Cascade, Iowa-born Colin Rea is a well-traveled player, having had stints as a Padre, Marlin, Cub, Brewer, and Cub again. In seven years in the majors, he’s amassed a 1.9 bWAR (4.4 fWAR), a record of 37-27, a 4.41 ERA, 91 home runs, 182 bases on balls, 493 strikeouts, and 2 saves in 126 games, with 103 of them being starts.
He didn’t play very much with San Diego, who picked him in the 12th round in 2011, and was injured after going to Miami in 2016. He didn’t play in 2017-2019, resurfacing with the Cubs in 2020, where he didn’t really distinguish himself but showed enough for the Brewers to pick him up for the 2021 season. He spent 2022 in Japan and returned to Milwaukee, where he pitched quite a bit, and turned in decent seasons — especially his 2024 season, when he posted a 16-7 record, with a 4.29 ERA and 1.9 bWAR (0.8 fWAR).
He pitched for the Cubs in 2025, turning in an 11-7 record with similar statistics, and is expected to once again post similar stats, with his innings count is expected to be about half of that of the previous three years, in the 80 to 85 range, providing insurance against injury to the members of the Opening Day rotation. He is not expected to start as often as previously. (The exception is ZiPS, who expect overall similar performance.)
His SO/9 is usually in the 7-7.5 range. He doesn’t walk too many people, doesn’t give up a ton of home runs, and can be depended on to keep his team in the game. Most of his WAR stems from the last three years, lending credence to the view that his time in Japan really helped his cause. He’s 35, will be 36 in July, and who knows how much more time he has in The Show, but for now, he’s a perfectly cromulent sixth or seventh man, paired with Javier Assad, who fills a similar role.
Rea has all the pitches. He throws a four-seam fastball that sits 94-95, and in 2025 also fired a splitfinger, a sinker, slider, sweeper, curve, and cutter, in order of frequency. He throws a lot of first-pitch strikes.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 05: Julio Rodríguez #44 of Team Dominican Republic films on his camcorder during the 2026 World Baseball Classic workout day at loanDepot park on Thursday, March 5, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Almost nine years ago to this day, I wrote about the history of the World Baseball Classic, fearing its end and opining for its more thorough embrace. I opened with this:
The World Baseball Classic (WBC) should, ostensibly, be important. It’s a huge tournament that occurs only once every four years and features some of the best Major League Baseball talents and national stars, all competing to best represent their country. The preliminary rounds take place throughout the world, which theoretically should make them more accessible to a wider audience, and a number of MLB’s greatest international talents first gained fame on the Classic’s stage.
So why is it nearly impossible to find in-depth information on the WBC? What is the fate of the World Baseball Classic beyond 2017? Would changes to the tournament give it greater success, and is it even worthwhile to implement those changes? Why have they considered ending the WBC after this year?
Reporting to you now from 2026, I’m blown away by how different things are. There is no shortage of content or information about the WBC; many of the game’s biggest stars are competing; there were exhibition games all over the world against MLB teams. Heck, you can watch the games with relative ease and even hear some good announcers while you watch! It is an unmitigated joy to witness global baseball elevated in this way.
Here at LL, our intent is to create some game threads for the tournament, where you can caterwaul to your heart’s content about anything from Eduard Bazardo facing Andruw Jones’ son, Fernando Tatis Jr. looking radiant in the República Dominicana colors, Cal Raleigh catching Tarik Skubal or any number of other beautifully absurd WBC phenomena. But in the meantime, we thought it might be helpful to assemble a one-stop shop for all your WBC links and information. Enjoy!
Brilliant Meet at the Mitt podcast listener Josh was inspired by our WBC talk in the latest episode and created this incredible site that allows you to easily click on an MLB team and see which players will be playing for which countries – and to then see what players might be playing on any given day. Plus a link to Gameday for said game. PLUS which network the game is being broadcast on!
It’s truly amazing.
Since this is a volcano blog Mariners site, here’s a quick (there are 16, tied for first-most in MLB, plus two in the pitching pool for later play, italicized) list of M’s players and their teams.
Pedro Da Costa Lemos – Brazil
Josh Naylor – Canada
Guillo Zuñiga – Colombia
Michael Arroyo – Colombia
Julio Rodríguez – Dominican Republic
Luis Castillo – Dominican Republic
Charlie Beilenson – Israel
Dominic Canzone – Italy
Miles Mastrobuoni – Italy
Dane Dunning – Korea
Andrés Muñoz – Mexico
Randy Arozarena – Mexico
Dylan Wilson – Netherlands
Abdiel Mendoza – Panama
Cal Raleigh – USA
Gabe Speier – USA
Eduard Bazardo – Venezuela
Jhonathan Diaz – Venezuela
Pool play began March 4 and runs until March 11. Quarterfinals and semifinals happen March 13 to 16 and the championship game is on March 17 at 5 p.m. PT. Here’s a simple link to the schedule.
Pool A (San Juan, Puerto Rico): Puerto Rico, Panama, Canada, Cuba, Colombia
Pool B (Houston): USA, Brazil, Italy, Great Britain, Mexico
Pool C (Tokyo): Japan, Chinese Taipei, Korea, Australia, Czechia
Pool D (Miami): Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Netherlands, Israel, Nicaragua
Curious about the rules within the tournament? Here’s a remarkably thorough breakdown of everything from player eligibility, to pitch limits (because yes, there are pitch limits. Gotta protect from The Sog), to tie break scenarios.
Michael Clair, of MLB.com, has been covering baseball on a global scale for many years now (including a brilliant book about Czechia’s magical 2023 WBC run) and has a great archive of articles and is an excellent follow on whatever your preferred platform may be.
Need some background music to get yourself jazzed for the WBC? Great news, they just dropped their first-ever WBC Soundtrack.
