Category: Baseball

Ahead of what will be the final season of his MLB career, Miguel Rojas won’t represent Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic because of insurance issues, a source confirmed.

Rojas announced via Instagram on Thursday that he wouldn’t be participating in the triannual international tournament.

“Today I am very sad,” he wrote in Spanish, in a post accompanied by a picture of himself wearing the Venezuelan flag over his shoulders. “A true shame I can’t represent my country and put that flag on my chest.”

Rojas, 37, is one of several players who are reportedly unable to participate in this spring’s WBC because of issues getting their MLB contracts insured against potential injury in the tournament –– the same requirement that also forced Clayton Kershaw, among others, to miss the most recent WBC in 2023.

Without insurance (or, in very rare cases, agreements with their MLB teams), big-league players would not have their contracts guaranteed for any time they miss during the regular season resulting from injuries sustained in the WBC.

Typically, insurance issues arise over concerns about a player’s injury history. But, while Rojas has dealt with hernia, forearm and intercostal issues over the last two years, his situation also stemmed from his age, as El Extrabase first reported and Rojas’ Instagram post itself indicated.

“On this occasion,” Rojas wrote, “age wasn’t just a number.”

A 12-year big-league veteran who has played a key role in both of the Dodgers’ recent back-to-back World Series championships, Rojas has never before played in the WBC.

He was originally part of Team Venezuela’s 2023 squad, but pulled out shortly before the tournament after Gavin Lux’s torn ACL during spring training that year thrust him into a starting role for the Dodgers –– who had just re-acquired the smooth-fielding utilityman in a trade from the Miami Marlins that offseason.

“It’s a decision that is not coming easy for me,” Rojas told MLB.com then. “Definitely the WBC and my country and being part of that squad has always been a priority for me and something I really value in my career. [It is] one of the best things that I could have done in my career, an experience like no other.”

Now Rojas, who re-signed with the Dodgers as a free agent this offseason and is slated to take on a player development role within the organization once he retires, won’t get the chance before his playing career ends.

With Rojas ruled out of the WBC, the Dodgers currently have only three confirmed participants: Will Smith for Team USA; and Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Team Japan.

Kershaw, who retired from the major leagues after last season, will also be on Team USA’s roster.

Cincinnati Reds legend and future baseball Hall of Famer Joey Votto is going to be a big part of NBC’s Major League Baseball coverage beginning this spring.

According to Front Office Sports, Votto is among a pretty impressive (on field) trio that will be joining NBC’s coverage, with fellow future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw and some guy who played for the Cubs for a while also set to headline.

What remains to be seen, though, is in just what capacity we’ll see Votto.

Will he be a featured analyst during weekly Sunday Night Baseball broadcasts? Will he be parked behind a desk in-studio for larger national coverage?

Will he dress like a mountie? Will he drive a school bus to work each day?

Will he go with a beard, since it’s now perpetually his off-season?

Regardless, we’re about to hear one of the best minds the sport has ever seen be back on television front and center, providing us with the kind of insight into the game of baseball at a level we could only dream.

All offseason, Dodgers officials have emphasized the importance of managing their starting rotation’s workload in 2026, after pushing that group to its physical limits during last October’s arduous World Series run.

A few weeks before the start of spring training, Blake Snell is becoming an early example.

In the aftermath of the Dodgers’ Fall Classic triumph in Toronto –– which was still not even three months ago –– Snell’s arm was “tired” and “exhausted,” he acknowledged Thursday, following five postseason starts plus a critical relief appearance in Game 7 against the Blue Jays.

“I was happy I was able to pitch the whole time,” the left-hander told The California Post during a Dodgers charity event at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. “But it was tough.”

Thus, Snell and the team decided to have the 33-year-old slow-play his winter throwing program this offseason. The plan, Snell said, is to still be ready for Opening Day in late March. But at this point, that is not seen as a certainty within the organization.

“You want to ramp up, but I gotta take my time and get healthy,” said Snell, the two-time Cy Young Award winner who returned from a long-term shoulder injury last summer to play a starring role in the Dodgers’ title trek.

