SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 21: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers reacts after hitting a double during the second inning of the spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 21, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning.
Shawn McFarland checks out what we learned from the Texas Rangers over the last week as they left Arizona following a pretty smooth spring training.
Zach Crizer writes about some notable things the projection systems believe about the Rangers ahead of the 2026 season.
Evan Grant writes that the Rangers are entering their pitching era and that fledgling venture has been spearheaded by Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom.
McFarland writes that the Rangers and Skip Schumaker still have a few roster choices to make with Surprise in the rearview mirror.
MLB dot com notes the lessons learned from each team’s spring camp with the Rangers seeing an uptick at the plate after moving away from many of the World Series-winning parts in the lineup.
Ahead of Opening Day, the ESPN baseball writers crew takes a look back at notable offseason moves, which included a couple of big trades from the Rangers.
Dayn Perry ranks the top 100 players ahead of the 2026 season with Texas landing four in the top 100, including three in the top 50.
And, after a breakout season in 2025, McFarland lists big right-hander Caden Scarborough as the No. 2 Rangers prospect on the DMN’s top 30 list.
SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 28: Reynaldo López #40 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Friday, March 28, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Vincent Mizzoni/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
If you paid attention to Sunday’s Spring Training game (and to be honest, why would you?), you knew this was coming.
Despite the fact that the Braves are relying on him to be useful, Reynaldo Lopez is very much a wild card heading into the 2026 season, which begins in earnest this week. Lopez was a revelation as a starter in 2024. He missed over a month collectively with injury, but when he was on the hill, he threw up a 48/74/85 line that was: A) good; B) not as good as his outputs but still plenty good anyway; and, C) potentially complicated by a deliberate approach of taking it easy in situations like the bases empty, therefore attempting to directly influence stuff like strand rate and things like gaps between inputs, contact quality, and results.
Unfortunately for everyone, Lopez was basically toast for all of 2025, making just one start and otherwise sitting out the campaign with shoulder woes. Come 2026, as noted, the Braves are relying on Lopez being all systems nominal, but, well…
In 2024, Lopez sat around 95 mph with his four-seamer in Spring Training, where he ultimately convinced the Braves to give him a rotation spot. He eventually ramped up to about 96 mph over the course of the season, adding about a tick relative to him getting loose in the Grapefruit League. Whether because he was taking it easy due to the recurring shoulder issues, or because the shoulder was just not in great shape, Lopez sat only 93 mph for 2025 Spring Training; he actually aired it back out to the same fastball velocity in his one regular season start that year, but we know how things went.
Come 2026, Lopez’ Spring Training efforts were at 92, 92, 93, and 92 before Sunday’s game. Then, his velocity plummeted to around 89 mph, but there was no ostensible sign of injury, nor did the Braves cut the outing short. Lopez also looked and pitched out of sorts — it was his first truly horrid start of 2026 Spring Training, and he had pitched pretty well despite an elevated walk rate in his other four outings, even with the lower velocity.
So, the question is — is this just a blip, or an ominous sign of things to come?
On the blip side, you could argue some combination of him just getting his work in and definitely conserving energy ahead of the season actually starting soon, as well as a normal and/or post-injury-recovery dead arm period that often comes up as a valid/get-the-microphone-away-from-me excuse during Spring Training.
On the portentous side, you have the fact that Lopez did in fact miss nearly all of 2025 after missing a chunk of 2024, was already not throwing as hard this Spring Training compared to prior years, and the anecdotal-ish idea that sometimes shoulder issues in pitchers can sometimes present as loss of oomph without a blatant twinge or source of discomfort that would generally lead to an exam and a shutdown of pitching (a la what happens with elbows).
You can read the fact that the Braves didn’t remove Lopez and let him struggle with diminished stuff for inning after inning as support for the former, though we’ve seen enough weird pitcher injury (non-)management stuff from the team in recent years, too, to make this less of a slam dunk reading.
Anyway, put all that together, and the question is: how far into the season do you think Lopez makes it before hitting the shelf? It was one start last year, it was much of the season in 2024, though it ultimately happened anyway. To be clear, I’m not asking for an innings total or a start total, or whether he gets moved to the bullpen. I’m just asking: when do you expect him to hit the Injured List for the first time in 2026?
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Denzel Clarke #1 of the Athletics walks into the dugout before a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
No sooner was he back from the WBC, Denzel Clarke was greeting me in the dugout with a secret handshake only he knew about, grinning at my confusion and then plopping down onto the bench for an interview. Clarke was fresh off of playing for team Canada with cousins Josh and Bo Naylor and was about to turn his attention to being the captain of the A’s outfield…
Nico: I’m kind of doing this chronologically, so I want to go back to your youth, where I understand that you started baseball relatively late. And I’m curious why and how you got into it, and then how you feel that affected your development arc coming to the present day.
Denzel: Yeah so my cousins, Bo and Josh, introduced me to baseball. I was a soccer player at first, I just needed a different sport and they recommended it so I gave it a shot and things kind of kept rolling from there. And coming from Canada we have a closed window amount of time to get some work done with all the cold snow and everything. So yeah, regardless, I’m happy with my development, and I’m just going to keep chipping away.
Nico: So how do you feel like it affected your development as you played with guys who were maybe your age but more experienced coming up? Did you pay a cost for that?
Denzel: Yeah, I think just a little bit behind starting later, not as much rest. But I mean, everything evens out at the end. And yeah, I’m just excited to keep on working and keep getting better.
Nico: So obviously your defense is your calling card and you play with that reckless abandon. I don’t know if you know the expression, ”The best ability is availability.“ {Clarke nods yes} And now if there’s anything standing between you and success, sometimes it’s just staying on the field. So I’m just wondering how you manage that — you know, a fly ball to the wall, you’re going to want to get to it. And at the same time to help the team, you want to be on the field. So how do you do that?
Denzel: Yeah, for sure. It’s just picking my spots. I think we were playing the Orioles in SAC. I mean, like, that was a big play. Can change the flow of the game. It was a close game, there was runners on, baseball in the gap that would have put them up by, I think, a couple of runs. So it’s just trying to pick my spots when to make plays. And I trust my teammates to get the jobs done the following inning. So, yeah, just being smart, again, picking my spots.
Nico: I just know that in the heat of the moment, it’s so hard for a player to ease up. Maybe it’s 11 to 1, but there’s a ball that you’re used to going all out for. How capable are athletes of actually holding back when they need to?
Denzel: Yeah, I mean I think, again, going back to playing Baltimore, I think I had the awareness of just, like, I can let it (go) if I want to. But again, I was thinking about the situation, thinking about the game, and just, like, this could be a game-changing play. So I ended up going for it. But, I mean, mid-route, I’m going for the ball. I’m just, like, I can do this or I can’t. So I made the decision to do it, and we ended up winning that game, which was huge.