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Justin Crawford #80 of the Philadelphia Phillies follows through on a swing against the Miami Marlins during the third inning of a spring training baseball game at BayCare Ballpark on February 27, 2026 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Justin Crawford started out Grapefruit League games with a few strong games, there was a distinct sentiment that the rookie should not only be in the team’s starting lineup, but he should be batting at the very top of it from day one.
I understand the sentiment, because based on his performance in the minors last year, he is well suited to the leadoff spot. He had a .411 on-base percentage with 46 stolen bases.
The sentiment makes less sense when you remember that the Phillies already have a good leadoff hitter in Trea Turner, who is also very fast and won a batting title in 2025. But the move isn’t really about getting Turner out of the leadoff spot as much as it is getting Alec Bohm out of the cleanup spot.
One of the biggest narratives of the offseason was getting protection in the lineup for Bryce Harper in the three-hole. (This narrative has been partly fueled by Harper himself.) It’s clear that most people do not think that Bohm and his 15 home runs a year power belong in the cleanup spot, even though as has been written, the notion of what a “cleanup hitter” is has changed over the years.
Let’s take a look back to 1998. Back then, lineups were generally constructed as such:
Fastest guy on the team batted leadoff
Second was a guy without much power but usually put the ball in play
Three-hole was the overall best hitter
Cleanup was the biggest power hitter
Batting fifth was the second biggest power threat
The Phillies of that year had a young shortstop named Desi Relaford. Normally, manager Terry Francona (exhibit A for never hiring a rookie manager) batted Relaford low in the lineup. But Relaford theoretically matched the expectations of a two-hole hitter, so every once in a while, Francona would try him out in that role.
It generally didn’t go well. In 21 games batting second that season, Relaford put up a .144/.179/.189 slash line. I’m not sure if the move caused Relaford’s downfall, or he was always destined to fail. He batted almost exclusively lower in the lineup the following season and continued to hit poorly. (He was eventually moved to help make room for another shortstop prospect named Jimmy Rollins who actually did succeed at the top of the lineup. To his credit, Relaford had a couple of decent seasons as a utility man for the Mets and Mariners a few years later.)
Last year, the Phillies similarly tried to get a new hitter into the mix at the top of the order. From April 11 to the first week of June, Bryson Stott was the team’s primary leadoff hitter. It went well at first, but soon, Stott’s production cratered. He went into a slump that lasted three months, even after he was moved out of the leadoff spot.
bryson stott after the first week of the season and bryson stott hitting leadoff. what are we doing here pic.twitter.com/rSTofkMFA2
Did the lineup switch cause Stott’s slump? On one hand, he hit poorly throughout most of 2024 as well, so it isn’t like a lengthy slump was completely out of character. On the other hand, it’s possible that he was pressing a bit, trying too hard to justify his spot in the lineup? Or maybe he tried to be too patient at the plate, which isn’t necessarily a great strategy for a hitter with proven trouble hitting elite fastballs.
That is why I don’t necessarily want to rush Crawford to the top of the lineup. He’s got enough pressure as a rookie starter for a playoff contender. It isn’t that imperative to get Bohm out of the top four spots in the lineup to potentially harm a young player’s development.
Perhaps Crawford will start off the season strongly and replicate his minor league performance with the Phillies. If that happens, I could see them being tempted to move him up, especially if the Phillies’ offense isn’t doing well overall. But to avoid Crawford being another Desi Relaford, they need to be sure he can handle it, and the leash should be very short.
BRADENTON, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Minnesota Twins center fielder James Outman (30) bats against the Pittsburg Pirates on February 26, 2026, at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Twins’ two best hitters this Spring have been, unquestionably, Alan Roden and James Outman, two players who were on the outside looking in coming into Spring Training. Roden has options remaining and may find himself in AAA to start that season anyway, but Outman can’t be sent to the minors without passing through waivers, where his defense and base running would almost definitely get him claimed. Too many outfielders is a good problem to have, but it’s a problem nonetheless. Let’s break it down by positions.
Locks (4): Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson, Taj Bradley
In contention (2): Zebby Matthews, Mick Abel
Out (9): Pablo Lopez (IL), David Festa (likely IL), Andrew Morris, Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, John Klein, Cory Lewis, Trent Baker, Christian MacLeod
Pablo is out for the season while Festa will miss the first couple weeks after a slow buildup in wake of his shoulder injury/thoracic outlet syndrome that cut his 2025 short. With Festa’s funky delivery and history of shoulder problems, I wouldn’t be surprised if he moves to the bullpen full-time when he returns, but until the playing time or statements from team officials makes that official, he’s a starter. Bradley was likely a lock before the injuries, but now he’s unquestionably in the rotation. Ryan, meanwhile, sounds like he’s on track for Opening Day after back tightness forced him out of his first Spring Training start.
That leaves Zebby and Abel fighting for the final opening day slot. Abel has been better this Spring, but Matthews has the experience edge and has had more consistent flashes against MLB hitters. Whoever loses out will undoubtedly see plenty of time with the Twins throughout the season.
Marco Raya was removed from the list completely after officially moving to the bullpen full-time.
Relief Pitchers
Locks (6): Taylor Rogers, Justin Topa, Cole Sands, Anthony Banda, Eric Orze, Liam Hendriks
In contention (11): Kody Funderburk, Travis Adams, Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, Marco Raya, Andrew Chafin, Julian Merryweather, Matt Bowman, Dan Altavilla, Cody Laweryson, Grant Hartwig
Out (3): David Festa (likely IL), Matt Canterino (IL), Andrew Bash, Raul Brito
Hendriks made his first appearance of Spring Training and looked relatively strong coming off of his injury-riddled season. I think he will be on the roster as long as he looks relatively effective. The Twins’ new plethora of lefties also earns Funderburk a demotion due to the crime of having options remaining. From quotes made by both manager Derek Shelton and GM Jeremy Zoll, it sounds like they would really like to bring Chafin with them out of camp, and I don’t think it’s strategically smart to carry 4 lefties, especially with all but Funderburk being relatively ineffective against righties.
