Category: Baseball

With six games remaining in the San Diego Padres spring schedule, and a roster deadline coming quickly, tough decisions are around the corner. 

The announcement by manager Craig Stammen that Joe Musgrove will start the season on the IL should have come as no surprise to anyone who has noticed his absence since his first start on March 4. His following bullpen resulted in being placed on a “hold” and he hasn’t pitched since.

Walker Buehler, in camp on a minor league deal, made a strong start on March 10 where he featured his off-speed pitches and only threw eight fastballs among his 68 pitches and 3.2 innings in a win versus the Los Angeles Angels.

Ya, it was Buehler's day ON today.

Seven punchies, five scoreless, mixed a ton of different pitches. Could he crack the Padres rotation?? pic.twitter.com/hfuzrP8PUp

— Pitch Profiler (@pitchprofiler) March 16, 2026

Table via @pitchprofiler on X

Although results are not to be trusted in spring, his improvement over the past weeks shows that learning to pitch using all his pitches is progressing well. With the loss of Musgrove for the start of the season, Buehler should have a job. The deadline for adding him to the roster is March 21, his first opt-out opportunity.

The rest of the competitors

Germán Márquez has had very inconsistent results since he joined the Padres on a major league contract. If his struggles continue (12.15 ERA in 6.2 IP) there could be a different pitcher filling the fifth rotation spot. No matter how they start the season, the Padres will have to name a fifth starter within the first couple of weeks. Using an opener or a bullpen start is a short-term fix. They have two off-days within the first eight games so they can take a little time to figure out their approach, possibly using a four-man rotation and carrying nine pitchers in the bullpen.

It seems obvious that neither Tristan McKenzie nor Marco Gonzales have been effective enough to seriously contend for that spot. Lefty JP Sears has had moments during his appearances but has also shown command issues and has not been consistent. His velocity is up on his fastball, but he appears to need more time to master the strike zone.

Matt Waldron is ready to pitch again after recovering from his surgery but will need time to build up to a starter length and perform well. His velocity has also increased on his fastball in his limited look before his surgery, but he is out of options and will have to make the team or be put on waivers before he could be sent to the minors after the IL.

Handling the injured

Besides Musgrove and Waldron, several other Padres are dealing with injury issues, and their status complicates the final roster decisions. 

Super-utility Sung-Mun Song has not appeared in a game since aggravating his oblique but has been hitting off a tee and is on a progression toward a slow return.

Yuki Matsui has also not appeared in a game and threw a bullpen on March 14. Jason Adam has had field drills and sim games, next is his Cactus League debut and there will be an assessment after that. He is still aiming for Opening Day.

Bryan Hoeing is having flexor tendon surgery and will be on the 60-day IL for the season. He will join Griffin Canning and Jhony Brito, who will miss at least a couple months.

Infielder Will Wagner has an oblique strain and catcher Blake Hunt is also sidelined with an oblique injury. 

If Song isn’t available, both Ty France and Jose Miranda have had great spring performances and could be named to the roster. France has a March 21 opt-out as his first opportunity to have a job here or elsewhere.

Yu Darvish visit

Yu Darvish flew from Tokyo to Miami with a stop in Peoria, Ariz. to visit the Peoria Sports Complex last week. With the elimination of Japan from the WBC, Darvish should be back in Arizona with the Padres soon.

Bullpen decisions

At this point the performances of David Morgan, Bradgley Rodriguez, Adrian Morejon, Jeremiah Estrada and Kyle Hart would dictate that they are all on the roster for the start of the season. Hart, Estrada and Morgan haven’t allowed a run and the others all have low ERAs. Adding Wandy Peralta, who should be back from the WBC in a day or so, allows for one or two more pitchers for the bullpen. 

Assuming Matsui is not ready, the last spot(s) will belong to Mason Miller and maybe one other pitcher. If there are eight to start, then that is the bullpen and Logan Gillaspie does not make the roster despite an impressive performance and no minor league options.

Luis Campusano

The backup catcher, who has not had a good offensive spring showing, got a vote of confidence from manager Craig Stammen when asked about the catcher’s status.

“What we’re most concerned about with Campy is what he’s doing behind the plate, and he’s done really well behind the plate,” Stammen said. “… There’s always competition for everything. Every time you take an at-bat, every time you step behind the dish, anytime you’re on base, you’re competing. With Campy, we’re very satisfied with who he is and what he’s done this spring with our pitching staff, and he’s got a pretty strong hold on that second spot.”