Nico: Right. Going to your hitting and coming up to the big leagues for the first time. So, you know, there’s the way it started, and there’s the way that it was going when you got hurt. I always like to do the more personal angle, so I’m really asking you more as a human being, not so much as an athlete. Those first 20 plate appearances, you struck out 16 times, and we know what it was like as fans, pulling for you, watching and so on. Can you give us an idea of what it was like for the person going through those first 20 PAs and what was going through your mind?
Denzel: Yeah, for sure. Just learned to make adjustments, I think. You know, you always hear, “OK, the big leap (to MLB) is a huge step,” and then those first 20 events proved it for me. At least proved the adjustments I had to make and how much better I needed to get. So yeah, there’s nothing like experience, and failure is the best teacher. So I was really happy with, obviously not happy to fail, but happy with what I learned from that process and how I was able to start pick it up towards the end before I got hurt.
Nico: What were you telling yourself? You know, you walk back from the dugout, okay, now you know maybe I’ve struck out 13 of 16 or 15 of 18, it doesn’t feel good, and yet you know, “Failure’s the best teacher”. But what are you telling yourself at that point?
Denzel: I just, you gotta, I mean, no one is going to go up there and take your bats for you, you gotta go out there and just keep going, keep doing your best, and you’re gonna learn along the way. So it’s good.
Nico: So what changed? What was that adjustment?
Denzel: Experience. Experience and keeping things simple. That’s all it was and all it’s going to be.
Nico: Statistically, when you get in trouble, you’re hitting a lot of balls on the ground. When the ball starts getting in the air, suddenly all the numbers are rising. Do you know what the root cause is? Like what’s going on there mechanically or in terms of approach?
Denzel: Yeah, the biggest thing, I mean, when things get crazy, my body’s got long arms, long legs, and again I just gotta keep things simple. And it’s gonna be something that I’ll work on my whole career. Just keeping things tight, keeping things simple, and looking to get as much success as I can.
Nico: You mentioned the Naylors and fans know both Bo and Josh, as well as Myles a little bit. How young were you when you first saw them play and got to know them as players?
Denzel: I think the first time we played together with Bo was maybe like 15, 14, 15 years old, which is really cool. And then from there, we played against each other, junior national and everything. WBC was my first time playing with Josh. And then I played with Myles last year. I think it was last year of the year before our spring breakout. So I got to play with all of them. It’s been a real treat, real blessing.
Nico: Yeah, can you give a little bit of a snapshot of the WBC experience?
Denzel: Yeah, it was awesome. You know, I hear about Josh play, or see Josh play, but being able to be in the same clubhouse with him was really, really awesome. Me and Bo go way back, so that was really cool, but just to be able to get dinner a couple times and all, you know, just connect, sit down. It was really awesome just being in a clubhouse with him and with all the other guys. Team Canada is a really tight circle, so it’s fun being around a big squad of family.
Nico: Well, and I think you guys did better than expected. You got off to a great start.
Denzel: Yeah, we expected a lot of ourselves. We wish we could have gone farther. But yeah, we can chalk it up as the best we’ve ever done as a country and I look forward to the next times.
Nico: Can you give an idea of how you see yourself just as a person, as a personality, maybe how it affects you as a baseball player, but also just maybe giving people an idea of who you are?
Denzel: Yeah, I think just for myself, I think for the most part I’m an introvert. I think just being a baseball player comes with a lot of stuff. You’re forced to be around people, which is kind of against my nature. But you’ve got to learn to love, you got to learn to enjoy. And, you know, cameras in my face all the time, getting interviews and stuff. You learn to love, you learn to connect and really, yeah, just be around people in a different sense. So I love just making sure I’m just feeling joyful. You don’t get to be a pro baseball player often, so I’m trying to enjoy it while I can and be joyful for myself and be joyful for others, too.
Nico: As a fellow introvert, I feel your pain. How does that impact you? I know introverts tend to like small groups of people they know and yet on a baseball team, it is kind of that way, and yet guys are coming and going all the time. So I’m just wondering what that is like for you.
Denzel: Yeah, it’s an interesting vibe, but it’s just like, again, my job is just to go out there and play baseball, but just show everyone around me, I’m around to show everyone that’s around me love. I think people are gonna be cool if people remember some baseball stuff, but all I hear is people only remember how you treated them and the person you are, so that’s the biggest thing. That’s the biggest thing is for me, I just try to show people love.
Nico: I think that maybe the most common thread for you throughout your professional career has probably been Lawrence Butler, right? I mean, you guys have been together a fair amount. And I don’t know if that makes a difference that you guys are side by side in the outfield and how that affects the outfield play.
Denzel: Yeah, for sure. Law’s a great personality. Law’s one of my good friends, so it’s just great just being in the big leagues, having someone you know. But even with a lot of the guys I’ve played with, a lot of them throughout the minors at some point or another. So it’s like we have a young team, and it’s really exciting just to be up here connecting with the guys. So it’s pretty special.
Nico: So I try not to ask the questions that everybody asks, but I’m going to ask one because I am curious. What are your more specific goals for the 2026 season? And where you think you can get to or where you want to try to get to?
Denzel: Yeah, no, for sure. I think for me, I made a splash defensively last year, I want to keep improving on that, keep providing consistency. The goal is to be on the field and make sure I can support the team throughout the entire season, including the playoffs. And then the other goal is just improve with base running. Just improve with everything. I want to take steps with hitting, take steps with base running. That’s how I decided to get at this level, just keep taking the steps to get better each and every year. So I’m pretty excited for that.
Hopefully the majestic Denzelope can stay healthy throughout 2026, and hopefully you can stay healthy long enough to enjoy my final interview with A’s OF prospect Henry Bolte on Wednesday…
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: Manager Craig Albernaz #55, Bench Coach Donnie Ecker #53 of the Baltimore Orioles and Mike Shildt talk during practice at Ed Smith Stadium on February 16, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Baltimore Orioles/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Spring training only lasts about six weeks, but it can often feel much longer. The excitement over pitchers and catchers finally reporting in mid-Februrary has already worn off by the time March arrives. The World Baseball Classic gave us all something a little more interesting to watch this year, but nothing compares to seeing your local team on the field in games that actually matter. In just a few of days, we will get that back in our lives.
But before that can happen, let’s take a look back at the spring training that was, and churn up a few takeaways from the work the team did down in Florida.
Injuries are already a problem, of course
The Orioles entered camp with Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday already dinged up. They have since lost Andrew Kittredge to shoulder inflammation. None of them are expected to miss too much time, but who knows.
The Westburg elbow injury will need to be monitored all season long, and it could just be a ticking bomb. He has missed a lot of time due to injury recently, so the Orioles probably shouldn’t have been counting on him anyway, but it’s never fun to miss a former all-star. The alternatives, like Coby Mayo, could end up perfectly fine, but none of them are as sure of a thing as Westburg, who is a decidedly above-average third baseman when healthy.
Holliday is making progress. He is already taking live at-bats and is expected to start a rehab assignment at Triple-A relatively soon after the season begins. What seems to be the bigger concern is how long it takes Holliday to actually bounce back fully. Hamate bones can linger and sap players on their power. Holliday’s modest 17 home runs a season ago tied for the team lead. His replacement, likely Blaze Alexander, is unlikely to provide that kind of thump.