“I feel like I’m doing the right thing. I feel good. I’ve been throwing. It feels better. In the postseason, I gave everything I had for that. But on the front end of spring, I’ll have to be patient and let my body get to 100%.

“That’s what I’m learning talking with (the team). Don’t rush. Be patient. Make sure you’re 100%. And that’s what’s awesome about the organization. They really are focused on your health and well-being.”

In some ways, this is nothing new for the Dodgers. They’ve long erred on the side of caution when it comes to managing pitchers’ workloads. They’ve always prioritized long-term health, and October availability, above all else.

Never before, however, has that balance been so important.

Beyond Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto presents the most obvious challenge this season. Not only did the right-hander lead the Dodgers in both regular-season and postseason innings last year (logging 210 combined, culminating with his back-to-back appearances in games 6 and 7 of the World Series), but he is also slated to pitch for Team Japan in this spring’s World Baseball Classic. That will require him to ramp up earlier than normal and make full-intensity outings several weeks before Opening Day.

“Yamamoto is gonna be an interesting case study,” manager Dave Roberts said, “given how much he’s pitched over the last couple years.”

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Shohei Ohtani offers another unique situation, likely to get extra between-starts rest –– as much as “six, seven, eight days off,” according to Roberts –– as he returns to full-time two-way duties for the first time in his Dodgers career. He is also on Team Japan’s WBC roster, but it’s undetermined if he will pitch in the event.

Tyler Glasnow, meanwhile, has a long history of injuries the Dodgers will have to take into account, with the 10-year veteran having never made more than 22 starts in a regular season.

For now, the Dodgers haven’t set any hard innings limits on that group and will wait and see how each progresses during spring camp before formulating more specific plans.

Still, their workloads are “something we definitely have to be mindful of,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said this winter.

“It’s just making sure we’re being prudent on the front end and saying, ‘If we need extra rest here (at some point), we can do it,’” general manager Brandon Gomes echoed.

The good news for the Dodgers is that they have some depth. Emmet Sheehan and Roki Sasaki are expected to bolster the season-opening rotation. Former top prospects River Ryan and Gavin Stone had normal offseasons after recovering from surgeries last year (with excitement around the organization particularly high in how Ryan has looked ahead of camp). Justin Wrobleski, Ben Casparius, Kyle Hurt, Landon Knack and Bobby Miller are all also starting options.

This coming year, the team might need almost all of them at some point.

Already, the aftereffects of last year’s World Series title are being felt.

Tommy Edman has a new name to write on his lineup card. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ second baseman and his wife, Kristen welcomed the birth of their second child — a daughter, Ava, on Tuesday in Los Angeles. 

Edman and his wife Kristen shared the news on Instagram with a carousel of hospital-room stillness: the newborn bundled tight, the quiet glow of first moments, and the show-stealer — big brother Eli — meeting his baby sister for the first time.

“Worth the wait. Welcome to the world, Ava Edman,” Kristen wrote, a line that didn’t need embellishment.

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Edman dealt with a nagging right ankle injury over the past year that culminated in his second World Series championship as the Dodgers won back-to-back titles for the first time since the New York Yankees won three-straight from 1998-2000. 

The injury landed Edman on the injured list twice and shadowed him through the team’s championship run in October. He gutted it out anyway — infield, center field, wherever the team needed him — until surgery finally came in mid-November.

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“This was clearly bothering him for a while,” general manager Brandon Gomes said at the Winter Meeting in early November. “He’s so tough and went out there and kept just posting for us, and obviously played great for us. So I think it’ll be good to get it addressed, and then that way he can kind of have this behind him.”

Edman’s recovery timetable is uncertain, but he expects to be ready by the start of spring training. However, the Dodgers have a history of being conservative with their players when they come back from injury. Their plethora of depth doesn’t hurt them in that regard either. Edman’s status for Opening Day is still in the air, but knowing the Dodgers they will likely play it safe. 

The team has prepared accordingly, adding Andy Ibáñez and leaning on depth like Miguel Rojas and Alex Freeland. Andrew Friedman, as always, has contingency plans.

