Though there was a brief detour through free agency this offseason, Evan Phillips is back with the Dodgers for a sixth season. The veteran right-hander re-signed with Los Angeles on Wednesday on a one-year, $6.5 million contract, the team announced.
After beginning the 2025 season on the injured list with a right rotator cuff strain stemming from the 2024 postseason, Phillips pitched in only seven games last season, with six strikeouts and two walks in 5 2/3 scoreless innings in April and May.
“We had a number of back and forth discussions with Evan and his agent,” Friedman said via text. “It is challenging with him coming off surgery, so he is going to take some time and look to sign after he throws off the mound when his rehab allows. Evan has been a big part of our past success and we will continue the conversation about bringing him back. We respect that he is taking this time to decide what is best for him and his family.”
Since joining the Dodgers on a waiver claim from the Rays in 2021, Phillips has been one of the best relievers in baseball, with a 2.22 ERA and 2.87 xERA in 201 games, with 221 strikeouts and 52 walks in 195 innings, and 45 saves. The right-hander is 31 years old.
To make room on the 40-man roster, catcher Ben Rortvedt was designated for assignment. Rortvedt was just re-claimed off waivers on Friday from the Reds, after the Dodgers lost him on waivers in November. This move was expected at some point, considering Rortvedt is out of options and behind Will Smith and Dalton Rushing on the depth chart. Rortvedt didn’t get through waivers the last time the Dodgers tried this in November, but if he clears waivers this time they can keep Rortvedt around for depth, but just off the 40-man roster.
What is bad news for Team USA at the World Baseball Classic is worse news for the Arizona Diamondbacks as baseball season looms.
Star outfielder Corbin Carroll is going to miss the international event for Team USA this season after suffering a broken hamate bone in his right hand during a live batting practice at Salt River Fields in Arizona. Carroll, a two-time All-Star who has played at least 143 games in each of the past three seasons, does not yet have a timeline set for his return.
Carroll suffered the injury early on Tuesday, Feb. 10. He now joins the Mets' Francisco Lindor and the Orioles' Jackson Holliday as players to start 2026 rehabbing a broken hamate bone. The same injury hindered Mike Trout in July and August in 2023 and Jose Ramirez in 2019.
For Carroll, the injury does not necessarily preclude him from starting for the Diamondbacks on opening day, but it does take a player Team USA undoubtedly hoped would be a key contributor at the World Baseball Classic in March out of the fold.
What is Corbin Carroll's injury?
Carroll suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand during a live batting practice on Feb. 10. The star outfielder, who won NL Rookie of the Year in 2023 en route to a Diamondbacks World Series appearance, had a strong bounce-back season in 2025 after struggling in 2024.
Carroll has managed to stay relatively healthy in his first three full seasons, playing 155 games in 2023, 158 in 2024, and 143 in 2025.
How long is Corbin Carroll out?
Carroll's injury will keep him out for the entirety of the World Baseball Classic in March. Team USA will have to fill his roster spot.
More concerning is his status with the Diamondbacks. While a hamate bone can generally take anywhere from four to eight weeks to heal, it's the kind of injury that can linger and affect a batter. Power in particular can be hindered, which would be particularly damaging for Carroll, who saw his power numbers go up last year and is coming off the first 30-plus home run season of his career.
Carroll is undergoing surgery Wednesday, Feb. 11 to repair the injury. His status for Opening Day is in question.
Team USA World Baseball Classic outfield
Carroll's injury will have an impact on the construction of Team USA's outfield.
The United States was carrying four outfielders: Byron Buxton, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Aaron Judge, and Carroll. While Crow-Armstrong is the best defensive outfielder in the league, let alone on the team, by outs above average in 2025, Carroll figured to be a strong positive in the outfield as well.
Team USA will now be tasked with naming a replacement for Carroll.
Corbin Carroll stats
Carroll is coming off a season in which he slashed .259/.343/.541 with 31 home runs, his first 30 home run season. He had a career-best 140 OPS+ and finished sixth in NL MVP voting.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 29: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves looks on prior to the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Friday, August 29, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Denis Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
When it comes to projection models like FanGraphs and PECOTA, the Atlanta Braves have some very high expectations in 2026. However, they’ve still got a ways to go when it comes to convincing some pundits out there — particularly the panel of five people who were chosen to make predictions for USA Today when it comes to the upcoming 2026 season.
According to that crew, the Braves will be fighting with the Mets for second place in the NL East while the Phillies run away with it.
One powerhouse. And a whole lot of parity.
That figures to be the theme throughout what should be a tightly bunched Major League Baseball season, and USA TODAY Sports’ projected win totals for 2026 reflect as much.
As a matter of fact, this projection has the Braves missing the playoffs altogether by one game, as this would have the Mets facing the Brewers and the Cubs facing the Padres in the Wild Card round with the Dodgers and Phillies getting the bye. USA Today doesn’t figure that the Dodgers are going to just run away with things but they do figure that they’ll still be clear of the rest of the pack in not just the NL but the rest of the pack as well.