Kittredge may be the most costly injury out of the gate. The Orioles bullpen doesn’t have too many proven arms. The veteran was one of the few, and in the current configuration was probably going to be used in a set-up role for Ryan Helsley. That won’t be possible anymore. But there is good news here. Kittredge believes he will be on the IL for the minimum number of days, so the bullpen shouldn’t be without him for too long.
The front office believes in the pitching staff, at least to begin the season
This applies to both the starters and relievers.
Each of the six main starters are healthy, which is something of a shock. All signs seemed to be pointing to Zach Eflin opening the year on the IL just to give him more time to ramp up from his back surgery. Instead, he tossed 5.1 shutout frames in his last spring outing and is set to be in the rotation. Dean Kremer is the odd man out, for now anyway. The Orioles optioned him to Triple-A over the weekend. Mike Elias indicated that it will be a brief stint, simply taking advantage of off days early in the year to make the roster math work.
Trevor Rogers is getting the Opening Day nod ahead of Kyle Bradish, but those two should form an impressive 1-2 punch throughout the year. Rogers had a 2.51 ERA this spring while Bradish was down at 2.35.
In the bullpen, the Orioles will be relying on quite a few unproven names. Rico Garcia and Dietrich Enns are out of options. Garcia tossed 5.2 scoreless frames in the Grapefruit League, Enns served up eight runs in 6.2 innings. Both are expected to make the team. Grant Wolfram may have been the most impressive reliever in camp. The hard-throwing lefty was on the bubble, but his pristine ERA and 10 strikeouts over six innings likely clinch his spot. Jackson Kowar might make it as well. The 29-year-old was OK this spring (1.50 WRA, 1.50 WHIP), but he is also out of options and could be worth giving an extended tryout.
Helsley looked incredible in his final tune-up against the Nationals on Sunday. Although a bit wild, he was into the triple digits with his fastball, and struck out the side. As long as the Orioles can get him late-game leads with some regularity, they should be in a good spot.
So far, the club has not looked to supplement the arms with any late-spring additions. But they could be waiting to learn more about Keegan Akin. He was stopped from entering a late spring game due to some adductor discomfort. A short IL stint could be coming.
Coby Mayo has earned a long look at third base
The injury to Westburg hurts. We know he is going to miss some regular season time, and even when he returns it is unclear what his level of availability is going to be. That makes Coby Mayo the logical next man up, and boy was he good this spring.
The 24-year-old hit .389 with two home runs and a 1.039 OPS. And while he only worked two walks, he also only struck out four times. That’s a 10% K-rate. He struck out 28.6% of the time last season. It’s only the spring, but that feels like a player that is seeing the ball better than ever before. If he really is rounding into form, that could push the Orioles offense to another level.
It’s not as if Mayo was without competition this spring. Jeremiah Jackson, Bryan Ramos, and Luis Vázquez have all been in camp and having success. None of them have Mayo’s upside, but they could be viewed as safer picks to take Westburg’s innings at third base. Mayo fended them all off for an extended look at the hot corner.
The outfield roles may constantly change
This Orioles roster is full of outfielders. Colton Cowser, Taylor Ward, Dylan Beavers, Tyler O’Neill, and Leody Taveras are all expected to make the Opening Day squad. Alexander and Jackson have also played outfield. And Heston Kjerstad had himself a big spring before a hamstring injury put him on the shelf early, so he is likely set for Norfolk.
But nothing is set in stone. The Orioles outfield was a weakness last year, largely due to injuries to Cowser and O’Neill. The front office clearly wanted to fortify that group in 2026, and they have done just that. But it has left the unit feeling a bit…ambiguous.
Cowser should be the everyday center fielder, but he struggled badly in 2025 and has had issues with left-handed pitching. That’s where the right-handed hitting Taveras comes in. He’s not exactly a world-beater against southpaws, but he can play center, run a little bit, and be serviceable at the plate.
The corner spots could be constantly shifting around. Ward is likely to play everyday in left field, but weird things can happen for a player joining a new team. O’Neill and Beavers are likely to share right field and get into the DH mix a bit. But it’s unlikely to be a straight up platoon. O’Neill makes too much money to sit against every right-handed pitcher.
What seems likely to happen most games is that Taveras enters as a defensively replacement in left for Ward and Beavers finishes games in right, whether he started or not. Along with Cowser in center that gives the Orioles a solid defense to wrap up wins.
The value of spring training is not something that can be quantified, mostly because we don’t have the full picture. We see the games and we get reports of what happens on the backfields, but there are a bunch of unknowns. Is a pitcher working on a specific offering? Is a batter tweaking their stance? Is the coaching staff experimenting with a new defensive alignment? We can’t know. And that is why all of the results from the O’s action down in Florida has to be taken with a boulder of salt.
What we can objectively say is that the Orioles are entering the 2026 season on a better foot than they began 2025. That doesn’t guarantee success in a tough AL East, but it’s better than the inverse.
The Yankees followed up their first World Series appearance in 15 years with a season that fell far short of expectations.
Sure, injuries marred what would have been an incredible starting rotation featuring Gerrit Cole, Max Fried and Carlos Rodon, but that same rotation crumbled in the postseason, and the Yanks could not even make it back to the ALCS, falling to the eventual American League winners, the Toronto Blue Jays.
It's a tough pill to swallow for GM Brian Cashman and the rest of the organization, especially after Aaron Judge put together his second consecutive MVP season -- and his 2025 was arguably the best season he's ever had.
But many saw the flaws in the 2025 Yanks before the ousting, disregarding key injuries to Cole and the departure of Juan Soto in free agency. To Cashman's credit, he addressed those issues at the trade deadline, and the Yankees were healthy and near-complete headed into the postseason. But they could not get it done.
Entering 2026, Cashman and the brass saw that the team that lost to Toronto in four games and essentially decided to run it back.
Whether you agree or not, this is what the Yankees are starting the season with. Don't forget, this is the team that finished tied with the Blue Jays for the most wins in the AL (94) and were 18-8 in September -- the second-best record in baseball.
Will the "run-it-back" Yanks get over the hump this time?
With the Yankees starting the season on the road in San Francisco to take on the Giants, here are five big storylines to watch...
Returns of Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon
The Yankees made it through 2025 without their ace throwing a pitch in the regular season. A big part of that was Fried's dominance and Rodon having his best season in pinstripes -- along with the emergence of some young hurlers.
While Cole is still weeks away from returning, his recovery from Tommy John surgery is, by all accounts, going swimmingly. Cole pitched in a Grapefruit League game and was effective, showing he still has a high-90s fastball, which is very encouraging. But baseball fans know returning from TJS is always tricky.
How much can the Yanks depend on Cole, and how do they plan to limit his workload?
Luckily for the Yankees, they have more than enough starters to perhaps even use a six-man rotation. With days off, it will be a four-man rotation to start, with Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, and Ryan Weathers. The Yankees also have Luis Gil, Ryan Yarbrough and even Paul Blackburn.