February is the month when Major League Baseball teams begin to gather at their Spring Training facilities. The San Diego Padres look like a postseason contender on paper, but the front office must settle the first base debate before the opening of full squad workouts in Peoria.

Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller has assembled a talented but incomplete roster that has several holes to fill before Opening Day.

Let’s dissect a couple of options at the first base position:

Castellanos: A proven run-producer

The first name on the Friars’ wishlist could be Nick Castellanos, as the Philadelphia Phillies have been looking to move him off the roster all winter. The decision is primarily due to his declining defensive skills in the outfield and constant bickering with Phillies manager Rob Thomson last season. It is time for a change for both sides. 

Castellanos is a proven run producer, having driven in 100 runs three times in his 13-year major league career. The right-handed slugger has an aggressive, free-swinging approach at the plate. Castellanos focuses on hitting the ball to the gaps for extra-base hits. It can lead to a high strikeout rate (22.3%) and a low on-base percentage (.321). But you cannot argue with his production, as he has hit 399 doubles and 250 home runs heading into the upcoming season.

A recent video surfaced on several social media websites of Castellanos taking grounders at first base, so he seems open to a position change. The sticking point in a potential trade is that Castellanos is owed $20 million in the final year of his contract. If a deal occurs, the Phillies would need to absorb some of this season’s salary. 

Stay tuned.

A reunion with Luis Arraez

If you are looking for an elite contact hitter, then look no further than Luis Arraez. A reunion with him is not out of the realm of possibility. It is hard to imagine a player who won three consecutive batting titles (2022 to 2024) is having trouble securing a contract for the upcoming season.

Preller has been reluctant to sign Arraez because of his stature (5-10), which limits his ability to play first base effectively. Arraez has a tough time catching or putting a glove on an errant high throw. Often, the ball travels down the right field line, as the batter finds himself in scoring position without the pitch leaving the infield. 

You could see an agreement on a one-year deal that benefits both sides. It allows Arraez to re-establish his value before heading back on the free agent market next winter. The Padres gain a fan favorite who can make a significant contribution on a cost-effective deal.

Unfortunately, most major league teams are willing to take a risk on power hitters with defensive limitations rather than top-of-the-order hitters who have a skillset not built to drive in runs.

The Friar Faithful have grown tired of the “wait and see” approach to filling the holes on the roster. It is time for Preller to sign or trade for a first baseman, or we are in for a long summer.

Hopefully, a resolution comes fast.

The White Sox continue shuffling the deck, officially punching Seranthony Domínguez’s two-year, $20 million ticket to the South Side. Domínguez pockets a cool $1 million just for signing, plus a mutual option dangling for 2028. Domínguez, 31, brings a legit late-inning arm to a bullpen that’s been running on fumes, with a career strikeout rate north of 27% and plenty of high-leverage experience.

To clear roster space, Chicago released Bryan Ramos, designating him for assignment. Once viewed as a future infield fixture, Ramos never got his feet under him in the bigs. His exit is just the latest sign that the front office is churning the 40-man roster ahead of camp.

And because Spring Training is nothing without a crowd, they also tossed non-roster invites to 22 hopefuls for major league camp. The Sox announced that seven of those are free agents signed to minor-league contracts: righthander Tyson Miller, lefthander Ryan Borucki, infielders Oliver Dunn, Tim Elko and LaMonte Wade Jr., and outfielders Dustin Harris and Jarred Kelenic.

Elko’s bat brings the thunder, knocking 26 bombs for Charlotte last year, but he looked lost in three big-league call-ups. Wade is a defensive Swiss Army knife who bounced between the Giants and Angels in 2025. Borucki and Miller? Veteran arms that add experienced depth to a pitching staff that will be closely monitored early in camp.

The club also invited 15 additional players from the farm to big league camp, including a pile of righties in Mason Adams, Adisyn Coffey, Tyler Davis, Zach Franklin and Ben Peoples, as well as a handful of southpaws with Shane Murphy, Noah Schultz, Tyler Schweitzer and Hagen Smith. Behind the dish is Michael Turner, while infielders Sam Antonacci, William Bergolla Jr. and Jacob Gonzalez will handle the dirt. Outfielders Dru Baker and Braden Montgomery round out the list.