Here’s some of the (brief) reasoning behind USA Today’s prediction for the ‘26 Braves:
GM Alex Anthopoulos generally doesn’t get stuck in the middle, but they’re light on starting pitching and will be missing shortstop Ha-Seong Kim for a minute.
While it is true that the Braves have some question marks with their starting pitching and will also be missing Ha-Seong Kim, I do feel like the Braves have fortified their squad a bit over the course of the offseason to be able to withstand those issues — though Spencer Schwellenbach being out for a significant amount of time certainly complicates things. The Braves could do with another addition to the starting pitching rotation but at the same time, as long as the the entire rotation avoids another collective trip to the 60-Day IL then that alone should boost the Braves’ fortunes in 2025.
With that being said, even the rosiest projection models don’t think that the Braves are going to simply dominate the division, either. Atlanta’s going to have to deal with the Phillies and Mets all season, whether they’re returning to the top of the NL East (and the NL in general) or they’re having to scratch and claw their way into simply making the Postseason.
Anything is on the table for this team when you consider how the past two seasons are gone. The potential is there for a good-to-great season but at the same time, it’s totally understandable if the Braves do end up in a season-long rock fight once again. We’ll see what happens!
For those keeping score, that’s 11 of the 34 spring games. Seven of them will be games at Sloan Park and four will be away games.
There will be some broadcasts of Cubs spring games by the TV channel of their opponent. As of now, here’s what I have:
Monday 3/16 at Guardians: Guardians.TV Saturday 3/21 at Mariners: Mariners.TV
Both of those games will also have audio broadcasts via the opponent’s radio channel.
The game on Monday 2/23 at the Royals will be carried on Royals radio, and the Saturday 2/21 game at Sloan Park, which will be televised on Marquee, will also be on Rangers radio. And, the game Tuesday 3/24 at Sloan Park vs. the Yankees will be carried on Yankees radio, WFAN.
The following games will be broadcast on Cubs radio station The Score:
Friday 2/20 vs. White Sox Saturday 2/21 vs. Rangers Saturday 3/7 vs. Athletics Sunday 3/8 vs. Giants Saturday 3/14 vs. Rockies Sunday 3/15 vs. Dodgers Tuesday 3/17 vs. Angels Saturday 3/21 vs. Mariners Sunday 3/22 vs. Brewers Monday 3/23 vs. Yankees
A note that the radio broadcasts on The Score this year are moving to 104.3 FM, so the audio quality should be better.
When I get further information on TV or radio broadcasts of Cubs spring games by The Score or the opponent’s radio or TV channel, this post will be updated. I’ll also include broadcast information on every spring game preview, which as usual will post two hours before game time.
I know this isn’t what most folks here wanted to hear about spring broadcasts, and I’m sure you’ll let us know through the complaint department, which is open.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 02: A general view during the San Francisco Giants game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park on August 02, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers are favorites to win the National League West in 2026, which is not a surprise. They have been favored to win the division nearly every year for over a decade. But perhaps the scale of their expected prowess this year stands out.
Everyone else in the division is seen as either right around .500 or are the Rockies.
Team
Prospectus
FanGraphs
Average
Giants
81.3
82.3
81.8
Padres
81.9
80.1
81.0
D-backs
77.5
80.8
79.2
Rockies
60.7
65.1
62.9
The Padres will get Joe Musgrove back this year but have already lost Dylan Cease and Robert Suárez, plus Yu Darvish might retire.
The Giants got a new manager in Tony Vitello, and added a lot on the periphery, signing Harrison Bader, Luis Arráez, Tyler Mahle, and Adrian Houser.
Arizona got Merrill Kelly back, signed Mike Soroka, and will probably get ace Corbin Burnes back around the All-Star break.
The Dodgers played an NL West team in the Division Series five years in a row (2020-24) before that streak ended last year, and even then San Diego still made the postseason. Given the projections, this year might be the first time since 2019 that the division won’t have multiple playoff teams.
Today’s question is which team is the Dodgers’ biggest threat in the National League West?
Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday will undergo surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his right hand, the team announced on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Holliday was injured on Feb. 6 during a live batting practice.
Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said Holliday will miss opening day, and a timeline for his return will be measured in weeks. Baltimore will open the 2026 MLB regular season on March 26 at home against the Minnesota Twins.
Possible replacements for Holliday while he is sidelined include infielder Blaze Alexander, who was traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks for reliever Kade Strowd and prospects Wellington Aracena and Jose Mejia.
The 22-year-old Holliday, the first overall pick of the 2022 Amateur Draft, hit .242 with 17 home runs and 55 RBIs in 149 games last season.
When Mariano Rivera retired in 2013, one of the greatest luxuries the Yankees had enjoyed in the Core Four dynasty came to an end. They had to start worrying long-term about who would pitch the ninth inning. The first man to succeed the Sandman was his setup man, David Robertson, who performed well enough to score a free agent deal with the Chicago White Sox to serve as their closer. Then when Andrew Miller came aboard in 2015 and notched 36 saves in 38 opportunities, it seemed the matter was settled.