Oct 1, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) reacts after a double play during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
On a similar note, Rodon will also start the season on the IL.
The southpaw has an expected return date sometime in April.
Rodon had a bone spur shaved down and loose bodies removed from his throwing arm, so it's not as intensive as Cole's recovery, but getting Rodon back and seeing if he can return to his 2025 form will be something to look out for. Don't forget, Rodon had a 3.09 ERA across a career-high 33 starts.
Anthony Volpe's future
Volpe is another starter who will begin the season on the IL, but this is a different situation from Cole and Rodon. Those two have their spots in the rotation ready for them when they return. The same can't be said for Volpe.
Sure, the Yanks will likely give Volpe back the starting shortstop job -- barring insane production from Jose Caballero -- but that leash won't be as long as it was last season.
Volpe regressed both offensively and defensively in 2025, and although the youngster played through a shoulder injury that likely affected his play on both sides of the ball, he'll need to show something when he returns. With his shoulder fixed, Volpe will need to hit the ground running, or at least show that his Gold Glove-level defense has returned.
A season ago, Volpe committed a career-high 19 errors, and the play of Paul Goldschmidt at first base certainly kept that number from eclipsing 20.
In addition to Caballero, the Yankees have George Lombard Jr. lurking in the minors. The Yankees' top prospect has shown this spring that his defense is major league ready, and if he can do some damage offensively in Triple-A, his timeline could be pushed up. There's also the trade market to solve the team's shortstop problem if Volpe proves he can't be reliable as an everyday starter.
A CJ Abrams deal with the Nationals could be possible. Abrams batted .257 with an OPS of .748 to go along with 19 home runs, 60 RBI and 31 stolen bases last season. While not a perfect player, Abrams would give the Yanks lineup a lift, especially at their left-hander-friendly stadium.
Perhaps a deal for an established shortstop like Abrams or someone else at the deadline could spell the end of Volpe's tenure.
Aaron Judge MV3?
There have only been two players in MLB history to win three consecutive MVP awards, the most recent being Shohei Ohtani (2023-25). Barry Bonds (2001-04) was the first, but Judge could add his name to that illustrious list this season.
Why not?
Judge followed up a crazy 2024 campaign, where he launched 58 homers and drove in 144 runs, with a 2025 season that was arguably better. A year ago, Judge batted .331, winning the AL batting title, smashing 53 homers and driving in 114 runs. The captain has not shown any sign of slowing down, and with his closest peers (Ohtani, Soto, etc.) being in the National League, who could pry the MVP away from him?
Aug 26, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Aaron Judge (99) and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) celebrate after defeating the Washington Nationals 5-1 at Yankee Stadium. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals is an intriguing option. He was runner-up to Judge in 2024 and the young infielder could see his production increase with Kansas City bringing in its outfield walls. The Royals could also return to the postseason after missing out in 2025, and Witt would be a big reason why. And then we had Cal Raleigh in 2025. The Mariners catcher gave Judge his best shot, breaking all sorts of MLB records while hitting 60 homers as a catcher and helping Seattle capture the AL West title.
Barring any injuries to Judge, if a record-setting performance from Raleigh couldn't knock Judge off his perch, it might take something truly special -- or voter fatigue -- to unseat him.
Follow-ups to justify the run-back
One key factor to the "run-it-back" mantra is that a lot of young and surprise players stepped up in 2025. However, if they want to get back to the World Series, they'll need a follow-up that matches or exceeds what they did prior.
First and foremost, the rotation to start will have youngsters the club will need to keep the ship afloat until Cole and Rodon return. A lot is expected of Warren, Schlittler, and Gil, and those expectations are warranted.
Gil won the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year before injuries nearly wiped out his entire 2025. The right-hander will need to find his groove again, as spring training was not kind. Taking his last spring start out, Gil pitched to a 6.28 ERA.
Warren was the opposite of Gil, pitching the entire 2025 season without injury -- to varying degrees of success -- and the second-year starter has had a magnificent spring. Heading into his final spring start, Warren has allowed just four earned runs while striking out 16 batters across 20.1 innings.
And then we have Schlittler, the hero of the Wild Card round last year.
The electric right-hander had a setback early in spring, but since his return, he's just as advertised. He's allowed just one run and struck out 11 batters across 9.2 IP (three starts).
Oct 8, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) pitches during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game four of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
On the offensive side, Ben Rice will be given the reins at first base. The left-handed slugger had a great second half last year, and continues to show his plate discipline and power this spring, all while showing more comfortability playing the position.
Austin Wells is entering his third year and took a step back in his sophomore season. While his defense behind the plate is still very good, the Yankees hope to get more out of him -- he has 20-homer power -- to lengthen the lineup. Wells showed that potential playing for Team DR in this year's WBC, hitting .267 and smashing two home runs, including a walk-off.
And while Trent Grisham isn't a youngster, the Yanks will see if they'll get similar production out of the 29-year-old. Now, it's unreasonable to expect the 34 home runs and 74 RBI out of the leadoff spot they got from Grisham a year ago, but the Yankees hope their $22 million man can produce. If not, it'll be interesting to see how patient the team will be before Jasson Dominguez or even Spencer Jones gets a shot.
Reclaiming the AL East
The Blue Jays were a bad matchup for the 2025 Yankees, it was as simple as that. However, if the Yanks won the division and had home-field advantage, then perhaps the series could have been different.
While we can talk hypotheticals all day, the road back to the World Series is easier as a division winner and preferably as the top seed. New York used that advantage in 2024 and they should do whatever it takes for that again.
Now, the AL East is going to be more difficult than a year ago -- at least on paper.
The Red Sox will have another year of experience for their youngsters, while they acquired Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez to build a rotation on par with the Yankees. The Blue Jays have a similar team to a year ago, but did add Dylan Cease and Kazuma Okamoto, who could be in the Rookie of the Year conversation.
The Orioles signed Pete Alonso, are healthier and still have some of the most talented youngsters (Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday) in the league. And the Rays will also be a pest and somehow always find a way to be in the mix.
It'll be tough, but it's imperative that the Yankees win the division. Scoreboard watching will be a daily routine this season.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 19: Members of the New York Mets warm up on the field prior to the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Mets at Clover Park on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
LAKELAND, FL - MARCH 12: Cade Winquest #80 of the New York Yankees pitches during the spring training game against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 12, 2026 in Lakeland, Florida. The Yankees defeated the Tigers 4-3. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Among decisions to be made throughout spring training, the ones that can change the most as the preseason progresses is the bullpen. Often, the low-leverage arms will be the 25th or 26th guys on an Opening Day roster, and are not immune to trips back-and-forth to the minors. For the Yankees, Cade Winquest may end up fitting the spirit of that description quite well — albeit with a catch.
Acquired this offseason, the 25-year-old righty has not pitched in The Show to this point in his career, and has worked primarily as a starter in various levels of the Cardinals’ organization. In the 2026 season, both are likely to change. Although he won’t be getting any high-leverage appearances out of the ’pen (especially early on), he’s likely to get some work, and the Yankees clearly had enough interest to bring him aboard back in December.