Schultz and Smith sit at the top of the pitching list, racking up over 180 strikeouts between Double- and Triple-A last year. Montgomery keeps climbing, stacking on-base numbers at every stop. All three prospects Montgomery (No. 36), Schultz (No. 49), Smith (No. 72) landed on MLB.com’s Top 100 for 2026. The Sox aren’t just filling out the roster with cannon fodder. There’s real competition in this mix.

Pitchers and catchers get the ball rolling on February 10, with the full squad piling in five days later on February 15. The first game is against the Chicago Cubs on February 20.

We had a couple of outlets drop their farm system rankings today, so I thought it’d be a good time to see how our readers are feeling about the state of the farm.

Keith Law at The Athletic ranks them 25th, noting that they’ve traded away a lot in win now moves recently and are about to go through a second draft in a row with no second round pick because they’ve signed free agents who had refused qualifying offers.

ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel is more optimistic, putting them 16th. He’s high on JoJo Parker and Johnny King, and seems extremely high on Sam Shaw, putting him 151st on his extended top prospect list.

Personally, I’m somewhere in the middle. I think this is clearly a below average system. That’s especially true if you mentally exclude Trey Yesavage, who’s still technically eligible but is really a major leaguer now. It’s not a bad system at all, though. Parker, Nimmala and King are all top 100 types or close, and the recent success in pitching development gives some hope that the depth will be better than it has recently. They have some role players likely to help in 2026, and some exciting young guys in the lower levels.

What do you think about the state of the farm? Let us know in the comments.

On the latest episode of The Mets Pod, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo are hitting the home stretch of the offseason as spring training is in the air. 

First up, the guys react to the Freddy Peralta introductory news conference and continue the contract extension chatter, share their thoughts on the clubhouse vibes after manager Carlos Mendoza made comments about last season, and look at what may come from the signing of reliever Craig Kimbrel. 

Later, the guys go Down on the Farm to tell the story of this week's social media sensation Jefry Yan, and answer Mailbag questions about a world where the Mets brought back Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz, the idea of Brett Baty playing first base, and who they would chose to fill out their all-time Mets lineup.

Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Texas Rangers have announced the non-roster invitees for this year’s major league spring training camp. Aside from the guys signed to minor league deals this winter, the team has invited nine other players who were already in the organization to the major league camp. They are:

IF Sebastian Walcott — Y’all know who he is

IF Cam Cauley — You probably know who he is, too. Versatile infielder who is likely going to be at AAA this season. Could get a call up if there’s a need for a utility infielder and he’s done enough for the Rangers to think he’s worth adding to the 40 man roster.

OF Trevor Hauver — 27 year old lefthanded hitting corner outfielder who came to Texas from the Yankees as part of the Joey Gallo trade. Slashed .275/.391/.446 for Round Rock last year. Will be a free agent after the season if he’s not added to the 40 man roster. Not a realistic candidate to be in the majors this year, barring extraordinary circumstances.

OF Aaron Zavala — 25 year old lefthanded hitting corner outfielder who was the Rangers’ second round pick in 2021. Slashed .242/.354/.415 between AA and AAA (mostly AAA) last year. Presumably will be in Round Rock this year.

LHP Robby Ahlstrom — 26 year old reliever acquired by the Rangers from the Yankees in the Jose Trevino trade. Split the past two seasons between AA and AAA. Could be a bullpen option if he stops walking so many hitters.

LHP Dalton Pence — 23 year old who was the Rangers’ 11th round pick out of UNC in 2024. Had a solid 2025 season, putting up a 2.73 ERA between Hickory and Hub City, with 103 Ks against 27 walks in 82.1 IP. Not a major league option, but someone whose stock has risen.

LHP Josh Trentadue — 24 year old who was the Rangers’ 13th round pick out of College of Southern Idaho in 2023. Split 2025 between high-A and AA, putting up a 1.15 ERA in 54 innings at high-A and a 5.24 ERA in 22 innings at AA. Like Pence, not a major league option, but someone whose stock has gone up.