I would still expect the Twins to trade an outfielder for a right-handed reliever around the roster deadline, meaning Funderburk, Adams, and less likely Raya, Merryweather, Bowman, and Altavilla are competing for the final bullpen spot. Bash and Brito were already reassigned to minor league camp.
Catchers
Locks (2): Ryan Jeffers, Victor Caratini
In contention: none
Out (6): Alex Jackson, David Bañuelos, Ricardo Olivar, Noah Cardenas, Patrick Winkel, Andrew Cossetti
No changes. Barring injury, we’re locked and loaded at catcher.
Infielders
Locks (5): Josh Bell, Luke Keaschall, Brooks Lee, Royce Lewis, Kody Clemens
In contention (5): Ryan Kreidler, Eric Wagaman, Tristan Gray, Orlando Arcia
Martin is only out of the infield mix because he’s gotten all of his work exclusively in the outfield this Spring. He’s still in the mix for an outfield spot. Other than that, there’s been no clarity at all on who has a leg up between Kreidler, Gray, and Arcia for the backup SS role. Arcia looked like the early favorite, but he was one of the worst hitters in baseball last season and Kreidler/Gray have gotten more of the SS reps over the past week.
Wagaman is a mainstay in nearly every Spring lineup and absolutely has a role as a do-it-all platoon bat at both infield and outfield corners. I think the Twins would like to bring him out of camp, but he has options remaining while players like James Outman and Trevor Larnach do not.
Outfielders
Locks (4): Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach (for now), Alan Roden
Near locks (2): Austin Martin, James Outman
In contention (1): Eric Wagaman
Out (6): Emmanuel Rodriguez, Gabriel Gonzalez, Hendry Mendez, Kyler Fedko, Walker Jenkins, Kala’i Rosario
As mentioned above, there’s a weird confluence of scenarios between the infield and outfield groups where you have to factor in options remaining, ability to play multiple positions, and off-field factors. For example, Kreidler can play CF, so if he wins the backup SS job, does that make it more likely that the Twins try to trade Outman or option Roden or Martin to St. Paul? It’s hard to untangle everything.
But let’s do our best. Roden has options remaining but has had SUCH a standout Spring that I don’t think you can keep him off the roster, increasing the need to find a Larnach trade partner. It’s also possible that Larnach could pass through waivers unclaimed and sit in St. Paul until the Twins need him, but that would be pretty disrespectful to a perfectly fine player who has been in the organization for a long time. We’ll keep him on the roster and deal with the fallout.
Final Roster Projection
Bold = New addition from 1.0
Asterisk = Camp battle
SP (5): Ryan, Ober, SWR, Bradley, Matthews*
RP (8): Rogers, Topa, Sands, Banda, Funderburk*, Orze, Hendriks, Chafin*
C (2): Jeffers, Caratini
IF (6): Bell, Keaschall, Lee, Lewis, Clemens, Gray*
OF (5): Buxton, Wallner, Larnach, Martin*, Roden*
The Twins want Chafin, so he escapes with a role barring another addition. They do, in fact, bring 4 lefties thanks to Fundy’s ability to get righties out. Abel has been better this Spring but the Twins have historically treated the rotation as a seniority battle more than results, and neither has a great track record at the MLB level anyway. Gray retains his hold on the backup SS role while Roden and Martin can feasibly play CF well enough to put Outman on the waiver wire.
Detroit Tigers first baseman Josue Briceño practices during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Florida, on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: Chris Bassitt #40 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during practice at Ed Smith Stadium on February 16, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Baltimore Orioles/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a week where it’s been light on televised Orioles spring training action, the Orioles are back on MASN for their home contest against the Cardinals on Friday afternoon. As a bonus, those who are out of market can check this one out on MLB Network if they have the ability. Tough luck if you are limited to radio, though. There isn’t one of those. The flagship stations are mostly not interrupting their weekday afternoon programming for spring training games.
Orioles lineup
Blaze Alexander – SS
Taylor Ward – LF
Adley Rutschman – C
Pete Alonso – DH
Ryan Mountcastle – 1B
Colton Cowser – CF
Heston Kjerstad – RF
Coby Mayo – 3B
Thairo Estrada – 2B
Chris Bassitt is the starting pitcher for this game. Other pitches expected to see action today are: Albert Suárez, Yennier Cano, Jean Carlos Henriquez, Josh Walker.
It’s obviously not going to be an Opening Day clone for the lineup as long as Gunnar Henderson is away with Team USA for the WBC. I think we’re pretty close, though. Seven of the nine players here are definitely expected to see regular MLB time with the team and the other two – for my money, Kjerstad and Estrada – could end up as reserves on the Opening Day roster, depending on how the team decides to evaluate its options.
Ahead of the game, manager Craig Albernaz was asked a variety of questions about his pitching staff and did not offer any definitive replies:
Taking these answers at face value, he hasn’t made decisions yet. I suspect he has an inclination towards what he is going to do and he’s just choosing not to reveal what that is yet, since something could easily happen to change the plan over the next couple of weeks. I have my doubts that either a six man rotation or piggybacking is really on the table. But the Orioles have surprised me before and will surprise me again.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 13: A bat engraved for Kade Anderson, selected third by the Seattle Mariners, is seen in the first round during the 2025 MLB Draft at Coca-Cola Roxy on July 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For many players and countries, the most important baseball of the year is going in earnest right now. The World Baseball Classic, which you can get caught up on the details of right here courtesy of Isabelle, is in its first full day, with games watchable on the various FOX/FS1/FS2 outlets, as well as free on Tubi. However, down in Arizona, the Seattle Mariners sans stars are providing a healthy mixture of their present and future. Unfortunately, if unsurprisingly, it’s a radio only effort from the Texas Rangers.