In the 2025 Rule 5 Draft, the Yankees selected Winquest from the Cardinals. Again, he has no MLB experience as of yet, but has been a respectable run preventor between A-ball and Double-A, relying on a solid fastball-curveball combination that clearly sparked a baseline level of interest from New York in the righty, if they already considered them potentially big-league ready.
During the 2025 season between High-A and Double-A in the Cards’ system, Winquest worked easily the most innings of his professional career with 106. He did so while striking out more than a batter per inning, and did enough to warrant the Yankees taking him via the Rule 5 in December. Almost any player acquired in this fashion is a flier, but in this case, there is a good chance that Winquest will see MLB time in his first season in the Yankees organization.
New York partially rebuilt the back end of their bullpen at the trade deadline last year, when they acquired David Bednar, Camilo Doval, and Jake Bird. All three righties remain with the Yankees for 2026, and at least Bednar and Doval figure to get plenty of high-leverage work, not to mention the presence of Fernando Cruz and Tim Hill, who played key roles in out of the ’pen in 2025.
Winquest is the youngest pitcher projected to be a part of the Opening Day bullpen, and the only one with under three years of service time. All of that considered, along with the talent at the top of the depth chart, meaningful innings may be hard to come by for Winquest. That being said, there’s a reason bullpens run so deep, assuming he’s actually in the fold, he’ll get his opportunities.
It is theoretically not out of the question that Winquest makes a spot start here or there as well, but there are several others in the projected bullpen with starting experience, namely Paul Blackburn and Ryan Yarbrough. Tellingly, the Yankees haven’t started him once this spring, preferring to use him in relief.
The right-hander did a solid job last season, managing a 3.57 FIP in over 100 innings as a starter, though that was in the lower levels of the minors, and big league lineups could prove to be an issue for him. He features a solid curveball, with a fastball and slider that leave some room to be desired, as well as a cutter, all of which the Yankees will likely try to develop and optimize while he’s in the Bronx. His eight spring training appearances have been forgettable, as he’s allowed six runs and three homers, but it’s a small enough sample that hope hasn’t completely run out. At worst, Winquest offers immediate depth, and if they don’t like what they see when the games count, then they can just return him to the Cardinals (he will have to stick with the Yankees all year to remain in the organization past 2026). It’s a relatively low-risk endeavor, and the Yankees’ decision to roster him or not will be a signal about what they think about his stuff.
Getting any meaningful or high-leverage work will be an uphill battle for Winquest with the Yankees this season, but their acquisition of him says something of their interest. He will surely get some looks in the early part of the season; the onus will just be on him to capitalize on the rare opportunity to be an impactful Yankees Rule 5 pick.
Following a 2025 season where the Mets went from the team with the best record in baseball to one that missed the playoffs, president of baseball operations David Stearns overhauled the roster, which included trading or letting go of a bunch of its core players.
While the club led in part by Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil helped make New York go during its magical run to the 2024 NLCS, that group was also part of the incredibly disappointing 2025 season, the massive failure that was 2023, and the 2022 team that squandered the division lead late and was eliminated in the Wild Card Series at home to the Padres.
Also gone from the recent core is Edwin Diaz, though his departure seemed less intentional from the Mets' end and more like a negotiation gone wrong.
In any event, out are Diaz, Alonso, Nimmo, McNeil, and most of last year's bullpen.
With the Mets opening the regular season this week at Citi Field against the Pirates, here are five big storylines to watch...
Is the starting rotation a strength?
It was the rotation that was largely responsible for the Mets' downfall last season.
While injuries impacted things, the starting staff in 2025 was a debilitating combination of ineffective and allergic to pitching deep into games.
The group heading into 2026 has been bolstered in a big way by the addition of Peralta, and should be further transformed by getting a full season from Nolan McLean -- who made eight starts toward the end of last season in what was his first taste of the bigs.
Back are Clay Holmes and David Peterson, with the latter's struggles late in 2025 possibly attributable to fatigue as he tossed a career-high 168.2 innings.
Also back: Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea, whose campaigns last year were marred by injury and underperformance.
Mar 7, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) pitches in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. / Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Senga looked terrific in spring training, with his fastball routinely reaching the high-90s, and Carlos Mendoza repeatedly said Senga simply looks like a healthy player again.
Manaea's spring was up and down, with his decreased fastball velocity (which hovered around 88 mph) being the main focus.
If you squint just a bit, you can see a staff that could have three top-of-the-rotation starters and three solid mid-rotation starters.
But it's fair to wonder how Manaea's stuff will play in the regular season and whether Senga will stay healthy. And the Mets are seemingly wondering about Manaea, too, with the lefty in a bullpen/piggyback role to start the season.
Fortunately for the Mets, their depth is very good, including Christian Scott (who is healthy after recovering from Tommy John surgery), Jonah Tong, and Jack Wenninger.
While the Mets haven't announced Benge is on the team, it will be a massive shock if he doesn't come north. He has earned the right field job and is the clear best option.
Stearns said last November that Benge would get a real chance to win a starting job out of camp, and held that position all throughout the offseason and spring training, including when Juan Soto unexpectedly shifted to left field.
And Benge, who has played just 24 games above Double-A, looked the part all spring.
It wasn't just the results (which were great). It was Benge's approach at the plate, his long at-bats, his ability to hit the ball with authority to all fields, his defense, and his demeanor.
Most of the focus has been on Benge's offense, but he's also a plus outfield defender, which includes a cannon of an arm.
While there will be pressure on Benge to perform, he should have a bit of a soft landing since he won't be viewed as a lineup anchor from the jump, with him likely hitting in the lower third of the order.
Lindor returned to game action over a week before Opening Day, as he completed his recovery from hamate surgery in his left hand.
The shortstop's presence in the lineup for the start of the season was never really in doubt, but it's fair to wonder how the surgery might impact his power -- at least in the short-term.
Mar 15, 2026; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) hits a single in the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Clover Park. / Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Earlier this spring, SNY spoke with Deepak Chona, MD, a Stanford and Harvard-trained orthopedic sports surgeon and founder of SportsMedAnalytics, to get insight regarding Lindor's surgery and what it could mean for his 2026 season.
"The amount of time varies," Chona said about the power aspect, "but generally projects to six weeks after returning."
In other words, while the impact to Lindor's power should not be significant, it could still be notable -- as was the case with Francisco Alvarez last season.
"Most likely, this timing correlates with the recovery of grip strength and control of the bat," Chona explained. "This dips after surgery (1) because of the generalized trauma/swelling to the muscles of the hand and (2) because the part of the bone (called the hook of the hamate) that they cut out to treat the fracture is involved in generating grip force as well."
Chona added:
"The area near the hamate sees greater force on a left hand when batting right-handed, so it’s possible – if not likely – that Lindor being a switch hitter may help him bounce back faster than other batters.
"Limited data exists, but we’d anticipate a greater effect when he bats right-handed early on in the recovery. By one-to-two months post-return, most data suggests he’d be near his baseline level from both sides of the plate."