Campusano will have more time to improve his offensive performance as he has been concentrating on his defense and working with the pitchers. His Triple-A performance from last season will buy him time with his manager.

Opening Day

It still looks like Nick Pivetta will be the starter on March 26 against the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park. Stammen is not willing to discuss it, but Pivetta should have another start on March 19 and then could throw limited innings, a sim game or live BP on the March 22 or March 23 to get ready for Opening Day. 

Should they decide to go with Michael King instead, he is due to start March 18, and they could maneuver him in the same way to get ready for the big day. Either would be a good choice and one would likely follow the other with Randy Vasquez pitching the third game of the season.

Minor League camp in full swing

The Padres have reassigned many of their non-roster invitees and non-competitive roster players to the minor league training camp. Last week, outfielder Tirso Ornelas, catcher Blake Hunt (oblique injury), pitcher Garrett Hawkins and catcher Anthony Vilar were all sent down. There are 54 players in major league camp.

Happy Tuesday! The Mariners are back in action today against the Colorado Rockies at 1:10 PM, with the starting pitcher yet to be announced.

In some non-baseball news, it’s time for March Madness! One of my personal favorite times of the year. If you think you have what it takes to beat both staff writers and commenters, or if you’re just in it for the love of the game, sign up for our Lookout Landing March Madness bracket pool. Updates of bracket standings will be posted in the Moose Tracks as the tournament goes on, and who knows, there might even be some fun prizes involved for the winner. Brackets officially lock on Thursday morning, good luck to all!

In Mariners news…

• Mariners prospects Lucas Kelly, Casey Hintz, and Yorger Bautista are a few names in a loaded Mariners farm system who could be poised for breakout seasons.
• Mariners senior director of player personnel Dave Cameron was once a Mariners blogger just like us!
• Lookout Landing is collecting your preseason predictions to include in our annual predicitions article. Fill out the form here.

In the World Baseball Classic…

• An electric seventh-inning rally from Venezuela started by Ronald Acuña Jr. propelled them to a 4-2 win over Italy in the WBC semifinals. They will matchup against Team USA in an exciting final tonight at 5 PM.

Around the league…

• MLB will reportedly implement five different experimental rule changes in the minor leagues this season, including starting pitcher reentry, pitch clock changes, and more.
• Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
• Patrick Dubuque at Baseball Prospectus writes eloquently about the unfortunate strike call that ended the Team USA vs Dominican Republic WBC semifinal game. ($)
• San Diego Padres RHP Joe Musgrove will likely begin the 2026 season on the injured list.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed infielder Luis Urias to a minor league deal.
• Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been named as the Los Angeles Dodgers Opening Day starter.

The 2025 Boston Red Sox were the third team in the AL East to make the postseason with an 89-73 record. They had the fourth-best record in the American League and lost in the Wild Card round to the Yankees. It was the Red Sox first playoff appearance since 2021 and just their second since they won the World Series in 2018. They had a three-season non-winning streak prior to 2025, and I certainly wasn’t happy to see that streak end.

The 2025 Red Sox were good enough to make the playoffs, but they had plenty of room to improve. Their bullpen was one of the best in baseball, but their starting rotation was middle of the pack. Their offense was top-10 by most measures. They have made a lot of changes to improve and make up for players they lost, especially in the starting rotation.

Additions & Subtractions

The 2025 Red Sox starting rotation had a combined fWAR of 11.7, with half of that coming from ace pitcher Garrett Crochet. Their #2 starter was Brayan Bello, who is a fine pitcher but not a number two. So the Red Sox went out and got two more starters to boost their rotation.

First,they traded for Sonny Gray. Gray is 36 years old and starting to show his age. He had a 4.28 ERA in 32 starts with the Cardinals last year, but the Red Sox are obviously hoping Gray has enough in the tank to be a solid contributor. In December, they traded for Johan Oviedo, who comes from the Pirates and slots in at the back of the rotation.

Their biggest move came in January, when they signed Ranger Suárez to a five-year, $130 million contract. This one hurt the Orioles on multiple fronts. Not only did their division rivals sign one of the best pitchers on the market this offseason, but Suárez is a pitcher the Orioles are believed to have pursued. After the signing, Jon Heyman reported that the Orioles offered him $125M. Ouch.

Lucas Giolito had a solid 2025 season with the Red Sox, but is currently still a free agent. That’s strange to me, but he isn’t a Red Sock any longer. With the changes, the Red Sox rotation currently stands as Crochet, Suárez, Gray, Bello, and Oviedo.