But the Yankees were thinking bigger. Ahead of 2016 they traded for All-Star Reds closer Aroldis Chapman. The Cuban Missile was famous for his record-setting fastball, and would bring his near-unhittable heat to the Bronx in his last full season before free agency.
Chapman had also, however, been suspended by MLB under the league’s domestic violence policy and would miss the first 30 games of the 2016 campaign. The Yankees sputtered and ultimately traded Chapman to the eventual champion Cubs in a deal which brought Gleyber Torres to the organization. It seemed that would be that, then. Chapman might, thanks in part to his own actions, have been a mere footnote in the record of a forgettable Yankee season.
Then they brought him back.
Albertín Aroldis Chapman
Signing Date: December 15, 2016 Contract: 5 years, $86 million
Born in Cuba in 1988, Chapman became a superstar in his native country—and in the World Baseball Classic—before defecting to the United States in 2009. Once in the States, the tall left-hander immediately became a hot commodity for MLB teams. It was the Cincinnati Reds who ultimately scored Chapman, signing him to a six-year bonus-laden contract. It wouldn’t take long for his arm to enter the history books. In September, Chapman threw a record-breaking 105.1 mph fastball, the fastest pitch ever recorded.
By that point Chapman had already been moved to the closer spot, where he would remain. His breakout campaign came in 2012, when he posted 38 saves with a 1.51 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 71.2 innings. That would quickly become the new normal as Chapman made that year’s All-Star Game as well as the ensuing three Midsummer Classics.
The Reds, though, soon became a team in decline. They had snapped a 15-year playoff drought by winning the 2010 NL Central in Chapman’s rookie season and shook off both an NLDS sweep at the hands of the Phillies and a sub-.500 season in 2011 to win another division in 2012. Another October went by the wayside when they blew a 2-0 lead and painfully dropped three in a row at home to the Giants when they needed just one win to advance to the NLCS. A playoff berth in 2013 lasted just one game, as the rowdy Pittsburgh fans rattled them in a quick Wild Card Game loss.
Following that mini-renaissance of sorts, Cincy fell to the cellar of the NL Central, dropping 86 games in 2014 and 98 the next year. So inthe 2015 offseason, the Reds shopped Chapman around, nearly consummating a deal with the Dodgers in December.
Early that month, news broke that Chapman was being investigated for an alleged incident of domestic violence which occurred in October. According to what his girlfriend told police at the time, Chapman pushed her, choked her, and later fired a gun multiple times into the wall of his garage while locked inside it. Chapman was never formally charged, but was still suspended by MLB for 30 games. He did not appeal the decision.
The Reds’ deal with the Dodgers fizzled out, but evidently not every organization thought they should stay away. On December 28th, the Yankees acquired Chapman for a bushel of prospects, none of whom made an impact in MLB (save for Caleb Cotham … but only because he was retired within two years and soon became a well-regarded Phillies pitching coach). Brian Cashman and the Yankees knew exactly what they were doing with this buy-low offer, grossly referring to Chapman as “an asset in distress.”
Chapman sat out all of April with the suspension, then managed a 2.01 ERA in 31 games for a Bombers squad plainly doomed to miss the playoffs — “No Runs DMC” be damned. Stuck in fourth place in the AL East, the Yankees dealt Chapman to the Cubs in the aforementioned deal which included Gleyber Torres in the return. Chapman went on to help win the most overdue World Series in baseball history, though his blown save in Game 7 nearly cost them the title. The Cuban Missile hit the free agent market with as stacked a resumé as any closer, but the suspension loomed large as a character concern, to say the least.
The Yankees, who had also jettisoned Miller in that trade deadline, definitely had a need at closer. They also had options. Former Yankee Mark Melancon had broken out with three All-Star campaigns in Pittsburgh (though he would quickly sign a $62 million deal in San Francisco). Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen was available, and would remain a free agent until January.
But the alleged incident hadn’t stopped the Yankees for trading for Chapman in the first place, and it wouldn’t stop them from signing him as a free agent. On December 8th, Ken Rosenthal reported that Chapman and the Yankees had agreed to a five-year, $86 million deal. That dollar figure was the highest ever given to a reliever. An apparent big-money offer from the Marlins reportedly forced the Yankees to up the ante on their deal.
Any Yankee fan who thought their hands were proverbially clean after the Cubs deal had to begrudgingly begin to root for Chapman again — or at least watch the ninth inning with a perfectly blank expression. To be entirely fair to him, he had publicly expressed contrition for his actions and is still in regular contact with his counselor, but fans understandably felt sour about him getting a record-breaking contract after the fact.
In 2017, Chapman struggled with injuries and posted subpar numbers for his lofty standards, but returned in perfect form for the playoffs. He finished five playoff games, including ALDS Game 5, in which the Yankees completed their rousing 0-2 series comeback against Cleveland.
The Bombers fell a game shy of the World Series in 2017, but were decidedly ahead-of-schedule thanks to the advent of Aaron Judge. Ahead of 2018, they geared up for a big run. Chapman returned to All-Star form with a 2.45 ERA while going 32 of 34 in save opportunities, but the Red Sox eclipsed the Yankees both in the divisional race and in the ensuing ALDS.