RHP Eric Loomis — 23 year old reliever who was the team’s 16th round pick out of Missouri State in 2024. Spent time at low-A, high-A and AA in 2025, dominating at the A ball levels and giving up 6 runs in 7.2 innings over 7 appearances at AA. Struck out 84 of 220 batters faced, which is pretty good. Walked 25 and hit 12. Someone who could move quickly if he harnesses his stuff.

RHP Ryan Lobus — 25 year old who was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Mercer in 2023. Put up a 3.48 ERA in 67 innings over 45 appearances for Frisco in 2025, with 82 Ks and 27 walks. Like Loomis, is a bullpen guy who could potentially get a look at some point this season if he performs.

Players signed as free agents over the winter and invited to major league camp are:

RHP Gavin Collyer

RHP Declan Cronin

LHP Austin Gomber

RHP Peyton Gray

RHP Josh Sborz

RHP Trey Supak

C Jose Herrera

C Cooper Johnson

IF Jonah Bride

IF Richie Martin

IF Andrew Velazquez

IF Tyler Wade

The Rangers’ website says that there are 23 NRIs, but I am only counting 21 above, so there must be a couple that aren’t listed on the NRI roster page.

The Seattle Mariners have announced their plan for streaming games for the 2026 season, offering a deal that in essence matches the Root Sports package debuted a season ago. For $99,99 a season (or $19.99 by individual month), fans will be able to subscribe to Mariners.TV and watch thru the MLB App on various devices, including phones, tablets, computers, and presumably smart TVs. The club noted that they WILL still have their games broadcast via traditional cable and satellite, and internet TV providers as has been the case, however they will be announcing the specific channels/providers between now and Opening Day.

Sign up for the new service begins February 10th.

This is, in essence, a continuation of the exact situation from a season ago, where in-market fans can now choose to subscribe specifically to this streaming service (Mariners.TV) for all non-national broadcast games, while MLB.TV will still be required (and fully functional) whenever out-of-market. If you’re watching the M’s from the Midwest, for instance, carry on as usual.

If you’re a traditional cable subscriber/user, this also may simply not be all that impactful to you. The M’s FAQ notes they “expect the channel locations will be located near other sports programming on your [TV] guide.” As such, between now and the start of the season, you’ll need to learn the new channel that will have M’s broadcasts, but it will likely be as simple as that: learn the new channel, write it down or add it to your favorites, accidentally type the old one every now and then like we all do when the calendar switches to January each year. RIP channels 30 and 627 in the households of my youth.

For those (like myself) who’ll be certain subscribers to this streaming service, it seems functionally identical to the Root Sports Stream experience, with the lone caveat that it will run through the MLB App. If you’re a reader of Lookout Landing, I’ll never assume anything, but it seems likely you have the MLB App. You will NOT have to purchase an additional MLB.TV subscription to purchase this bespoke, Mariners-specific version.

I’m no economist, but purely as a consumer, I’m constantly finding myself wanting a specific thing, and realizing it can only be acquired as part of a bundle or package. About $8.50 a month for the most central entertainment product to me and my life, with no other attached junk feels… reasonable? It remains to be seen what impacts the dissolution of ROOT has upon the broadcast itself, but this feels straightforward in a way that it could’ve easily not been.

It is official, Ronald Acuña Jr. will be playing for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic this year for his second appearance since debuting with the team in 2023 during the WBC.

That year, he experienced going to the quarterfinals with the team, but fell to Team USA in the end.

It was just last November when it was announced that Kansas City Royals’ Salvador Perez would take the role as captain for Team Venezuela, but it was unknown how the remainder of the roster would shake up after more players seemed to announce their commitments to their respective teams.

Finally, this Thursday (1/29), additions have been made to join Perez as Ronald Acuña Jr, Wilyer Abreu, Maikel Garcia, and Jackson Chourio have been announced to represent the team.

Acuña made an epic comeback last season when he returned in May and played a total of 95 games with a .935 OPS. Presented with the National League’s Comeback Player of the Year title, he is looking forward to picking up where he left off with a healthy season with the Braves. First off, though, an appearance with his home team, before entering the 2026 season.