The Red Sox didn’t make many changes to the bullpen, though they recently added former Oriole Danny Coulombe. Their bullpen will continue to be headlined by closer Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock. If we’re lucky, this will be the year that the 38-year-old Chapman gets bad and goes away forever.

On offense, the Red Sox look to improve first base with Willson Contreras, acquired from the Cardinals. They had something of a revolving door at first base last year, including Nathaniel Lowe, who left as a free agent and signed with the Reds.

Their biggest offensive loss is Alex Bregman, who left Boston for the Chicago Cubs. In turn, the Red Sox traded for Caleb Durbin, who had a solid rookie season with Milwaukee in 2025.

2025 rookie Marcelo Mayer will slot in at second base. Trevor Story will continue to man shortstop and the outfield will be manned with returning players Jarren Duran, Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela. Anthony could end up being the best hitter on the team.

Projections

• PECOTA: 82-80 (4th in AL East)
• FanGraphs: 89-73 (3rd in AL East)

That’s a pretty big difference in the two projection systems. The Red Sox made a lot of changes this offseason. Their starting rotation has been overhauled and their offense has several key changes. PECOTA thinks that will lose them seven wins from last year and FanGraphs has them holding steady. It’ s interesting that even with all their changes, these projections don’t expect any improvement.

In recent history, the Red Sox have been contenders or have been terrible. Middle of the road isn’t really a thing for them. Given that, I won’t be surprised no matter what happens with them.

Baseball careers rarely follow a straight line. Some players spend years bouncing not only between the majors and the minors, but between teams and even leagues. Others remain in the game long after their playing days end as coaches, broadcasters, or front office executives. Some players never make it to the big leagues and fade from memory. Others are fortunate enough to reach the majors and then find another adventure that keeps them fulfilled.

Tim Lollar is one of those latter fortunate fellas. The former Yankees southpaw celebrates his 70th birthday today.

William Timothy Lollar
Born: March 17, 1956 (Poplar Bluff, MO)
Yankees tenure: 1980

Tim Lollar was a Show-Me State standout athlete at Farmington High School in the 1970s, excelling in baseball, football, basketball, and golf. After graduating, Lollar accepted a baseball scholarship to Mineral Area College in nearby Park Hills, where he played for two seasons before transferring to the University of Arkansas.

In Fayetteville during the late 1970s, Lollar developed into a dominant left-handed pitcher and among the most accomplished players in Razorbacks history. His success at Arkansas came during an era when the Razorbacks were building a reputation as one of the strongest baseball programs in the country. Under legendary head coach Norm DeBriyn, Arkansas developed a steady pipeline of major-league talent, and Lollar quickly established himself as one of the program’s brightest stars.

During his time in Fayetteville, Lollar showed the kind of versatility that made him particularly appealing to professional scouts. Not only could he dominate on the mound with a powerful left arm, but he also contributed at the plate. His talent earned him All-American honors in 1978, becoming the first player in Razorbacks history to receive the distinction.

Lollar’s well-rounded skill set made him one of the most intriguing players available from the 1978 amateur pool. For a franchise like the Yankees, which was constantly looking to restock its pitching depth during the late 1970s, Lollar represented exactly the kind of high-upside arm worth investing in.

His success on the hill in Fayetteville eventually led to the Yankees selecting him fourth round in the 1978 MLB Draft. At the time, New York was one of baseball’s premier franchises, fresh off back-to-back World Series championships in 1977 and 1978. Breaking into the big leagues with those expectations hanging over the organization was no small task for a young pitcher.

Lollar reached the majors in 1980 and made his debut in pinstripes as part of a Yankees pitching staff trying to help fight off the defending champion Orioles in a loaded American League East. His first career game on June 28, 1980, was part of a wild 11-10 slugfest between New York and Cleveland, and Lollar actually outpitched fellow standour relievers Ron Davis and Goose Gossage, allowing just one run on two his in two innings of work.

Although his time in New York was brief, the rookie left-hander showed flashes of the talent that had made him such a standout in college. Across 14 appearances for the Yankees during the 1980 season, Lollar went 1–0 with a 3.34 ERA (119 ERA+) while making one start and picking up two saves as a reliever. The start coincided with his first career victory, six innings of two-hit, one-run work against the Tigers in Game 162. For a first-year pitcher adjusting to the major leagues — and doing so in the Boogie Down Bronx — it was a respectable beginning to his professional career and enough to help New York take the AL East with 103 wins to Baltimore’s 100.