Kade Anderson will take the bump today, likely to go closer to three innings as he builds up alongside the other starting pitchers.
Feb 14, 2026; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Michael McGreevy (36) delivers a pitch during a spring training workout at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The St. Louis Cardinals who didn’t depart for the World Baseball Classic will take the field today starting at 12:05pm central against the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. According to MLB.com, Michael McGreevy will start the game for the Cardinals while it’s Chris Bassitt on the mound for the Orioles. The St. Louis Cardinals website says the game will be available on the MLB Network.
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 27: Francisco Cervelli #29 of the New York Yankees reacts after tagging out Dan Johnson #16 on a throw from right fielder Zelous Wheeler #45 after Munenori Kawasaki #66 of the Blue Jays singled in the fourth inning during a MLB baseball game at Yankee Stadium on July 27, 2014 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The backup catcher is a fickle creature. Outside of an occasional opportunity to warm up pitchers in between innings, or perhaps to enter in the late innings after their manager mercifully pinch-ran for the starting backstop, they might only be seen once a week when they draw a start. Like a backup quarterback in the NFL, they can range from promising youngsters to sage veterans but invariably fade into the background as long as the starter is healthy.
Well, nearly invariably. Francisco Cervelli couldn’t fade into the background if he tried.
Francisco Cervelli Born: March 6, 1986 (Valencia, Venezuela) Yankees Tenure: 2008-14
Francisco Cervelli was born in Venezuela to an Italian father and Venezuelan mother. “The economy was good in Venezuela in the ‘60s or ‘70s,” Cervelli said of his father’s family’s emigration. “It was really good, so they just tried to make a new life.” He grew up playing middle infield and pitching, but the Yankees saw a future catcher in his build when they signed him as a 16-year-old. “I love it,” he would later say of his transition to catching. “I feel like I was born to do it. I just didn’t know before.”
Cervelli quickly worked his way through the Yankees’ system, appearing in only 21 games at Double-A (and none at Triple-A) before briefly getting the call to the Show in 2008. That offseason, he began to make a name for himself around the game as the catcher for a surprisingly potent Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. After an upset 6-2 victory over Canada in the first round, Team Italy’s skipper — no less a source than Hall of Fame backstop Mike Piazza — raved about the youngster.
“He’s so talented back there, you can’t say enough,” he told the press. “His enthusiasm from the start of the game was just sky-high. He hustled. He’s got an amazing arm. I’m jealous — in a good way — because I see a player with a great future ahead of him.” This opportunity to face big-league competition with high stakes made an impression on Cervelli. “It helped me,” Cervelli said the following season. “How to call important games, how to concentrate hitter by hitter, pitch by pitch, everything.”
In 2009, with veteran catchers Jorge Posada and José Molina both missing time to injury, the 23-year-old once again found himself with the Yankees for large swaths of the season. He displayed a proficient hit tool, batting .298 in 101 plate appearances, and on June 24, 2009 in Atlanta, his first career homer helped light a spark for the club, which was in a slump and had just been addressed rather pointedly by GM Brian Cashman in a closed-door meeting.
Cervelli displayed a knack for both the physical and mental sides of his position, earning quick acclaim for his defense. “I think he receives the ball well, I think he blocks the ball well, I think he throws the ball well,” his manager, Joe Girardi, said. “He’s very mobile back there, so on bunts and slow-hit balls, he’s able to do that. I think he works very well with the pitchers. From a technical standpoint, there’s not a whole lot more to do.”
Cervelli ended up making the Yankees’ postseason roster but, with both Posada and Molina healthy, he drew no starts. Still, in a season that was characterized by the renegade exuberance of newcomers like Nick Swisher and A.J. Burnett, the passionate catcher emerged as a fixture in postgame pie celebrations and a key source of energy on the bench — also chiming in with one of the many walk-offs.
The following spring, Cervelli suffered a concussion. It was his second in four months and, by his own accounting, he had already taken at least 10 blows to the head over the course of his career. He was fatalistic about concerns around the repeated head trauma. “I think that things are going to happen, they’re going to happen, and that’s it,” Cervelli said. “I have to understand that and keep playing baseball. That’s my opinion.” As a concession to concerns around his concussion history, he began wearing the larger S100 batting helmet with a flap which would become soon standard but which earned him some David Wright-esque chiding at the time as “Gazoo” in reference to the Flintstones character.
Cervelli would stick in the bigs in 2010 and, by the end of the year, became A.J. Burnett’s personal catcher, an arrangement that would continue into the postseason. The future looked bright for the talented two-way catcher, particularly after the Yankees moved Posada to DH full-time, opening a possible path to increased playing time. But, after breaking his foot in the spring, Cervelli would cede reps to the just-signed Russell Martin, who ended up an All-Star while his backup was limited to 43 games.
With the team seeking more depth at catcher in 2012, the Yankees traded for Chris Stewart before the season and sent the 26-year-old Cervelli down to Triple-A. Cervelli reportedly exited the meeting in which he was informed of the demotion with red and watery eyes. “I don’t understand their reason,” Cervelli said. “I think you have to ask [GM Brian] Cashman or somebody else. Maybe they think the other guy is better than me right now.” The controversial decision to sideline the popular Cervelli was not only hard on him. “This was as tough as I’ve had to do,” Girardi said of breaking the news to Cervelli. He’d appear in only three games with the Yankees in what amounted to a lost season, made only more difficult by the fact that the Triple-A team didn’t really have a consistent home that year due to ballpark construction in the Scranton area. Cervelli was essentially on a season-long road trip.
Despite this setback, the spirited Cervelli would not relent. In 2013, with Martin gone, he won the starting job and slashed an impressive .269/.377/.500 through the season’s first month. Once again, it appeared his time had come. And, once again, injuries dashed those hopes. After that first month, he broke his hand on a foul tip behind the plate and then suffered an elbow injury during the recovery. Worse, Cervelli was caught up in the Biogenesis PED investigation that more famously ensnared Alex Rodriguez; the catcher was suspended for 50 games, officially ending his season.