The Mets' bullpen would undoubtedly be more fearsome if it had Williams and Diaz.
But Williams' relative struggles last season should not cloud the kind of reliever he was for his entire career before that.
Feb 27, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets pitcher Devin Williams (38) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fourth inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Over the first six seasons of his career, Williams had a 1.83 ERA (2.39 FIP) and 1.02 WHIP in 235.2 innings while striking out 375 batters -- a rate of 14.3 per nine.
While he didn't perform up to his standards in 2025, with a 4.79 ERA over 62.0 innings, pretty much all of Williams' underlying metrics suggest it was largely a fluke.
Specifically, Williams' 2.68 FIP was more indicative of how his stuff played than his top line numbers. Meanwhile, his WHIP, HR/9, BB/9, and SO/9 were all near his career rates.
As far as the stuff? Williams' fastball remained an above average offering, and his vaunted changeup was in the 95th percentile.
Put it all together, and it's fair to expect Williams to be elite again in 2026.
The first base plan
Jorge Polanco got lots of time at first base in spring training games as he learns a position he has yet to play in a regular season game.
And in those games, Polanco looked pretty comfortable.
However, Brett Baty also got a significant amount of burn at first base in Grapefruit League play as he also learns the position.
With Baty frozen out at third base byBo Bichette and at second base by Marcus Semien, it's fair to believe he'll be mainly at designated hitter or first base when he's in the lineup.
Add to that the mild health concerns surrounding Polanco and you get a situation where it might make sense to use Baty at first base and Polanco at DH more often than not -- if he handles the position as well or better than Polanco.
Mar 4, 2026; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott (5) scores a run during the fourth inning against Team Canada at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Now that the roster is (unofficially) set, here is what we can find.
Phillies have a roster:
Realmuto, Marchán, Harper, Stott, Turner, Bohm, Sosa, Moore
There are a lot of moves here that are unsurprising. Much of this team has been set for a while now, but there are still at least maybe a few eyebrow raisers here. Among them
Dylan Moore getting to keep his 26th man spot, giving the team really only three true outfielders
Tim Mayza getting the nod over Rule 5 pick Zack McCambley as the last member of the bullpen to be added before either Orion Kerkering or Max Lazar come off the injured list
Rob Thomson coming to his senses and not keeping Garrett Stubbs over Rafael Marchan
I’m sure there are thoughts about this roster, so let’s share them. What thoughts do you have about this Opening Day roster right now?
NORTH PORT, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Reynaldo Lopez #40 of the Atlanta Braves poses for a photo during Spring Training photo day at CoolToday Park on February 20, 2026 in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Results were not kind to Reynaldo Lopez in his final Spring start on Sunday. His velocity was down while the Twins production at the plate was up. Lopez has seen mixed results this Spring, including less than ideal velocity on his fastball. While there are no reports of injury, it is fair to wonder how effective Lopez can be as the season starts. Hopefully results will be better once the games start to count.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 1: Alex Freeland #76 of the Los Angeles Dodgers participates in a fielding drill prior to a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Camelback Ranch on March 1, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the third inning on Sunday night in Anaheim, the Dodgers plated 10 runs against the Angels thanks to seven walks (five in a row at one point) and four hits (Teoscar Hernández had the first two hits in the frame, including a home run).
The last time the Dodgers scored double-digit runs in an inning in a game that counted was June 2, 2021 against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium, putting up 11 in the first inning.
Hyeseong Kim was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, with Alex Freeland earning the heavy side of a platoon at second base to open the regular season. Manager Dave Roberts explained the roster move on Sunday afternoon at Angel Stadium.
“There’s no doubt that Hyeseong at some point is going to come help us out. I think the driver, as far as at the outset, is giving Hyeseong an opportunity to play every day, play all over the diamond,” Roberts said Sunday, as shown on SportsNet LA. “He’s going to play some short, some center, some second base there. Whereas here, he wouldn’t have the runway to do that, to play more frequently.
“I think with Alex, with what he’s done in Triple-A already, he’s really played well. There’s nothing left for him to prove there. For us to give him a little bit of runway to see what we’ve got in him, to give him an opportunity to play here for us against right-handed pitching, and just kind of see where it goes.”
Dave Roberts spoke ahead of tonight’s #FreewaySeries opener about Alex Freeland earning his opportunity, evaluating spring performance, and maximizing Hyeseong Kim’s versatility. pic.twitter.com/59DgU8i7pG
While his stats haven’t really reflected it yet, his contact rate took a big dip in 2025, and a change in contact rate is one of those Statcast indicators that is predictive of big downside risk. I’m hoping this isn’t how things play out, but I think this might be the first year in a long time in which Freeman won’t have a case for being the NL’s best first baseman. Either way, I look forward to checking his name on a Hall of Fame ballot sometime in the 2030s.
Freeman walked twice and doubled in Sunday night’s win in Anaheim, his first game this spring not played at Camelback Ranch. He’s up to 44 total plate appearances this spring, for those of you keeping track of Project 47.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 23: A general view of play between the Bay FC and the Washington Spirit at Oracle Park on August 23, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/NWSL via Getty Images) | NWSL via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
Welcome to the first week of the regular season! It’s time to take a look at what’s on deck for the San Francisco Giants this week.
Monday
The Giants welcome the Sultanes de Monterrey to Oracle Park for an exhibition game tonight at 6:45 p.m. PT. The game will have television coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area and radio coverage on KNBR.
Tuesday
The exhibition series with the Sultanes continues Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. PT. The game will have television coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area and radio coverage on KNBR and KSFN.
Wednesday
OPENING DAY! The Giants will welcome the New York Yankees to Oracle Park for Opening Day at 5:05 p.m. PT. This will be the only game on Wednesday, which means you can only watch it on Netflix. Naturally. Radio coverage will be available on KNBR and KSFN.
Thursday
Off Day
Friday
The Yankees series continues on Friday, starting at 1:35 p.m. PT. The game will have television coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area and radio coverage on KNBR and KSFN.
Saturday
The final game of the Yankees series will start at 4:15 p.m. PT. This will be a national broadcast on Fox, with radio coverage available on KNBR and KSFN.
Sunday
An extremely rare Sunday off. What a weird schedule to start the season.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts enters his 11th season at the helm and is coming off two consecutive World Series wins. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
It's the Dodgers, and everyone else, in the National League West this season.
The two-time defending World Series champions ponied up a combined $309 million to sign two free agents, world-class closer Edwin Díaz and four-time All-Star corner outfielder Kyle Tucker.
The second-place San Diego Padres continued to cut payroll, bidding farewell to free agents Dylan Cease, Robert Suarez, Luis Arraez and Ryan O’Hearn. The San Francisco Giants' offseason highlight: becoming the first MLB team to make a college coach with no professional baseball coaching experience their manager. The 47-year-old Tony Vitello comes on board after coaching the Tennessee Volunteers for the past eight seasons.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are attempting to bounce back after following up a 2023 World Series appearance with two underwhelming seasons. And the Colorado Rockies are starting fresh yet again, replacing general manager Bill Schmidt with Paul DePodesta, who, after working for the Dodgers and other MLB teams, most recently served as the Cleveland Browns' chief strategy officer for the past 10 years.