The Yankees didn’t use Lollar in the postseason, which turned out to be a quick three-and-out ALCS sweep at the hands of the same Royals team that they’d handled three times during the late-1970s playoffs. He pitched in the Puerto Rican Winter League and reported to camp in great shape in 1981. But he never made it to the regular season. The free-wheeling Yanks traded him to the Padres just over a week before Opening Day, on March 31st.

Lollar spent the most significant portion of his career there, pitching four seasons in San Diego from 1981 through 1984, including their first-ever pennant-winning season in ’84 — though his two postseason starts were not ones to remember. His best season was actually ’82, when he went 16-9 with a 3.13 ERA (111 ERA+) and 3.4 rWAR while tossing two shutouts.

In December 1984, Lollar was part of a big trade that sent 1983 AL Cy Young Award winner LaMarr Hoyt to San Diego with Lollar among the names heading back to the White Sox — including their future Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star, and fiery 2005 World Series champion manager, Ozzie Guillén. Lollar would not remain on the South Side nearly as long as Ozzie, as he was dealt again in July, changing his Sox to Red.

Lollar remained in Boston through the 1986 season, and after being left off the playoff roster, he tried to catch on with the Tigers and Cardinals on minor-league deals in 1987. His Triple-A ERA was 5.87 in 19 outings though, so at age 31, that spelled the end. Lollar closed out a seven-year major league career that included 199 appearances, a 47–52 record, and a 4.27 ERA. He also hit eight home runs in 231 at-bats — a notable total for a pitcher even during the era when pitchers still hit.

While he never developed into a frontline ace, Lollar carved out the kind of career many pitchers aspire to — that of a reliable big-league arm capable of filling multiple roles on a pitching staff. His willingness to move between starting and relief duties helped him remain valuable throughout the 1980s as teams increasingly relied on pitching depth.

Yet the most unusual chapter of Lollar’s professional life began after he hung up his baseball cleats and put on a different kind of spikes.

Following his retirement from baseball in 1989, Lollar stepped away from the sport entirely and pursued a completely new career path. Rather than remaining in baseball as a coach or instructor, he turned his focus toward another lifelong passion: golf.

Lollar eventually became a PGA professional, building a second career within the golf industry as both an instructor and club professional. The transition from pitching on major league mounds to working on the golf course may seem unusual, but for Lollar it represented an opportunity to reinvent himself after baseball.

His journey illustrates something many professional athletes eventually discover: life after sports often requires starting over and finding a new competitive outlet. For Lollar, that meant trading the pitching mound for the fairway.

A #HappyBirthday to retired lefthanded pitcher and current country club golf director Tim Lollar (69). #Yankees#Padres#WhiteSox#RedSoxhttps://t.co/scPdhISRtOpic.twitter.com/qCFNYp0kW7

— Carolyn Muse (@NLCarolynMuse) March 17, 2025

Today, Lollar’s baseball career remains a fascinating footnote in Yankees history — a rookie season in the Bronx that launched nearly a decade in the major leagues, including a stop to become one of the 251 players to play both for the Yankees and Red Sox.

From small-town Missouri to the University of Arkansas, to Yankee Stadium and eventually the PGA, Tim Lollar’s career path proves that sometimes the most interesting journeys are the ones that take a few unexpected turns.

Happy birthday, William Timothy Lollar — and Woo Pig!

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See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

For the last 13 years, the Colorado Rockies have played a comical game of musical chairs at first base. Since Hall of Famer Todd Helton retired in 2013, 38 players made a start at first base. Much like the quarterback carousel for the Denver Broncos, the team has struggled to find a permanent or even long-term solution at the cold corner.

2025 proved no different.

Michael Toglia entered last season as the de facto starter at first after a breakout 2024 campaign. However, his severe regression led to him losing his starting position and being sent to Triple-A in the middle of the season, and he was eventually non-tendered in the offseason. Warming Bernabel had replaced him during the season, but his hot start went ice cold, and he was also released during the offseason.

Plenty of speculation revolved around what the Rockies would do at first base, and new President of Baseball Operations, Paul DePodesta, even signaled that they were talking to free agents. However, as spring training began, the Rockies left first base fairly unsettled, creating one of the more notable battles in spring training, and throwing off the normal format for this entry in our State of the Position series.