Cervelli reported to spring training with a clean slate in 2014, firmly knowing his role as a backup to free-agent signing Brian McCann. He appeared in just 49 games but hit .301 with a 127 OPS+, easily his best showing yet among his four 100-PA seasons to date.
That offseason, Cervelli was traded to the Pirates for lefty reliever Justin Wilson. By the time he departed the team that had signed him as a teenager, he was the organization’s longest-tenured player. In his new uniform, Cervelli finally stayed healthy long enough to realize his potential, slashing .295/.370/.401 in 130 games and finishing second to Buster Posey among all catchers with 5.9 fWAR with a talented Pirates squad that won 98 games and a Wild Card spot (the Bucs’ most recent playoff appearance).
Extended on a rare eight-figure deal by Pirates standards, Cervelli would spend parts of four more seasons in Pittsburgh, remaining largely effective while healthy. Following brief stints in Atlanta and Miami, the 34-year-old was forced to retire after his seventh concussion at the MLB level alone. Cervelli has since gone into coaching, including succeeding Piazza as Team Italy’s manager in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
While Francisco Cervelli never stayed healthy long enough to become the Yankees’ true starting catcher, what could have been should not take away what he provided. Cervelli was a reliable contributor on both sides of the ball whose passion for the game shone through every time he took the field, providing energy and verve to veteran squads throughout his time in New York.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
Mar 16, 2025; Dunedin, Florida, USA; a general view of the stadium before a spring training game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Atlanta Braves at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The Pirates are coming to Dunedin from Bradenton. I thought Bradenton was the prettiest town. A very nice downtown area and a great spring ballpark. Not that Dunedin isn’t a pretty town.
The Jays brought a few of the ones who should be regulars and a couple of guys on the bubble on the bus trip.
Today’s Lineups
PIRATES
BLUE JAYS
Jake Mangum – LF
Nathan Lukes – RF
Konnor Griffin – SS
Davis Schneider – LF
Endy Rodriguez – DH
Addison Barger – 3B
Rafael Flores – C
Daulton Varsho – CF
Nick Yorke – 3B
Eloy Jimenez – DH
Jhostynxon Garcia – CF
Brandon Valenzuela – C
Dominic Fletcher – RF
Josh Rivera – SS
Termarr Johnson – 2B
Rafael Lantigua – 2B
Nick Cimillo – 1B
Riley Tirotta – 1B
Bubba Chandler – RHP
Jose Berrios – RHP
There doesn’t seem to be much for news. Max Scherzer is to make his first spring appearance tomorrow against the Phillies. That will be interesting.
Beyond that, it really looks to me like Eroy Jimenez is likely to make the team, which would be bad news for Nathan Lukes or Davis Schneider. Leo Jimenez seems a lock to make the team now.
Curtis Mead (center) hit a three-run homer, on this very day, to pace a win for Australia in the WBC. | (Photo by Gene Wang - Capture At Media/Getty Images)
1914 The White Sox returned home from their around-the-world series of exhibition games against the New York Giants. The Sox went 24-20-2, but the added 46 games took their toll when the regular season began in late April. For the year, the Sox would end up in sixth place, 30 games out with a record of 70-84-3.
In each of the three years previous, the White Sox were better than .500, at 77 or 78 wins — and 1914 would end up as just the third losing season in franchise history.
Among the players who participated in the exhibition series was New York’s Jim Thorpe, regarding as the greatest athlete in the world at that time because of his Olympic success.
The ship that brought the White Sox back to the U.S.? None other than the Lusitania — the ship sunk by a German torpedo little more than a year after the White Sox returned home safely from their world tour.
2006 Chicago native born in the shadow of Comiskey Park in the Robert Taylor Homes complex, Calumet High/Bradley University/Triton College product Kirby Puckett died after a stroke in Phoenix, at age 45. Puckett was a beloved player who was inducted into the Hall of Fame immediately after his five years of retirement were up, although his legacy has since been tarnished by the revelations of chronic domestic abuse.
Puckett was a storied overachiever, however, honored as an high school All-American baseball player but garnering no interest from major league teams upon graduation. Only after he was laid off by Ford Motors (he was a carpet installer) did Puckett attend a Kansas City Royals tryout camp, which led to scholarships to play baseball at Bradley and Triton.
Only Lou Gehrig died at a younger age as a living Hall-of-Famer than Puckett, and no player in the “modern era” of a five-year waiting period for the Hall has died younger.
2012 The first game ever at Marlins Park, an exhibition game vs. the University of Miami, had a decided White Sox flavor. Legendary starter Mark Buehrle made his debut for the Marlins, throwing three innings and giving up three runs on four hits. He started the game in Buehrle-esque fashion, however, retiring the first seven batters.
“Against minor league guys I don’t fare too well, so I was kind of nervous facing college guys, thinking it was going to be even worse,” Buehrle told reporters afterward. “Three runs is pretty good. I’ll take that any day.”
The first home run in the new park was hit by Marlin Hanley Ramírez, off of Alex Fernandez Jr. — son of former White Sox and Marlins ace Alex Fernandez.
The retractable roof needed to be closed prior to the night game, as rain started falling 30 minutes before first pitch. Several players bounced batting practice home runs off of the art deco home run sculpture in center field as well.
The Marlins eked out the win, 7-6, giving skipper Ozzie Guillén his first of not-many future Ws in Miami.
2026 Curtis Mead became the first of the five active White Sox in (six, including 44-year-old Alexei Ramírez of Cuba) to make an impact in the World Baseball Classic, with a three-run homer in the third inning of Australia’s 5-1 win over Czechia.
The home run didn’t come without drama, as Mead fell behind, 0-2, fought for his life on three straight foul balls, and then after one fastball well out of the zone clobbered an 81.2 mph, center-cut changeup.