Chapman earned his sixth All-Star appearance in 2019, and would have his most consequential moment in pinstripes that season. It was not in victory, however, but in defeat. Of course, the Yankees dug themselves into a deep hole in their ALCS rematch with the Astros, falling behind 3-1 in the series. But they were beginning to summon that 2017 magic. After claiming Game 5 in the Bronx, a dramatic two-run home run by DJ LeMahieu off Roberto Osuna suddenly tied Game 6 when the Yankees were two outs from elimination.
But that heroism from The Machine just set the stage for humiliation in the home half of the ninth. Chapman took the mound and, with two men out, allowed Yankee nemesis Jose Altuve to end the series with a walk-off homer. There was the homer, and then there was The Grimace.
Due to opt out of his deal, Chapman received an extension to keep him in New York through 2022. But in 2020, he was was again the victim of a late consequential homer when he surrendered a bomb to Mike Brosseau in the Rays’ do-or-die Game 5 victory over the Yankees in the ALDS.
The Cuban Missile made another All-Star Game in 2021 despite a cataclysmic June in which he allowed 11 runs in 8.2 innings. He recuperated down the stretch, but the Yankees lost the Wild Card Game to the Red Sox.
The following season, in the final year of his deal, Chapman struggled with injury and fell out of the closer spot in favor of the surging Clay Holmes. He infamously went on the IL in August thanks to an infection he got from a new tattoo. Then in September, Chapman blew off a mandatory workout ahead of the ALDS, flying down to Miami and skipping a live batting practice session he was set to throw. As a result, he was left off the playoff roster. With Holmes and Wandy Peralta both capable of locking down tense matchups, the Yankees didn’t really need Chapman. But the acrimonious exit came as little surprise to a fanbase who was by now pretty tired of rooting for him.
Despite being the heir apparent to Mariano, Chapman was very rarely a comfortable watch. Throughout most years of his Yankee tenure, you knew his outings would go one of two ways: either he had his command and the game was over, or he didn’t, and you were destined to feel squeamish for however long the ordeal lasted. Then every so often, he’d give up a backbreaking homer and you were free to do something else with your day, but about 15 percent grumpier.
Of course, Chapman is still pitching in MLB. He spent a few years as a setup man and won a second World Series in more of a support role for the 2023 Rangers. Chapman returned to the closer spot with the Red Sox last year, and almost out of the blue, he posted what was statistically the best season of his career at age-37 in wake of some tweaks to his approach. He was extended by Boston in September on a deal that will go through 2027 as long as he throws at least 40 innings this year.
At this point, Chapman’s career accomplishments give him a near-Cooperstown-worthy resumé (even with bumpy playoff results). But when you betray a fanbase’s trust by crossing a line, as he did when he allegedly attacked his girlfriend in 2015—it is extremely difficult to earn that respect back. Chapman never fully did for a myriad of reasons, so while his time in pinstripes was statistically impressive, his legacy is decidedly less rosy.
See more of the “50 Most Notable Yankees Free Agent Signings in 50 Years” series here.
ALTOONA, PA - SEPTEMBER 04: Konnor Griffin #12 of the Altoona Curve celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring during the game between the Richmond Flying Squirrels and the Altoona Curve at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Thursday, September 4, 2025 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sydney Kaschalk/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
The Pittsburgh Pirates are no strangers to making deals and shipping out big name players in the past, but who on this 2026 team should be deemed untouchable during trade talks this year ?
A lot of people will say Paul Skenes, and it’s hard to disagree with that, he is the reigning NL CY young winner. He is also widely considered one of the best pitchers in the league and he is only going into his third season.
I don’t want the Pirates to trade Skenes any time soon and honestly, I would deem him as untouchable as well, but the better he plays, the more expensive he is going to be when he eventually enters free agency. He is a great pitcher, but he is also the archetype of someone that we have seen Pittsburgh move on from fast, just look at the Gerrit Cole situation.
In my opinion, Konnor Griffin would be the untouchable player for the Bucs going into this season.
Griffin was taken ninth overall in the 2024 draft, and at this point, he is considered the Pirates top prospect. The reason why I think the young shortstop should be untouchable is because of the raw potential he has. He was taken that high in the draft to be the future and new face of this franchise.
The Pirates have really good pitching, and that was the case last year too, but the hitting struggled. Griffin could be the guy you build around and he is a strong defender with some underrated power in his bat. Griffin is ranked as the top prospect in the organization and he hit very well in the minors, with people already saying he is the best player out of that 2024 draft.
Depending on how the season is going in July Pittsburgh could move on from some veteran players to continue to build for the future. They could trade away Marcell Ozuna or even players like Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz but if you are the Pirates you gotta keep those young guys especially Konnor Griffin.
Tell us in the comments who on this team should be deemed untouchable during trade talks.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Nick Kurtz #16 of the Athletics looks on as he heads back to the dugout after striking out during the bottom of the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Sutter Health Park on September 28, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pitchers and catchers have reported and it’s finally beginning to feel like baseball season. The A’s checked off most of their offseason wish-list, trading for a starting-caliber second baseman (Jeff McNeil), signing a veteran starting pitcher (Aaron Civale just yesterday), and a couple low-end middle relievers (Mark Leiter Jr. and Scott Barlow).