The experienced contenders

This category of players in camp includes those who have already stepped on a major league field.

After the releases of Toglia and Bernabel, the incumbent spot entering the offseason fell to Blaine Crim, who was claimed on waivers by the Rockies near the end of the 2025 season. The 28-year-old impressed in his brief 15 games to close out the season, slashing .241/.295/.556 with five home runs and 12 RBI in 61 plate appearances. However, strikeouts proved troublesome in the small sample size, as he recorded 22 strikeouts against just five walks. Still, manager Warren Schaeffer liked what he saw, and Crim appeared to have a simple path to filling in at first base as a stopgap until someone else was ready. However, an oblique strain early in spring training has sidelined him for a few weeks now, and it’s looking increasingly likely that he may lose his spot. He recently resumed taking batting practice and will have to hit the gas if he can make it into games before camp breaks.

Before the Rockies even had a new head of the front office, the team claimed Troy Johntson off of waivers once the offseason officially started, a move we can only say was made by “The Council.” Much like Crim, Johnston is also 28 and just made his debut last season after a successful minor league career. He got a little more run with the Miami Marlins, slashing .277/.331/.420 with four home runs and 13 RBI over 44 games. In 121 plate appearances, he drew just eight walks, but also struck out 26 times. Thus far in spring training with the Rockies, the left-handed-hitting Johnston is slashing .325/.404/.425 with two doubles and a triple while drawing five walks against six strikeouts in 47 plate appearances. While more attention is being directed toward a pair of prospects in camp, Johnston has quietly gone about his business and presents an intriguing option for the Rockies, especially since he can also play both corner outfield positions.

Finally, the Rockies acquired left-handed-hitting Edouard Julien in a trade with the Minnesota Twins. While second base has always been his main position, Julien picked up first base out of necessity for the Twins and himself. Since his stellar rookie season in 2023, Julien has struggled to find an offensive rhythm at the big league level and now finds himself out of minor league options and hoping for a fresh start in Colorado. He hasn’t done much with the bat thus far in five games with the Rockies, batting .133/.235/.133 with five strikeouts and two walks in 16 plate appearances. He also went 3-for-19 in five games with Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, but did draw four walks against eight strikeouts. He was viewed as the starting first baseman when he was acquired, but as camp has unfolded, it’s unclear what his role on this team could actually be.

The rookie contenders

The talk of Rockies camp in spring training has revolved around the performances of two young prospects looking to break through in 2026.

One of the more surprising moves was when the Rockies traded reliever Angel Chivilli to the New York Yankees for first baseman T.J. Rumfield. Blocked by Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt in New York, Rumfield has put together a compelling case to be the Rockies’ starting first baseman come Opening Day. Displaying elite contact, plate discipline, glove work, and a knack for power, Rumfield has checked plenty of boxes in spring training. In 16 games, he is slashing .333/.432/.667 with four home runs and 10 RBI. Additionally, in 44 plate appearances, he has five walks while striking out just one time. Yes, Rumfield has struck out fewer times in 16 games than Luis Arráez has in five games in the WBC (2). With nothing much left to prove in the minors, Rumfield has not given the Rockies much of a reason to deny him a spot.

Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) has also impressed in his first big league camp with the Rockies. The third overall pick of the 2024 draft has had a difficult start to his professional career after injuries hampered him. However, once he returned in 2025, Condon slowly began to find his rhythm at the plate that continued into a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League. In 18 games of Cactus League action, Condon is batting .371/.439/.714 with three home runs and nine RBI while also striking out eight times to four walks. It was said he would have every opportunity to win a job, and while it may be in his best interest to get more seasoning in Triple-A, Condon has risen to the challenge. He has also embraced the directive to develop defensively at first base while also honing his skills in the outfield. There is no doubt he will make his debut in 2026 if everything goes according to plan, it’s just a matter of when.

The other candidates

The Rockies were interested in bringing in an experienced bat to play first base and that may still be the case in some format. Particularly, a right-handed hitting veteran could be used to complement and mentor someone like T.J. Rumfield in a part-time role. A move of some kind can’t be ruled out before the end of spring training. Additionally, the idea of Tyler Freeman picking up a first base glove has been floated around to expand his versatility. Should that happen, it would be akin to Orlando Arcia starting at first base last season — it’s weird, but it would be fine if needed.

The farm candidates

First base continues to be one of the thinner positions in the organization.