1 | Dodgers
2025 | 93-69, 1st in West
Last year in playoffs | 2025
The Dodgers will open the season with a record payroll, to go with sky-high expectations, as the team vies for baseball’s first three-peat since the New York Yankees won three straight World Series titles between 1998 and 2000. The Dodgers remain the steady favorites, but seven of their nine regular position players are on the other side of 30. Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández all showed signs of regression last season. The Dodgers have been bitten by the injury bug over the past two years, especially in their rotation and bullpen. Pitchers Blake Snell, Gavin Stone, Brusdar Graterol and Evan Phillips will all open the season on the injured list. How will Roki Sasaki’s second try as a member of the pitching rotation go? With all this in mind, expect Dave Roberts to manage his club accordingly. Don’t expect the Dodgers to gun for the 2001 Seattle Mariners’ win record of 116. Expect load management, as the Dodgers pace themselves with the goal of a healthy roster entering postseason play.
2 | San Diego Padres
2025 | 90-72, 2nd in West
Last year in playoffs | 2025
Despite a middling September — the Padres went 14-11 in the final month of the season — the club finished only three games back of the Dodgers. Though the club lost some key pieces over the winter, the Padres still boast a lockdown bullpen featuring Mason Miller, and a potent lineup starring Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. After an impressive rookie season, Jackson Merrill struggled to find his footing in his second year, landing on the IL three separate times. Merrill could be this season’s breakout star in the National League. If he takes a leap and the Padres stay healthy, this club could surprise.
3 | San Francisco Giants
2025 | 81-81, 3rd in West
Last year in playoffs | 2021
Since the Chicago Cubs eliminated the Giants from the 2016 NLDS, the club has made the postseason just once. Newcomers Luis Arraez and Harrison Bader should provide length to their lineup. Bader enjoyed a resurgent 2025 where he slashed .277/.347/.449 while playing plus-defense, earning himself a two-year, $20.5-million deal. Arraez saw a 22-point dip in batting average last season from 2024, but maintained a low-strikeout rate (3.1%). Right-side infield defense will be a question mark with Arraez returning to second base and Rafael Devers manning first. The Giants should get good length out of starting pitchers Robbie Ray and Logan Webb. Webb led the National League in innings pitched for the third straight season.
4 | Arizona Diamondbacks
2025 | 80-82, 4th in West
Last year in playoffs | 2023
Since their miraculous run to the World Series in 2023 — a postseason in which they bludgeoned the Dodgers, outscoring their divisional foes 19-6 in a three-game sweep in the NLDS — the Diamondbacks have missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. The club will likely be without two of their best three starting pitchers to open the season, as Corbin Burnes works his way back from Tommy John surgery and Merrill Kelly deals with lingering intercostal nerve irritation. With manager Torey Lovullo entering his 10th season with the club and the final year of his contract, could his seat be heating up?
5 | Colorado Rockies
2025 | 43-119, 5th in West
Last year in playoffs | 2018
Under new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta, the Rockies will look to turn the page from a season to forget in 2025. Having played just 170 games through his first four seasons with the Rockies — posting a minus-WAR (Wins Above Replacement) in three of them — Kris Bryant’s future remains in question as he deals with a degenerative disk disease. He will open the season on the 60-day IL. The club saw promise last year from 25-year-old catcher Hunter Goodman and 27-year-old Mickey Moniak. The club will hope to see continued growth from youngsters Ezequiel Tovar, Jordan Beck and Brenton Doyle, with top prospect and 2024 Golden Spikes Award winner Charlie Condon eyeing a potential big-league debut this summer.
BRADENTON, FL - MARCH 20: Max Clark #31 of the Detroit Tigers and Konnor Griffin #75 of the Pittsburgh Pirates greet each other after the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Of course, projecting the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens roster is also a sneaky excuse for one more final projection of the Detroit Tigers Opening Day roster. Nothing has really changed at the major league level. I expect Kevin McGonigle and Parker Meadows to be with the Tigers on Opening Day, and for some combination of Enmanuel de Jesus, Brant Hurter, Sean Guenther, and Brenan Hanifee to start the season with the three open spots in the Tigers’ bullpen.
We got news on Saturday night that second ranked Tigers’ prospect, center fielder Max Clark, will start the season in Triple-A Toledo. That move has consequences, indicating that almost certainly Parker Meadows has made the Opening Day roster. They can’t both play center field in Toledo, although it’s at least plausible that they could share center and right field duties or something. Trei Cruz will also need to stay sharp in center field, though he’ll also split some time at the shortstop position.
Either way, here is our crack at the players manager Gabe Alvarez and pitching coach Doug Bochtler will be working with to start the 2026 season. They can carry 28 players on the active roster.
The Hens open on Thursday the 26th, just as the Tigers do. They’ll be on the road as well, taking on the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in a short series to begin the regular season. Then they’ll spend a week in Syracuse, before returning to the Fifth Third Field on April 7th for their home opener against the St. Paul Saints.
Starting rotation
RHP Keider Montero
RHP Ty Madden
LHP Bryan Sammons
LHP Carlos Pena
RHP Dylan File
RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long – IL
RHP Troy Watson – IL
Sawyer Gipson-Long, and Troy Watson are all working their way back off the injured list. Gipson-Long suffered an oblique strain at the beginning of camp and is throwing bullpens. He should return shortly, perhaps in time to take the fifth spot in the rotation right out of the gate. Watson had arthoscopic surgery on his right elbow and may be a while longer.
We’ll probably see a pitcher or two released from the relief ranks before the season starts. Depending on Gipson-Long’s status, they will likely spot start their final rotation spot out of a deep group of veteran minor league relief arms until one of the two is ready to go.
Jake Miller is close to a return after a lost 2025 season in Erie with back issues and then surgery on both hips to correct the underlying labrum tears that contributed to his back trouble. The Tigers assigned him to Toledo back on March 6, but seem likely to send him back to Erie to get back into form before he makes the jump to Toledo. Fellow lefty starter Andrew Sears had some kind of issue that kept him from seeing major league camp, but is reportedly throwing bullpens. We’ll see how long it takes for him to get on the mound again, but he’s not too far from a promotion to Toledo either.
Bullpen
RHP Dylan Smith
RHP Tyler Mattison
RHP Tanner Rainey
RHP Jack Little
RHP Matt Seelinger
LHP Sean Guenther
LHP Konnor Pilkington
LHP Colin Poche
RHP Woo-Suk Go
RHP Ricky Vanasco
RHP Scott Effross- IL
RHP Tyler Owens – IL
LHP Bailey Horn – IL
RHP Dugan Darnell – IL
RHP Phil Bickford – IL
The bullpen is pretty full, though a veteran or two might end up opting out, but really only Dylan Smith and Tyler Mattison are notably exciting. Bailey Horn fits the bill in terms of good stuff, but he’ll be a little while before returning from right elbow arthroscopy. With minimal information available, it’s impossible to know when guys will come off the injured list. Sean Guenther has had a good camp and should get a look again this year and could possibly take a spot on the Opening Day roster instead, bumping Brant Hurter or Enmanuel de Jesus to Triple-A for a while.