Better than all those moves combined for me though is the recent extensions the club has secured with Tyler Soderstrom and Jacob Wilson, locking them in as core players for years to come. And those two extensions are on top of the ones given to Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker. The A’s are finally trying to keep their players.
But was all that enough for the A’s to possibly contend for a Wild Card spot? The team was never going to play in the deep-end of the free agent pool but they probably could have spent more than what they have. The front office added plenty of depth arms to the organization’s relief cupboard but the team is more or less bringing back the same guys as last season, minus a half season of Mason Miller. The starting rotation has potential but only if everything goes perfectly. And though they’ve looked for upgrades at the position, third base looks like it’ll be a combination of Max Muncy, Andy Ibanez and Darell Hernaiz.
Which offseason decision have you disliked the most or feel the most uneasy about? Have we not shored up the relief core enough? Is the starting rotation your primary concern? No upgrade at the hot corner? Or is your head not even on the field, instead wishing for one final extension from our Rookie of the Year first baseman Nick Kurtz? Debate and comment below!
Shohei Ohtani will lead off again. Will Smith will bat fifth. Mookie Betts will probably be in the third spot.
Three weeks before the Dodgers’ first full-squad workout of spring training, manager Dave Roberts was already talking about what his batting order would look like.
And why not?
Roberts knows what he has.
All-Stars up and down the lineup. A rotation packed with potential Cy Young Award candidates. A bullpen loaded with flamethrowers.
Not much guesswork is involved when your team is the two-time defending World Series champion. Not as much finger-crossing when you have the most expensive collection of talent in baseball history.
LA Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki, left, and Shohei Ohtani celebrate after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series in November in Toronto, Canada. Getty Images
That doesn’t mean the Dodgers don’t have any questions heading into spring training this year.
Here are the five most important:
What to expect of Roki Sasaki?
Considered a generational talent in his home country of Japan, the 24-year-old Sasaki remains a mystery as he prepares for his second year in the majors.
Sasaki underwhelmed as a starting pitcher last year, as his control was off and his velocity was down. He spent more than four months on the injured list, but returned in the final week of the regular season and quickly became the team’s closer.
Sasaki, who underwhelmed as a starting pitcher last year, at LA’s Dodger Stadium on Jan. 31. Getty Images
The right-hander accepted the move to the bullpen under the condition that he be given a chance to start again this year. The Dodgers will honor their promise to him, but it’s uncertain whether he has the durability or arsenal required to be a starting pitcher in the majors.
In his five years with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese league, Sasaki was never healthy for an entire season. He said his goal this year was to “remain standing on the mound for the entire year without any injuries.”
Sasaki relies heavily on his fastball and forkball, so much so that Roberts has called for him to develop a third pitch. Sasaki is listening.
“I’ve been practicing a cutter and slider since last year,” he said.
Miguel Rojas is expected to share time at second base with either Hyeseong Kim or Alex Freeland. AP
Who’s at second base?
With Tommy Edman recovering from ankle surgery and expected to miss the start of the season, Miguel Rojas is expected to share time at second base with either Hyeseong Kim or Alex Freeland.
The fleet-footed Kim excelled as a bottom-of-the-order hitter when he was initially called up from triple-A last year, but his production plunged after a couple of months. In 71 major league games, he stole 13 bases.
The other option would be Freeland, who entered last season as one of the organization’s top prospects. He earned his first promotion to the majors in the middle of the season when Max Muncy and Kiké Hernandez were on the injured list. Batting just .190 in 29 games, Freeland finished the season with triple-A Oklahoma City.
Andy Pages crushed 27 homers in the regular season last year, but was just four for 45 in the postseason. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Which version of Andy Pages shows up?
By running over Kiké Hernandez to make a season-saving catch in Game 7 of the World Series, Andy Pages assured himself a place in Dodgers folklore. But can Pages assure himself a place on the team going forward?
Pages, 25, finds himself at a career crossroads. He crushed 27 homers in the regular season last year, but was just four for 45 in the postseason.
This will be the year in which Pages transitions from prospect to regular starter — or becomes another James Outman. Another athletic outfielder, Outman homered 23 times for the Dodgers in 2023. He was traded last year to the Minnesota Twins.
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The $72-million left-hander was nothing like the pitcher who struck out Ohtani four times in four plate appearances pitching for the San Diego Padres in the 2024 National League Division Series. Scott registered a 4.74 earned-run average and was credited with nine blown saves.
Scott believes his problem was that he challenged opposing hitters too much, and the data indicates he’s onto something. The percentage of pitches he threw in the strikezone went up last year.
With Edwin Díaz signed to be the team’s closer, Scott is expected to be used in a setup role and Roberts should be able to deploy him against their opponents’ best left-handed hitters.
Dodgers’ Ryan Ward arrives for a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona in March 2025. Getty Images
Is Ryan Ward already on the trading block?