Zach Kokoska projects to start the year in Triple-A after spending the last two years in Double-A Hartford. The left-handed-hitting product from Kansas State University has a knack for the long ball since being drafted in 2021, but has struggled with strikeouts in 181 games in Hartford while slashing .204/.297/.428. Perhaps the accession to Albuquerque will help him elevate the average and take advantage of his home run capabilities.

Aidan Longwell remains one of the more legit first base prospects in teh organization. He turned in a strong campaign with High-A Spokane in 2025, belting 15 home runs and driving in 80 runs while slashing .274/.345/.465 in 121 games. Longwell is an overlooked prospect who has been consistently good since being drafted in 2023. He’s likely to start the year in Double-A.

Beyond that, the lower levels of the minors don’t have many dedicated options at first base, despite a number of players being able to fill the position. However, perhaps the most intriguing player to keep an eye on is Tanner Thach, whom the Rockies drafted in the eighth round last summer. He briefly made his professional debut in an 18-game stint with the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies, where he slashed .279/.375/.397 with two home runs and 15 RBI. After a quality collegiate career at UNC Wilmington, Thach will now get a chance to show what he can do in his first full season.

Closing thoughts

The Rockies hoped to raise the floor of competition at several positions in spring training, and that’s what has happened at first base. It seemed like a foregone conclusion early that Crim and Johnston would hold the fort until Condon was ready, but the addition of Rumfield has made it an even more compelling race.

Despite the uncertainty of the position, first base has an air of excitement around it because of the options in camp. The Rockies wouldn’t necessarily be faulted for picking any of the currently healthy options to make the Opening Day roster, and that’s a good problem to have. They also need someone to solidify the position, kind of like C.J. Cron did from 2021 to 2023, until the permanent answer presents itself.

Otherwise, we’ll be repeating this conversation next year.

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Diamondbacks News

Eduardo Rodriguez pegged to pitch for Venezuela against USA in World Baseball Classic final by Alex Weiner [Arizona Sports]

The last Arizona Diamondbacks player left standing in the World Baseball Classic will be in the spotlight during the championship game, as Eduardo Rodriguez will start on the mound for Venezuela against the United States on Tuesday.

Brandon Pfaadt’s Adjustments are Already Paying Off by Alex D’Agostino [SI]

“[He was] so good that we had to send him back out there for another inning of work,” said Lovullo. “We felt like the pitch count was fine, the workload was very manageable, and he just did exactly what he did in that final inning for the first four.”

But most importantly of all, Pfaadt’s sweeper was, once again, a weapon. He threw the pitch 10 times, got nine swings, and collected four whiffs. Three of his six strikeouts came on that sweeper. 

“A fantastic day for him, filled up the zone, ton of execution, a lot of swing-and-miss,” Lovullo continued. “Secondary stuff was good. So we’re very pleased with where he’s at.”

Corbin Burnes focused on command in build-up as way to pick up where he left off by Alex Weiner [Arizona Sports]

The next month is going to be perhaps the most difficult of Arizona Diamondbacks ace Corbin Burnes’ recovery from Tommy John surgery.

On Monday, Burnes went through his second bullpen session since having surgery last summer, throwing to a catcher set up a few feet closer than usual to manage his intensity.

Burnes said he typically throws three or four bullpens and then it’s time to get in a game each spring. This time, he’s going to have to trust the process and stick with bullpen work while his team begins the regular season without him.

Diamondbacks sign INF Luis Urías for possible utility role by Wendy Lopez [Burn City Sports]

Urías appeared in 96 games in 2025 with the Athletics, batting .230 with eight home runs, 25 RBIs and a .653 OPS. The 28-year-old has built a reputation for his defensive versatility across the infield throughout his MLB career.

That flexibility could prove valuable as Arizona looks for someone to fill a role similar to Blaze Alexander’s style of play. Alexander was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for pitching depth, leaving a question about who could emerge as the club’s next utility player.

Around the League

Venezuela rallies past Italy to reach first Classic final by Anthony Castrovince [MLB]

Outside, it was one of those relentless South Florida rains. But still, the hundreds of Venezuelan baseball fans who remained long after the last pitch of the World Baseball Classic semifinals had been thrown were in ecstasy. Thoroughly soaked but swept up in the moment, they sang, danced, chanted and cheered. And in the distance, you could hear drums beating, mouths whistling and car horns blaring.