Brailer Guerrero, OF 20 | L/R | 6’1” | 215 A | .249/.338/.399 (119 wRC+) 222 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 11.3% BB, 29.3% K AFL | 2 H, 0 HR, 2 SB, 3 BB, 16 K, 29 PA
Good news: the $3.7 million 2023 signee made the leap out of the complex league in his final teenage season. Bad News: He was injured yet again, with hamstring and knee injuries limiting him to 51 games for Charleston. The Rays tried to make up for lost time with an aggressive assignment to the AFL that resulted in only two hits in 29 plate appearances. He makes loud contact from a quick, quiet swing which he pre-loads by reaching back for even more power. He appears to make early decisions to swing, leading to a bit extra whiffs against anything off-speed, but that could easily clear up with some consistent playing time.
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
N/A
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
N/A
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
N/A
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
N/R
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
N/A
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
11
Anderson Brito
RHP
7
28
25%
N/A
12
Xavier Isaac
1B
9
28
32%
3
13
Caden Bodine
C
10
25
40%
N/A
14
Brendan Summerhill
OF
11
27
41%
N/A
15
Slater de Brun
OF
10
25
40%
N/A
16
Nathan Flewelling
C
8
26
31%
N/R
17
Trevor Harrison
RHP
9
26
35%
10
18
Jose Urbina
RHP
13
26
50%
25
19
Tre’ Morgan
1B/LF
15
25
60%
4
20
Jackson Baumeister
RHP
12
27
44%
12
21
Aidan Smith
OF
17
29
59%
6
22
Homer Bush Jr.
OF
10
25
40%
21
23
Dom Keegan
C
10
28
36%
9
24
Gary Gill Hill
RHP
8
25
32%
11
25
Brailer Guerrero
OF
8
24
33%
14
Brailer broke through in this poll, despite some noise from (finally) Brayden Taylor. My vote is currently stuck on Mesa Jr, who has a MLB floor with his defense, particularly for the Rays, but I could be persuaded to vote for Taylor. Next round, we add likely major leaguer Alex Cook.
Candidates
Fabricio Blanco, SS 17 | S/R | 5’11” | 161
A bat-first middle infielder, the Venezuelan is an elite prospect within the context of the international signing process, with some believing he’s the best Rays signee this off-season, despite gathering only a $1 million bonus. He can barrel up from both sides of the plate, but may settle into a right handed swing in the long term, with quick hands. He has the ability and instincts to stick at short, with a high-IQ approach and gritty demeanor.
Alex Cook, RHP 25 | 6’2” | 220 AA | 2.30 ERA, 2.29 FIP, 15.2 IP (13 G), 30.5% K, 5.1% BB
The Rays added Cook to the 40-man roster this off-season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, despite only throwing 20 innings (if you include four appearances in the complex league) after a slow start to the season. Cook attempted to convert to starting in 2024 and succumbed to a should injury, but bounced back in the bullpen in 2025 throwing 99 mph — and he has shown up to camp continuing to pitch with confidence. He has plus control and command, with stuff that leans into his low release point, including a cut-ride fastball and two-plane slider, and an MLB average cutter to prevent platoon slit problems. He should slot into high leverage for Durham and ride the shuttle in 2026.
Cooper Flemming, SS 19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).
Taitn Gray, 1B/OF/C 18 | S/R | 6’4” | 220
The Rays 86th overall pick in 2025, Gray fell to the third round due to some concern about whether he will stick at catcher, but that buries the lead. Still just 17 at the time of the draft, Gray showed up to the Rays organization and proved his rumored power was real, running exit velocities up to 115 mph from both sides of the plate, although the left handed swing is sweeter. He has plus athleticism, which elevated his bat speed, foot speed, and fluidity — despite his size. It will be interesting to see where the Rays deploy him on defense, but it’s a great bat to dream on.
Victor Mesa Jr., OF 24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195 AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.
Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.
The Rays 58th overall pick in 2024, Pitre has risen on draft boards through a strong performance in the Cape Cod league in 2023, but the power was a real question mark on his profile. Now given a chance to develop as a professional, he wouldn’t be the first to add muscle. His run and hit tools are plus, with a well coiled swing and solid contact in and out of zone. He’s too old to return to High-A and it be viewed as positive. His power stroke will be the key to his success in 2026.
Adrian Santana, SS 20 | S/R | 5’11” | 155 A+ | .263/.324/.326 (94 wRC+) 409 PA, 2 HR, 47 SB, 8.6% BB, 12.0% K
Once a top-ten or so prospect in 2024, Santana fell off our site’s 2025 list after failing to clear as an honorable mention. Why? The switch-hitting slick fielding short stop was the Rays 31st overall pick in 2023 but has delivered sub-100 wRC+ each stop of his career, although that got closer than ever last season, his third as a professional and his third as a teenager in the Rays system. Could expectations be too high on his bat? He has plus athleticism, is learning to wheelhouse, and has “acrobatic” defense at the hardest position in the game, with 98 swiped bags over the last two seasons. What happens if he survives the test of Double-A breaking balls?
Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.
Victor Valdez, SS 17 | R/R | 6’1” | 186
A pretty swing with a low whiff rate earned Valdez a big payday this winter — $3.5 million — with as good of a power projection as you can reasonably ask for from a a teenage bat, having been given a 25+ home run projection by Baseball America, who also praise his plus foot speed, bat speed, and control of the zone. Reports say he has ever improving lateral movements on defense, with smooth actions and a strong arm. If it all clicks, it’s a middle-of-the-order bat on the left side of the infield. At signing, the Rays gave him a comp to Francisco Lindor. It will be interesting to see if his first professional season can solidify the five tool profile.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 31: Kodai Senga #34 of the New York Mets in action against the Miami Marlins during the game at Citi Field on August 31, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Vincent Carchietta/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the Mets signed Kodai Senga to a five-year, $75 million contract, it signaled the team’s first swing move in the international market in years and generated a lot of excitement, even resulting in an A+ grade from Amazin’ Avenue’s Lukas Vlahos. It’s hard to argue with the hype: His ghost fork was already regarded as one of the most dangerous and unique pitches in the world, and a $15 million AAV for a player with ace potential is something you can’t find in modern baseball. It’s hard to find anything to complain about with the move.