Ryan Ward has hit 70 home runs in the minor leagues over the last two seasons. He was the Pacific Coast League’s most valuable player last year. He’s already 28.
So why did the Dodgers spend $240 million to avoid giving him a chance?
The team’s decision-makers swear the choice to splurge on Kyle Tucker was more about Tucker’s talent than Ward’s shortcomings.
The downside of coming up in an organization like the Dodgers is that because they have to win now, they don’t have the luxury of gambling on prospects. The Dodgers will take a look at him to see if he could be a late bloomer like Max Muncy, but his real chance might come elsewhere. Other teams are interested, making him a candidate to be moved at the trade deadline.
SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday will have surgery on Thursday to repair a broken hamate bone in his right hand and will miss opening day.
Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias announced Wednesday that Holliday sustained the injury while taking batting practice last week.
Holliday, 22, hit .242 with 17 home runs, 55 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 2025. He was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2022.
Elias also said Wednesday that third baseman Jordan Westburg is recovering from a right oblique injury that could delay his participation in spring training games.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Mason Barnett #63 of the Athletics pitches in the top of the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at Sutter Health Park on September 26, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
*In an effort to make the nomination voting easier for everyone, I will comment, “NOMINATIONS”, and you may reply to that with your picks and upvote the player you’d like to see on the next nominee list.
After just barely losing last round to outfielder Devin Taylor, right-handed starter prospect Mason Barnett was the clear winner for the 11th-best prospect in the A’s system as voted on by A’s fans. Barnett, the headline return piece from Kansas City the A’s got back in exchange for Lucas Erceg, made his big league debut this past season, getting a quick cup of coffee in the big leagues. The righty didn’t look all that great in Triple-A this past season, his first at that level, and he predictably struggled against higher competition in the big leagues. The team will continue letting him develop in Triple-A to open the year but he’s likely one of the first callups when an injury inevitably pops up. We’ll all be hoping he takes advantage of that chance when it comes.
The next nominee joining the remaining four is right-handed pitcher Gunnar Hoglund. Another far ago top trade return, Hoglund’s professional career has been dogged by seemingly never-ending injuries. After four years climbing the minor league ladder he finally made it to the big leagues this past season after dominating at Triple-A to open the year. And he looked good over his first couple of starts in the big leagues. Unfortunately the injury bug seemed to crop up again as he struggled hard in his final few starts with the A’s, The righty would undergo hip surgery in mid-June, prematurely ending his rookie season. There haven’t been any reports of any sort of setbacks but we’ll be finding out soon if there have been since everyone is reporting in for duty.
The process for this public vote is explained below. Please take a moment to read this before participating:
Please only vote for one. The player with the most votes at the end of voting will win the ranked spot. The remaining four players move on to the next ballot where they are joined by a new nominee.
In the comments, below the official voting, the community will nominate players to be put onto the ballot for the next round. The format for your comment should be “Nomination: Player Name”.
If a prospect is traded, his name will be crossed out, and all other players will be moved up a space. If a prospect is acquired, a special vote will be put up to determine where that player should rank.
The voting continues! Who will be voted as the 12th-best prospect in the A’s system? Here’s a quick rundown on each nominee— the scouting grades (on a 20-to-80 scale) and scouting reports come from MLB Pipeline.
White’s right-handed power is legitimate and he can hit the ball a long way to all fields thanks to his strength and bat speed. He might be known for his home run totals but he’s a better overall hitter than people think, finding the barrel consistently and limiting strikeouts. His knack for contact can lead to him expanding his strike zone, but he doesn’t swing and miss very often.
It will be White’s bat that carries him to the big leagues. He’s a well-below-average runner who likely lacks the range and tools to stick at third base, where he toiled as a sophomore and junior, earning praise for playing through a shoulder injury at LSU in 2023. He’s likely headed to first base long term, which could give the A’s a glut of serious offensive talent between him and first-rounder Nick Kurtz.
At the plate, Morii features a smooth left-handed swing with tremendous balance. His power stands out, as he clubbed 45 home runs as a high schooler. He is considered an advanced hitter with good barrel control. On the mound, his fastball has been clocked as high as 95 mph and sits around 92-93. He also brings a splitter with nasty movement, a true 12-to-6 curveball and a tighter slider with solid bite and depth, though that offering will probably require some fine-tuning. Having only been pitching with regularity for less than two years, Morii’s arm is relatively fresh as he enters the organization.
Morii’s high-octane throwing arm plays well at shortstop, but some evaluators see a possibility of moving to third base as his 6-foot-1 frame fills out. While scouts see Morii’s long-term future in the batter’s box, the A’s plan on giving him every opportunity to succeed as a two-way player, with excitement already building over his impressive physical traits and desire to become one of the next great players out of Japan.
The 6-foot-3 right-hander has gained velocity steadily in his years as a pro and has touched as high as 99 mph this season. He typically sits around 94 mph, working north-south with the pitch while getting most of his whiffs up and to the armside. He played off that with a 76-79 mph curveball that could have more slurvish tendencies, but at its best, it snapped downward to fool batters sitting on the high heat and it had produced a 47 percent miss rate at the time of the trade. He also utilizes an 83-86 mph split-change to miss bats, but it stands out more for its separation than movement profile.