Venezuela is set to play in Pool D of the World Baseball Classic on March 6 against the Netherlands at 12:00 p.m ET at loanDepot park in Miami.

While announcing the Craig Kimbrel signing that had already been reported upon, the Mets also revealed another low-stakes acquisition of a veteran player. The team has inked long-time Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

The 36-year-old Barnes had spent over a decade in the Dodgers organization, dating back to being acquired in a trade from the Marlins in 2014. He made his big league debut in 2015 and—outside from an outlier 2017 season in which he put up a 142 wRC+ and 3.7 fWAR—has largely served as a glove-first backup catcher. He was finally released by Los Angeles last May and was subsequently signed by the Giants the following month. Barnes had a brief unremarkable stint in San Francisco’s minor league system before he was released by them in August.

Now Barnes will try to find a new home with the Mets. Of course, assuming Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens remain healthy, the odds of him breaking camp with the team are virtually non-existent. Barnes will instead likely be battling with Hayden Senger—himself a glove-first backstop with little to no offensive prowess, but one who has the benefit of youth—to serve as the team’s third catcher option in case one of their top two guys go down at any point. If he does not win that battle, then he may well ultimately find himself being released by a third team in the near future.

Austin Barnes, who won a pair of World Series titles with the Dodgers, signed a minor league deal with the Mets, the team announced Thursday.

Barnes received an invitation to major league spring training.

The 36-year-old Barnes appeared in just 13 games for the Dodgers last season before he was released in May.

A month later, Barnes signed a minor league contract with the Giants, but didn’t make it back to the majors and was released in August.

He’ll try to extend his career with the Mets, who have Francisco Alvarez, Luis Torrens and Hayden Senger on their 40-man roster.

Barnes spent 11 seasons with Los Angeles, most recently as a backup to Will Smith, prior to being designated for assignment to make room for catching prospect Dalton Rushing.

Known for his excellent work behind the plate, Barnes appeared in the playoffs in eight of his 11 seasons with the Dodgers.

The Mets also announced their signing of Craig Kimbrel to a minor league contract with an invite to major league spring training after the 37-year-old former closer split last season between Atlanta and Houston.

Kuyashii.

There isn’t an English equivalent to this Japanese word, which covers a wide range of emotions related to frustration.

You can feel kuyashii because you failed. Or because you gave your best and it wasn’t enough. Or because you didn’t give your best. Or because you were upset by what someone said. Or because you were humiliated.

Whatever the source of the anguish, ultimately you feel kuyashii because you can’t accept what happened.

In a television special by NHK that was aired in Japan last month, Shohei Ohtani reflected on his pitching performance against the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series.

Only four days removed from his previous start, Ohtani looked gassed. He barely escaped a bases-loaded jam in the second inning. In the third, disaster struck, as he served up a three-run home run to Bo Bichette. The Dodgers were down, 3-0. With only one out in the inning, Ohtani was replaced by Justin Wrobleski.

Slipping into the past tense, Ohtani said to NHK of the home run by Bichette: “Kuyashikatta.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sensed what Ohtani was feeling when he removed the ball from his hand on the Rogers Centre mound.

“There was a lot of frustration,” Roberts said, “maybe some anger.”

Reaching greater heights

Before leaving his home country in late 2017, Ohtani staged a news conference in Tokyo. There, he clearly articulated his goal for his upcoming MLB adventure.

“As long as you’re playing baseball,” Ohtani said, “I think it’s natural to want to be the No. 1 player.”

That designation has belonged to him for the last five years, a period in which he has won four MVP awards. His move to the Dodgers two years ago helped him fill the most significant gap in his resume. The Dodgers recovered from his 2 ⅓-inning start in Game 7 and went on to beat the Blue Jays, making him a back-to-back World Series champion.

But what makes a four-time MVP is an ability to discover new forms of inspiration, and Roberts thinks Ohtani’s memories of his final start will propel him to greater heights.