Senga made waves with a stellar rookie campaign, coming in second in NL Rookie of the Year voting while striking out 200+ batters—he remains the most recent Met to punch out 200 hitters. His ghost fork was as advertised and, in a year where there was little to cheer for, fans reveled in sporting ghost fork merch as the Citi Field scoreboard flashed the “Senga” graphic with the Sega Genesis sound effect accompanying it. Senga Fever quickly overtook the Flushing Faithful, and it seemed the Mets had found the ace to take up the mantle from Jacob deGrom, who departed the previous offseason.
Unfortunately, his journey since then has been nothing sort of rocky following his eye-opening first season. He pitched just 5 1/3 innings in the 2024 regular season due to a right shoulder posterior capsule strain suffered in February, and a high-grade calf strain suffered during his one (1) regular season start, which came in late July. He returned for the postseason and made three appearances (two starts), allowing seven earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts over five innings. He was mostly an afterthought in the team’s World Series push, which concluded with a loss to the Dodgers in six games in the NLCS.
Last year was a tale of two halves for Senga, who looked like an early Cy Young hopeful until he exited his June 12 start with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, and then was largely unplayable upon his return in July. In his first 13 starts, he posted a sparkling 1.47 ERA and a 3.24 FIP, with a 23.9% K% and a 10.6% BB% in 73 2/3 innings. His season was derailed by an errant throw to first from Pete Alonso, which forced Senga to stretch awkwardly and resulted in the aforementioned hamstring injury. The rest, as they say, is history. He returned on July 11 and made just nine starts the rest of the way, posting a 5.90 ERA and a 4.69 FIP, with a 20.6% K% and a 12.6% BB% in 39 2/3 innings. He lost the confidence of his skipper and the club, so much so that he was asked to accept a Triple-A assignment, which he agreed to. His last regular season start was on August 31, and he spent all of September unsuccessfully trying to find himself in Syracuse. He allowed five earned runs on nine hits over 9 2/3 innings in two starts in the minors to close out the year.
From that point forward, it was fair to wonder whether Senga would ever return to his 2023 form over the final two years of his contract. Senga remained with the club beyond his 2025 opt out, which would have kicked in had he recorded 400 innings over his first three seasons. Despite his 166 1/3 innings in 2023, his lost 2024 season made that opt out a non-factor, and he finished 2025 with 285 major league innings under his belt. Heading into the offseason, the club made it known that Senga as someone they would listen to in trades, with Jeff Passan even adding in an offseason piece that, “multiple executives expect him to be traded this winter as the Mets look to overhaul their rotation.”.
However, the offseason came and went without anything materializing. It’s unclear whether the club seriously discussed the right-hander with any teams, though Senga made it clear to the Mets that he wanted to stay. In any event, it’s hard to imagine there weren’t teams out there willing to take a chance on $30 million over two years on a pitcher with a lethal ghost fork and an ace-like ceiling. More likely, the Mets either decided his value was greater on their team than the return they would have received, or the offers were so non-competitive that trade discussions never progressed.
That brings us to today, with Senga still on the roster and in came with the Mets to start spring training. His presence has been a constant source of questions for manager Carlos Mendoza, who has affirmed that the team has six starters. This seems to suggest that Senga is still a part of the team’s plans, and they will move forward with the six starters they have, including Senga. That makes Senga something of a wild card for the team. Unlikely to slot at the front of a rotation that features newly-acquired ace Freddy Peralta and young up-and-comer Nolan McLean, Senga offers enticing potential at a still relatively-affordable price point.
When asked about his goals for 2026, Senga candidly (and perhaps comedically) answered “to not get injured”. It’s a simple goal, but an important one. Given his first half last season, there is still proof that if he’s healthy and on a regular routine and schedule, he can be one of the best pitchers in the sport, a fantastic tool in Mendoza’s belt to use once a week and help push the Mets towards a playoff spot. If he succumbs to injuries yet again, however, he can quickly become another forgotten pitcher whose impact will long be forgotten, with someone like Jonah Tong ready to take his spot.
Mendoza has been extremely positive on Senga, saying that what he’s seen from the right-hander is “probably the best I’ve seen him since I’ve been here around this time”. This follows his positive review of his first bullpen session back in February, where Senga was seen throwing around 96-97 miles-per-hour, which resulted in Mendoza calling it a good sign before adding, “it was good to see him go out there with intensity and throwing the ball the way he did.”
Part of this is probably the third-year manager playing the role of hype man and lending support to his player in his time of need, but it should at least lend some excitement that Senga could finally put together a season similar to his rookie campaign. If he can be anything remotely close to that, it could (and should) give the Mets one of the most lethal rotations in the sport. Here’s to hoping that Senga, who figures to slot somewhere in the middle to back-end of the team’s six-man rotation, can realize his 2026 goal of remaining on the field.
CLEARWATER, FL - FEBRUARY 22: Esmerlyn Valdez #85 of the Pittsburgh Pirates watches his grand slam home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the sixth inning of a spring training baseball game at BayCare Ballpark on February 22, 2026 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, March 6, 2026, 1:05 p.m. ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates are splitting the team up, with half staying home to face the Phillies and the other traveling to visit the Blue Jays.
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Sep 23, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3), designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) and catcher Garrett Stubbs (21) celebrate winning National League East Division with a win against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Despite a dramatic midseason battle for first, the NL East was fairly clear cut for most of last season.