Baez took a major jump in workload but didn’t let his control improvements suffer. That certainly helps his starting chances, as does his 50.1 percent ground-ball rate from 2024. He’s still only 22, but with his place on the roster now set, the A’s (never afraid to move guys quickly) could try to see what it looks like in the big leagues in a relief role to ease him in.
Though Hoglund may never get back the electric stuff he possessed earlier in his career, the A’s were encouraged to see his fastball velocity tick back up to the low-90s. He has also experimented with adding a two-seamer and cutter. His low-80s slider now features more sweeping action and works as his main secondary pitch. He has also improved his low-80s changeup, creating a solid three-pitch mix that is enhanced by a strong ability to consistently throw strikes.
Now three years removed from Tommy John, the A’s are hopeful that Hoglund can develop into a solid back-end rotation piece, especially if he can successfully develop a fourth pitch. The Florida native was regularly going deep into starts in his big league cameo (6.40 ERA with 23 strikeouts to 11 walks across 32 1/3 innings) before going down with the injury and is expected to make a full recovery before the 2026 season.
The A’s were working on some mechanical adjustments with Miller prior to his injury. His electric fastball ticked up to 96 mph in high school and displayed excellent movement down in the zone. The mid-80s slider is a hard breaker and was showing signs of improvement. His low-80s changeup showed some potential as an average third pitch.
There was real excitement within the organization for Miller’s professional debut. His three-pitch mix and large 6-foot-6 frame give off the potential of a workhorse-type starting pitcher in the big leagues. The A’s also loved the competitiveness they saw from him on the mound while scouting him. After an unfortunate delay, he finally got his first opportunity to make an impression this summer.
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 21: Corbin Carroll #7 of the Arizona Diamondbacks bats during the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Chase Field on September 21, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Phillies 9-2. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, this sucks. News out of Salt River Fields this morning, that Corbin Carroll suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand, during live batting practice. This is going to cause him to miss significant time in spring training, and almost certainly on into the regular season. We do not know yet how bad the injury is, but in general it would be an 8-10 week recovery time, which would definitely be the first couple of weeks of regular season games, at the very least. But hands are tricky things, and there’s no guarantee that he will be back to full strength and capacity at the end of that time.
The D-backs were already thin in the outfield, after the trades of Jake McCarthy and Blaze Alexander, and the ongoing injury of Lourdes Gurriel Jr. That leaves just Jorge Barrosa and Alek Thomas the only healthy outfielders on the 40-man roster. The Ryan Waldschmidt era might end up arriving sooner than we would have liked…
Baseball: World Series: Rear view of Los Angeles Dodgers Clayton Kershaw (22) in action, pitching vs Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium. Game 1. Los Angeles, CA 10/24/2017 CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X161490 TK1 )
The first great team from the Andrew Friedman era came within one game of reaching the ultimate goal despite all of the shenanigans, malfeasances, and such they had to deal with during the 2017 World Series. We aren’t here to dwell on the what-ifs; there’s been plenty of that for far too long. We’re here to remember a specific game that gets lost in the weeds of all that happened in that Fall Classic—one that, had Kenley Jansen completed the save, had Yu Darvish not completely imploded in Game 7, had one of many things gone differently, would be lauded to this day. Before all that transpired in this series, Clayton Kershaw was magnificent in Game 1, unhittable, his pristine great self in leading the Dodgers to a narrow victory over the Astros.
Before addressing that specific game, perhaps it’s worth, with the benefit of hindsight, pondering if 2017 was in fact, the last great chance for Kershaw to dramatically flip the script on the narrative of his postseason woes. Kershaw handled his decline with as much grace and adaptability as any superstar could ever hope for. Even in the twilight years of his career, the left-hander found ways to be significantly above average while also being a shell of his former self. By the time that first championship came around, Kershaw was still superb, but Walker Buehler was the fear-inducing presence amongst starters on that team. The performances throughout that extended postseason were great, but it was no longer truly his team; it was more of him being a part of it. Sure, the individualization of teams is an overplayed and quite tiresome phenomenon, but that doesn’t mean none of these points aren’t true.
If we account for the painful memories of 2019 and that in 2018, the Dodgers had a mountain to climb against a historically good Boston Red Sox team, that 2017 squad, still with Kershaw as its unquestionable ace, represented the last chance for this future Hall of Famer to change the narrative, and for a while, it looked like he’d do it. While even in 2017, one could argue he had already taken a small step back from his dominant era between 2011 and 2014, Kershaw was still inarguably amongst the game’s best, even if he couldn’t sit at 95 mph consistently.
After a pedestrian showing in Game 1 of the NLDS in 2017, one that still saw Kershaw earn the win over the Diamondbacks, the left-hander was terrific in helping the Dodgers win the NL pennant. The Dodgers won all three of Kershaw’s starts in the NLDS and NLCS, including a performance of six one-run innings to help clinch the NL pennant in Wrigley. Kershaw on one side, Justin Verlander on the other — on top of many other narratives, that World Series featured two of the great pitchers of the 21st century looking to put past postseason woes behind them in search of that elusive first championship.