“There’s always something that Shohei needs to fuel him,” Roberts said. “He’s already the best player in the game, most likely, probably, the best to ever lace them up. So, how does he keep motivated? Things that have frustrated him or angered him. And going short in Game 7 probably is something that he’s not gonna let happen again.”

Ohtani is extremely polite in formal environments and playful when interacting with his teammates, his demeanor concealing the intensity described by Roberts. But it’s there.

Ohtani is Kobe Bryant with a glove and a bat.

Roberts thinks it’s entirely possible this is the year in which Ohtani wins the only major prize that has eluded his grasp in his first eight seasons: the Cy Young Award.

“I would not be surprised to see him and (Yoshinobu) Yamamoto both vying for a Cy Young in ‘26 and be (in) the top-three conversation all year,” Roberts said.

Responding to challenges

Ohtani was made available by the Dodgers in a news conference between games 2 and 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Brewers. Because he was in an offensive slump, he was asked multiple questions about how his pitching affected his hitting. The viability of his two-way role was being questioned. 

Two days later, Ohtani shut up his skeptics, blasting three home runs and striking out 10 batters over six scoreless innings.

Ohtani has said he isn’t motivated by what reporters say or write about him. However, when he’s in situations that would make the average person feel kuyashii, he responds with performances that redefine the boundaries of reality.

When he joined the Nippon-Ham Fighters of the Japanese league out of high school, his decision to be a two-way player was criticized by the country’s baseball establishment, which accused him of underestimating professional competition.

Within a few years, he was the best player in the league — as a two-way player.

When Ohtani moved to the United States, he struggled at the plate in his first spring training with the Angels, inspiring questions of whether he could hit in the majors.

In the season that followed, he was named the Rookie of the Year — primarily as a hitter because an elbow injury limited him to 10 games pitched.

When he was told by Angels management before the 2021 season that he wouldn’t have any days off built into his schedule — he previously didn’t play the days before and after he pitched — he thought the team was trying to force him to give up either pitching or hitting.

Ohtani went on to win his first MVP award.

People familiar with Ohtani’s history, including Roberts, know what this means. Ohtani will be a monster of a pitcher this year.

Pushing the boundaries

Ohtani was the No. 3 starter on a Dodgers postseason rotation that included Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, and Yamamoto, the World Series MVP.

Outside of that last start against the Blue Jays, Ohtani performed well as a pitcher, going 2-1 with a 3.50 ERA in the three other games he started. The team’s reliance on him obscured what Ohtani was up against last season, spending most of the year rehabilitating.

Ohtani didn’t throw a pitch in his first season with the Dodgers in 2024, as he was recovering from an elbow operation he underwent the previous year. He returned to the mound in mid-June of last year, but even then, he was in recovery mode. His overwhelming talent allowed him to rehabilitate in major league games, first by pitching just an inning, then two, then three. His first five-inning start was in the last week of August.

Studying data about the control problems of pitchers in their first year back from Tommy John surgery, Ohtani adjusted his delivery to generate more velocity on his pitches. Previously, he placed more emphasis on control than speed, he told NHK.

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Now, in his second year back from his second elbow reconstruction, the 31-year-old Ohtani should be able to pitch in a way that he believes is most effective.

Roberts doesn’t expect Ohtani to make the 28 to 32 starts generally required for a pitcher to be considered for the Cy Young Award — the manager said he wants to be mindful of Ohtani’s pitching future — but the two-way star could be ready to have the most complete season of his career. 

He’s healthy. He’s in his prime. And, considering how last season ended, he might have the inducement to once again push the boundaries of what’s possible.

The Mets have added some catching depth, signing Austin Barnes to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to big league spring training.

Barnes, 36, is an 11-year veteran, having spent his entire career to this point with the Dodgers -- mainly in a backup role.

He had a .518 OPS in 44 plate appearances over 13 games last season.

For his career, Barnes has slashed .223/.322/.338 (.660 OPS) with 35 home runs, 63 doubles, and 162 RBI.

Defensively, Barnes has typically been above average when it comes to blocking balls in the dirt and framing.

Francisco Alvarez is expected to be New York's starting catcher this season, with Luis Torrens slated to be the backup.