training game roster

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 06: Mookie Betts #50 and Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers meet in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch on March 06, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dodgers are back home to host the Arizona Diamondbacks at Camelback Ranch on Tuesday afternoon. Their lineup includes at least seven and likely eight players who will be on the opening day roster, their most in a game so far this spring.

Lineup

Miguel Rojas 2B
Kyle Tucker RF
Mookie Betts SS
Freddie Freeman 1B
Max Muncy 3B
Andy Pages CF
Alex Call LF
Santiago Espinal DH
Eliézer Alfonzo C

Tyler Glasnow starts on the mound, his third appearance this spring.

Other pitchers

Blake Treinen, Ben Casparius, and Edgardo Henriquez will toe the bump on Tuesday, as will non-roster right-hander Chris Campos.

Pitchers active from minor league camp include Joseilyn Gonzalez (wearing number 00), Matt Lanzendorfer (87), Davis Chastain (89), and Nick Nastrini (93).

Other position players

Michael Siani is active on Tuesday, as are non-roster invitees Ryan Fitzgerald, Zyhir Hope, Zach Ehrhard, James Tibbs III, Noah Miller, Nick Senzel, and Seby Zavala.

Active from the minor league side are infielders John Rhodes (09) and Yeiner Fernandez (04), outfielder Damon Keith (08), and catcher Frank Rodriguez (07).

Dodgers on Deck: Thursday, March 12 vs. Reds

Mar 5, 2026; Goodyear, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Cole Irvin (38) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at Goodyear Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

After their first off day of spring training, the Dodgers are back at it on Thursday night, hosting the Cincinnati Reds at Camelback Ranch.

Non-roster veteran Cole Irvin is in line for the start, which would be the fourth appearance this spring for the left-hander. He pitched three innings last Thursday, also against the Reds, and gave up six runs in Goodyear.

Per the Reds’ game notes on Tuesday (so take with the appropriate amount of salt grains you see fit), other Dodgers on the docket to pitch Thursday are Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Kyle Hurt, Paul Gervase, plus non-roster invitees Ryder Ryan and Antoine Kelly.

Nick Lodolo starts Thursday night for Cincinnati.

Thursday game info
  • Teams: Dodgers vs Reds
  • Ballpark: Camelback Ranch
  • Time: 6:05 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: WLW (Reds broadcast)

Francisco Lindor feels 'really good' after playing shortstop for first time since surgery in Mets backfield game

Francisco Lindor made his first appearance of spring training, playing shortstop for four innings in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals on a backfield at the Mets’ Port St. Lucie complex on Tuesday. 

Lindor has been ramping up for several weeks now and got his first taste of live game action since he sustained a hamate bone injury that required surgery at the beginning of February

After the game, Lindor said he felt "really good," though he still needs to get used to moving his surgically repaired left hand.

"I’m not as strong with my hand, so just got to get stronger. … I’m in a good spot, I can’t complain," Lindor said.

The club anticipates that the shortstop will be ready for Opening Day, when the Mets host the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 26 at Citi Field.

"All indications we have is this is going as planned, and we have a similar level of optimism that he’ll be ready," president of baseball operations David Stearnssaid on Monday.

"Yeah, I share his confidence for sure," Lindor said. "Our training staff is really good. They’ve been doing everything possible. … They’re getting me right day in and day out, so I trust them, I trust the process. 

"They’ve been through this a lot of times, and when they say I’ll be ready for Opening Day, I believe them. I’m very optimistic. Hopefully everything here goes the right way and we’ll see where we’re at."

There was clearly a bit of rust in the early going as Lindor misplayed a grounder in the first inning, as he didn’t play the right hop and let the ball skip under his glove. Later in the inning, he camped under a pop-up in the infield with no issue, as expected.

Nothing was hit the shortstop's way over the next three frames, and Lindor exited after four innings of work.

Lindor was not batting in the game, which Stearns said would be a necessary step for him to make the roster to start the season.

"That would be a prerequisite. We wouldn’t have his first competition be Opening Day," Stearns said. "We would ensure there are at-bats... I would expect Grapefruit League, but we haven’t mapped this out yet."

Asked once again if he'd be ready for Opening Day, Lindor said he is "100 percent optimistic" that he'd be back, but also admitted he'd likely be playing through some pain, though that's not all that uncommon in Major League Baseball.

"It would be tough to be in position where I can say I’m going to play 100 percent. We depend on our bodies, and very few guys can tell you they feel 100 percent," Lindor explained. "So, I'm sure there will be some pains here and there and I’m sure my hand is still going to hurt at times, because everyone I’ve talked to about the hamate bone says it still bothers them at times, but ultimately it comes down to being able to play the game at an elite level, and that’s what I’m trying to do and whatever it takes to help my team win."