Unfortunately, the schedules weren’t lined up as Houston went to the wire to beat the Yankees in the ALCS, so Kershaw had to face Dallas Keuchel in Game 1 of that World Series—the left-hander delivered in yet another game that the Dodgers’ offense didn’t give him a whole lot of support, scoring only three runs.
Facing a righty-heavy lineup with the likes of Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, George Springer, and José Altuve, all while possessing the ability to actually surprise them with his patented down-and-in slider, Kershaw gave no quarter in a masterful showing of seven one-run innings to earn his first World Series win.
Springer, in particular, who would go on to torch the Dodgers in that series, gave no signs of what was to come, as he struck out all three times against Kershaw and then one more against Kenley Jansen just for good measure.
The one time the Dodgers’ starter might’ve been slightly rattled, following giving up a solo shot to Alex Bregman, he punched out the side in order, retiring Altuve, Correa, and Gurriel.
And since the other two hits Kershaw allowed were both singles, when he left the mound after seven innings of work, the Astros hadn’t had a single at-bat with a runner in scoring position. Whatever happened after this game, one could not ask anything more out of even the very best in these circumstances against such a talented opponent.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 28: Spencer Schwellenbach #56 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at Truist Park on June 28, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Phillies pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater today, effectively ending one of the dreariest off-seasons since team president Dave Dombrowski took over as head of baseball operations prior to the 2021 season.
Yes, he re-signed Kyle Schwarber, far-and-away the franchise’s primary goal over the winter, added free agent reliever Brad Keller to set up closer Jhoan Duran, brought back J.T. Realmuto to guide the pitching staff behind the dish and inked outfielder Adolis Garcia to a one-year deal. Nick Castellanos will soon be gone (we think!), Matt Strahm is in Kansas City, and Harrison Bader’s fun run in Philly ended.
Much has been made about what the Phillies didn’t do this off-season. Despite a desire to change up the team’s mix of players, most of the everyday lineup returns in 2026. Infielder Bo Bichette was stolen away from them by a Mets team that has re-made their roster in a way that some Phils fans with Dombrowski had done, and most of the same players that have frustrated over the last few seasons are back to give things another go.
It remains to be seen whether Dombrowski’s decisions were wise. Six weeks of spring training and 162 games over six months of regular season baseball await. However you feel about the ‘26 Phillies as the mitts start poppin’ down in Clearwater, their spring is off to a much better start than their two top rivals in the NL East.
For Atlanta, it’s a continuation of a slew of injuries that have derailed their chances of competing for a World Series each of the last two years.
This marks the second straight year in which Schwellenbach was placed on the 60-day IL for elbow inflammation at the beginning of the season. He eventually made 17 starts and posted a 3.09 ERA over 110.2 innings last year, a solid finish to his second big league season, and he’s always been trouble for the Phillies. In five career regular season starts, he’s 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA in 31.1 innings against Philadelphia. His absence once again leaves the Braves with a lineup full of household names and serious questions about stability and durability.
Chris Sale will be the likely Opening Day starter after yet another brilliant season with the Braves, but at 37 years old, does he have another All Star campaign in him? Spencer Strider, who missed all of 2024 with a torn ACL, returned to post a 4.45 ERA in 23 starts last year. Once the undisputed best starter in the National League, he is a major question mark as the ‘26 season begins. Reynaldo Lopez was signed as a free agent prior to last year but was injured during his first start with Atlanta. What will he bring to the table? And with Schwellenbach out, Grant Holmes (3.99 ERA in 115 innings) and Bryce Elder (5.30 ERA, 156.1 IP) fill out the rest of a suddenly suspect Atlanta rotation.
For all the question marks Phillies fans have about their rotation, the Braves appear to have even more.
As for Lindor, Mets GM David Stearns is optimistic his star shortstop will be ready for Opening Day, even if surgery is required.
Francisco Lindor will be evaluated for a stress reaction in his left hamate bone, David Stearns said. Surgery is possible and would include a six-week recovery. Stearns said he’s confident Lindor could be ready for opening day if he undergoes the surgery.
Lindor, 32, has been remarkably durable during his Mets’ career, with 160+ games played in three of the last four seasons, and 152 games in 2024. With Juan Soto, Bichette, Jorge Polanco and Marcus Semien in the fold, New York’s lineup is well-suited to suffer a Lindor injury for a short amount of time. Still, it is never good for a star player to begin the season with surgery on a bone in their hand.
Before Phillies fans celebrate too much, there are a number of open questions regarding their roster as camp begins, too. How long after Opening Day will Zack Wheeler begin his 2026 season? Was Aaron Nola’s disastrous 2025 season a fluke or a trend? Will Andrew Painter make up for the loss of Ranger Suarez? Will the Phillies’ outfield be better on the field than they appear to be on paper now? Will Bryce Harper put together an All Star season? Who will provide power and production in the middle of the order?
All three teams in the National League East are dealing with some significant uncertainty as spring training begins.