Drew Sommers could be a quality lefty reliever if his command comes together, and he’s still young at 25 years of age. I expect he’s bound for Erie to start the year to keep working on his command. It’s just hard to imagine them carrying four lefties in the pen to start the year, and Pilkington, Poche, and Guenther feel like bigger priorities as major league depth until Sommers levels up a bit more.
RHP Cole Waites is still trying to rebuild his velo after his return from Tommy John last year. He used to be 98 mph, but was 92-93 mph for the most part in camp. I will guess he’s going to Erie until it comes back, but they could keep him in Toledo instead, and send RHP Woo-Suk Go to Erie instead. Otherwise it’s a collection of veterans with enough quality stuff to succeed, but not enough command, and in most cases, no huge carrying pitch to lean on if they don’t improve that command.
The Tigers have added minor league veterans like RHP Yendy Gomez, RHP Wandisson Charles, RHP Luke Taggart, RHP Jan Carabello, and RHP John Stankiewicz, along with a few younger free agent signings who will be in Lakeland. Since we haven’t seen them, it’s pretty impossible to know where the Tigers will play the older minor league veterans in that group. Gonez and Carabello are young though, and project for West Michigan or Erie to start the season.
Either way, leaving out the injured list guys, that gives them a five-man rotation and an 10-man bullpen to start with on the 28-man roster.
Position players
CF Max Clark
OF Wenceel Pérez
OF Ben Malgeri
OF Corey Julks
OF Cal Stevenson
1B Jace Jung
2B Max Anderson
SS Trei Cruz
3B Hao-Yu Lee
UT Chris Meyers
UT Gage Workman
C Tomas Nido
C/1B Eduardo Valencia
SS Trey Sweeney -IL
Obviously, we’re assuming Parker Meadows is with the Tigers on Opening Day, moving Wenceel Pérez, Trei Cruz, and Corey Julks to Toledo. It sounds like Hao-Yu Lee is just about healed from his oblique injury. If not, the Tigers could add a veteran minor leaguer like 1B/LF types, Chris Meyers or Justice Bigbie. Whenever Lee is ready, he and Anderson will split days between second and third base together.
We’ll see what the Tigers decide to do with John Peck. There’s a good chance he goes back to Double-A if only to keep both he and Trei Cruz playing shortstop most days. Still, Peck has had a great camp, and while he’s only spent about a month and change at the Double-A level, the Tigers clearly are impressed as he’s travelling to Arizona with the club for the final two exhibition games. I wouldn’t be shocked if he ends up in Toledo either, in which case veteran minor leaguer Chris Meyers can easily be bumped back to Erie. Peck can play all over the infield, and so if Cruz gets a lot of time at shortstop it isn’t going to hinder Peck’s development as a versatile right-handed hitting infielder who has some power and is pretty good at shortstop to boot.
If Peck is starting the year as the Hens’ shortstop, splitting some of that time with Trei Cruz, that might spell the end for Trey Sweeney. The Tigers will need a 40-man spot for Kevin McGonigle sooner rather than later, and it’s just hard to see Sweeney doing anything without a major overhaul to his swing. Of course, they could also drop Workman at this point and keep Sweeney as a utility infielder, and that’s probably more the move as Workman has aged out and couldn’t take advantage of his major league look with Cubs last year. Still, they’re both 26 this year, so pick your poison I suppose. They’re young enough not to totally give up on, but not important enough to worry about at the same time.
Overall, this is a really good group of position players with Clark as the headliner. Wenceel Pérez is a solid MLB caliber hitter who just doesn’t stand out in terms of power or defense. Anderson and Lee are just outside of top 100 consideration. Jung and Cruz are older minor league former prospects who had pretty good camps. Valencia isn’t much of a catcher in MLB terms but he bat did erupt in a big way last year and he could provide some power and lefty mashing depth to the Tigers along the way.
The Tigers have a far stronger supporting cast in case of injury or ineffectiveness from their position player group than we’ve really even seen before. It’s just unfortunate that they don’t really have an ace pitching prospect or at least a fearsome relief prospect waiting in the wings. Keider Montero may be able to help out, but until his command takes another step he’s still just quality depth for the rotation and bullpen. Tyler Mattison has the stuff, as does Tanner Kohlhepp, but they’re now deep into their mid-20’s and neither has been able to develop enough command to reach the major league level yet. Hopefully Troy Melton, and maybe by late July or August, Jackson Jobe, can ultimately provide some more impressive help, while top pitching prospects like Miller and Sears get in position to contribute spot starts or long relief work this summer.
DENVER, CO - MAY 20: A detail of a baseball on the field in the first inning of a game between the Colorado Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field on May 20, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Massey will stay back in Arizona as the team heads to Texas, allowing him to get more at-bats in Minor League Spring Training games and fully test his running. He played second base on Saturday and is scheduled to play the outfield on Sunday. By Tuesday, the Royals hope to have a better idea of whether they can have him on the roster, which has to be set by Wednesday because of the Yankees and Giants beginning the 2026 season that night.
“If Massey’s ready, he’ll be on the team,” general manager J.J. Picollo said. “It may affect which way we go if he’s not on the team. We’ve got Drew Waters, we’ve got Nick Loftin. Trying to figure out how they fit. The good thing is we’re confident in anybody. We’d like to have Michael on the team. But it’s a deeper roster, and that’s a good thing. We’re in a good spot either way.”
He did throw a scoreless inning, but it was ugly. He threw 28 pitches but literally seven were in the zone. That’s brutal. He got just two chases on the 21 pitches outside the zone. His average velocity was 89.0, which was better than we’d seen when he was last in camp, but not good enough. And he maxed out at 90.7 MPH. I was concerned, but when it was going up somewhat steadily, I figured it was just something to monitor. We’re a week from Opening Day and he has two more outings to get this figured out. Look, maybe he does and we look back on this the same way we looked back on spring last year. But this is also worse than last year. Not every game had Statcast last year, but he pitched on March 17, March 20, March 22 and March 25 that was tracked. His average velocities were 92.8, 92.5, 93.9 and 93.2. He hasn’t touched any of those numbers on any pitch this spring.
In 2024, my bold prediction was the Kansas City Royals to make the playoffs on the strength of their emerging young offense. Bold Predictions HQ took a win on that one despite the fact that their playoff berth was more due to pitching than anything else. But we’re going back to the well and being more specific this time. The offense. It’s ready to bust out.
Cameron’s cutter is key to his success—the pitch comes in fairly slow at just 88 mph on average, but it’s got loads of induced horizontal break to it and it works beautifully, posting a 33% chase rate (78th percentile among cutters) a 34.5% ICR (71st percentile), and a 47.1% groundball rate (76th percentile).