You don’t truly know how much the World Baseball Classic means until you see what it means. And here, in the downpour outside loanDepot park, as Monday night gave way to Tuesday morning — the day Venezuela would meet Team USA in the finale of this terrific tournament — it was evident that it meant a lot.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto to start for Dodgers in season opener [ESPN]

Manager Dave Roberts told reporters at spring training Monday that Yamamoto will start the March 26 opener at home against Arizona.

Yamamoto was the first and last pitcher used by the Dodgers last season, when he got the final eight outs in their 11-inning World Series Game 7 clincher at Toronto. He also won both of his World Series starts, a complete game in Game 2 and then threw 96 pitches over six innings in Game 6, a night before throwing 34 pitches to close out the series.

Exclusive: MLB to Implement Experimental Minor League Rule Changes for 2026 by Eric Longenhagen [FanGraphs] {Ed. Note: Lots of interesting rule changes for you to read through in this one. I’ve highlighted the ‘Check-Swing Challenge’ rules below}

Games played in the Pacific Coast League will use the ABS Challenge system and follow the same rules that have been adopted at the Major League level for the 2026 season (i.e., each team will start the game with two challenges, successful challenges will be retained, teams will receive an extra challenge if they have no challenges remaining in extra innings, etc.). Consistent with past seasons, MLB will monitor gameplay to determine if there is a desire to test changes at a later point in the season. Beginning on May 5, 2026, the batter, pitcher, or catcher may also appeal the umpire’s decision regarding whether the batter swung at a pitch (“Check-Swing Challenge”). A swing will be considered to have occurred if the maximum angle between the bat head and the bat handle exceeds 45 degrees. This rule was tested in the Florida State League and Arizona Fall League in 2025. In the FSL, the strikeout rate was over 3% lower when Check-Swing Challenge was used, having a positive impact on balls in play and encouraging more extensive testing at higher levels. Under this format, each team will continue to start the game with 2 challenges. Challenges may be used on either ball/strike calls or swing/no-swing calls, but not both on the same pitch.

Joe Musgrove Likely To Open Season On Injured List by Steve Adams [MLB Trade Rumors]

A Padres club already thin on rotation depth delivered some rough news for fans Monday, as manager Craig Stammen revealed that righty Joe Musgrove is expected to open the season on the injured list (video link via 97.3 The Fan). Musgrove hasn’t thrown in more than a week. Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports that he didn’t recover as well as hoped following an exhibition start against Great Britain’s World Baseball Classic club.

It’s an ominous update, though it’s worth noting that Stammen didn’t suggest there had been a setback of any note. Musgrove hasn’t pitched since the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery that cost him the entirety of the 2025 campaign.

Walker Buehler is one of a handful of pitchers competing for a spot at the back of the San Diego Padres rotation. He made a strong case for himself with a dominant start against the San Francisco Giants. Buehler threw five scoreless innings and recorded seven strikeouts while allowing three hits and two walks. The San Diego offense did not get anything going against San Francisco starter Tyler Mahle, but no one has this spring. In four Spring Training games, Mahle has earned three wins and has yet to allow a run over 10 innings while allowing just two hits. The Padres offense broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning with three runs against reliever Spencer Bivens. The San Diego bullpen made the three runs hold up, allowing just one run and the Padres walked away with a 3-1 win.

Padres News:

• Padres manager Craig Stammen told reporters that Joe Musgrove would likely not be on the Opening Day roster as he works back from Tommy John surgery. Musgrove has not pitched in a game since March 4 against Great Britain. Stammen said this delay was expected. Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball says it is important that Musgrove takes the time now to get right and get healthy because the Padres will need him later in the season if they want to make the playoffs.
• With the news about Musgrove likely starting the season in the IL, the rotation picture for San Diego looks bleak. Michael King, Nick Pivetta and Randy Vasquez are all in the top three spots, but the fourth and fifth spots remain open. Gaslamp Ball asked readers what their level of concern is about the rotation with just a handful of days remaining before Opening Day.
• Despite the concerns about starting pitching, Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball believes the Padres will compete with the Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks for second place in the National League West Division. He also does not rule out the possibility that San Diego could knock off the rivals to the north and claim the NL West title.
• Manny Randhawa of Padres.com looks at how Musgrove starting on the IL will affect the San Diego rotation and the competition for the final spots.
• Randhawa also talked with Stammen about the at-bat that almost was between Fernando Tatis Jr. and Mason Miller. Most baseball fans saw it as an opportunity that would have rivaled Shohei Ohtani versus Mike Trout, but Stammen said he was glad that two of his best players did not have to face off against one another in the 2-1 US win over the Dominican Republic in the semi-final of the WBC tournament.
• Jose Miranda has been putting together a solid Spring Training in his first season with the San Diego organization, and he has a chance to make the roster with Sung-Mun Song likely starting the season on the IL thanks to an oblique injury. Miranda has tough competition to make the Padres’ roster, but he is trying to make the most of his new opportunity.
• Stammen said weeks ago that Luis Campusano was going to be the secondary catcher for the Padres and that stance has not changed despite a lackluster performance in offense throughout Spring Training.