At the end of May, the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets were tied in a dead-heat, and the Miami Marlins, Atlanta Braves, and Washington Nationals had all started a downward trend out of contention. By the end of July, the Phillies’ and Mets’ fortunes began to split. The teams were within a half game of each other on August 1st, but the Phillies pulled away and never looked back, finishing in first place, 12 games ahead of the Mets.
Ultimately, the NL East yielded only one playoff team in 2025. The Braves hobbled out of the gate, plagued by injuries. The Mets imploded down the stretch, despite a stacked roster. But betting odds predict a brighter future for those two teams and the reigning division champs. Following the two-team race to the division crown for most of last season, things in the NL East could look a lot closer in 2026, with the potential for three teams to push for the postseason.
Key Additions: Walt Weiss (Manager), Robert Suarez, Mike Yastrzemski, Ha-Seong Kim
Key Departures: Marcell Ozuna, Alek Manoah
The Braves were as consistent as it gets in divisional dominance and playoff berths, so last year was a rough break from the norm.
Coming into 2025, Atlanta was riding a seven-year postseason streak, winning the NL East in six of those seasons. Unfortunately, they were doomed by a challenging start that they couldn’t quite shake. They lost their first seven games to begin the year and were plagued by injuries and absences throughout: Ronald Acuña Jr. started his year on the IL; Jurickson Profar was suspended for the first 80 games; and a bulk of the rotation (Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenback, and Spencer Strider) was limited throughout the season.
The team’s focus for 2026 will be to get healthy and back on track. They’ll also have a new skipper at the helm looking to right the ship as Brian Snitker, the team’s manager for the last 10 seasons, was replaced by long-time bench coach (and Rockies’ legend) Walt Weiss. Weiss is hoping for fireworks from a “gauntlet” of a lineup, banking on Acuña Jr. and a slew of others to return to form offensively.
Unfortunately for Atlanta, breaking news this week forecasts another lineup hurdle. Profar will yet again be suspended for violating the league’s PED policy, this time for a full 162 games plus bans from the World Baseball Classic and the postseason.
The Braves will hope to avoid another avalanche of bad news. If they can weather the loss of Profar and ongoing injuries to the pitching core, they may have enough talent to make a run at the division.
Key Additions: Christopher Morel, Esteury Ruiz, Chris Paddack
Key Departures: Edward Cabrera, Eric Wagaman
Although Miami posted a losing season in 2025, it in many ways was a win. Last year was about carving out a path to the future holistically. The team lost GM Kim Ng at the end of the 2023 season and parted ways with manager Skip Schumaker after 2024. In all of the chaos, they went 62-100 in the 2024 campaign, so 2025’s 79 wins were a marked improvement.
That being said, there is little optimism that the Marlins will make a similar jump or seriously compete this season.
The Fish didn’t make a big splash in the offseason, sticking with a handful of lateral moves. With that, they retain a roster very similar to last year’s and are one of just four teams with zero players on ESPN’s Top 100 list. They were right around or under the league average in a number of key batting and pitching stats, so the lack of an influx of talent doesn’t inspire confidence in a win increase. Rather, they will rely on youth and upside, building towards long-term stability.
There’s a new look in Queens as the Mets have retooled while still maintaining high expectations.
The Mets pushed all of their chips in (figuratively and financially) when signing Juan Soto for $765 million over 15 years heading into 2025. Soto is a top-5, MVP-caliber player, so pairing him with a core of Alonso, Nimmo, and Lindor should have been a recipe for success.
Things were going well in the Big Apple… until they weren’t.
Despite rocketing out to 45 wins and a 5.5 game lead on the division, things fell apart as the season went on. New York would finish 13 games behind Philadelphia in the division, while losing out to the Cincinnati Reds for a Wild Card spot.
The Mets will look to find a path into the postseason with a brand new core. In addition to retooling their roster, they’ve revamped their coaching staff with a slew of changes in key positions. Fortunately, it’s a talent-out, talent-in situation, and the team shouldn’t lose much steam despite a sporting different look. The addition of a number of big names should allow the team to pick up where they left off and try their hand at competing for the NL pennant.
Key Departures: Nick Castellanos, Harrison Bader, Walker Buehler
As the reigning division champs, the Phillies’ offseason was less defined by sweeping change and more by consistency. They feel they have what it takes to strike while their window of contention is firmly open.
Despite losing a good bat (and questionable clubhouse presence) in Castellanos, they re-signed both Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto to run things back with the same cast of characters that locked up the 2-seed in the last playoff field
Schwarber will lead the way in batting after leading the NL in homers and RBI. The Fighting Phils finished second in the league in hits, third in batting average, fourth in OPS. They weren’t too shabby on the mound either, finishing top-10 in ERA, top-3 in saves, and first overall in FIP.
A well-balanced attack on both sides of the ball with little roster turnover should position Philadelphia at the top of both the East and the league.
Key Departures: MacKenzie Gore, Paul DeJong, Josh Bell
The Nats flirted with a 100-loss season in a year full of growing pains. But growing pains are to be expected with a youth movement and the Nats are fully leaning further into that this year, starting at the top. In the offseason, Washington hired 31-year-old Anirudh Kilambi as the new GM and 33-year-old Blake Butera as manager.
One of their primary roster acquisitions was 23-year-old catcher Harry Ford, adding a highly-touted prospect to the pipeline.
Continuing the trend throughout the roster, the team sent 2025 Opening Day starter MacKenzie Gore to the Texas Rangers for prospects with the idea that young guns will get the bulk of starts in the year ahead, learning on the job. The pitching rotation is in desperate need of development, posting the league’s second highest ERA last year. They have a handful of pitchers climbing the ranks, but many of these prospects aren’t expected to join the big leagues until 2027, at the earliest.
For now, Washington will embrace “wait and see” mode.
Who do you think will win the NL East this year? Do you think the NL East will send multiple teams to the postseason? Let us know!