Baseball News:

• Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas will miss 80 games in the 2026 season as a result of a failed test for PEDs.
• Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez looked as though he was going to miss time due to a sore shoulder, but he advised stated he is feeling “much better” and the team is considering him day-to day.
• Detroit Tigers top prospect Kevin McGonigle is having a great spring and is doing all he can to show that he should be on the Opening Day roster when the team opens the season against the Padres in San Diego.

WBC News:

• Venezuela ended the improbable run for Team Italy in the semi-final of the WBC on Monday. Italy jumped out to an early lead, but Venezuela did enough to complete a comeback and earn a win. Venezuela, who reached the WBC final for the first time, will play the US on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

MIAMI, FL, March 16 — When I decided to plan a trip to Miami centered around the knockout stage of the World Baseball Classic a few weeks ago, I did so with the expectation that the tournament would see a steady rise in popularity over the next couple of decades. In a world where almost everything is on the verge of falling apart, the WBC presents a refreshing opportunity to invest in something that’s fun and has its best days clearly in the future.

Well, I was wrong. The future is now!

The World Baseball Classic isn’t just a story of slow and steady growth for tomorrow — it’s a love letter sent down from the baseball gods addressed to everybody on planet Earth, and in most places, it already arrived yesterday. (Some folks just haven’t checked their mailbox yet.)

Simply put, there is nothing like the World Baseball Classic. I keep looking for some combination of words I can string together here to try and communicate what I’ve seen and experienced the last four days, and nothing is going to do it justice.

In less than 100 hours, I’ve gone from never being more impressed by a singular fanbase than I am for Team Japan, to never being more impressed by a singular fanbase than I am for the Dominican Republic, to never being more impressed by a singular fanbase than I am for Venezuela. And as silly as this may sound after that last sentence, I’m not somebody who is easily impressed.

Team Japan brought an armada of fans from the other side of the planet. They wore creative costumes and face paint, brought flags, expectations, and a deep knowledge of the game, donned a million Shohei Ohtani jerseys, and flooded Miami with an obsession for baseball I haven’t seen in a city since Boston in 2004. These folks are everywhere!

Ohtani is like a God to them. When he comes to the plate, the entire background state of the stadium changes. Side conversations evaporate, unrelated chanting stops, focus maximizes, and anticipation builds. Everybody in the park knows they might be about to witness something extraordinary on any given pitch, and in the bottom of the first inning Saturday, we did.

In what felt like a direct counterpunch to Ronald Acuna’s solo home run in the top of the first inning, the greatest player in the world instantly answered and set the stage for Japan to eventually jump out to a 5-2 lead.

But oddly enough, it was an Ohtani strikeout with two men on and a chance to extend that three run lead later in the game that ultimately served as the turning point. If Ohtani can be beaten, well then so can team Japan, and that’s exactly what happened later that night, powered largely by Wilyer Abreu’s three run homer:

Willyer Abreu’s most iconic moment of his life so far. This guy is such a stud. Such an underrated hitter.

This was bomb. Energy in the WBC is so awesome. pic.twitter.com/ytMiNEFLk8

— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) March 15, 2026

Then on Sunday night, there was the United States against the Dominican Republic, and a full 90 minutes before first pitch, the DR fans were doing this:

These DR fans bring the energy unlike any fanbase I’ve ever seen! pic.twitter.com/6r1kVQ35uf

— Matthew Gross (@MattGross87) March 15, 2026

They only got louder as the evening progressed, and as a group, they turned a night at the ballpark into a five-hour party with enough electricity to light up the Miami skyline for a week. And of course, all this was happening while perhaps the greatest collection of talent ever assembled on a baseball diamond in a game that mattered faced off in a nerve-wracking 2-1 battle. It just doesn’t get any better than this! (Except it does, because Roman Anthony ended up hitting what turned out to be the game winning home run.)

ROMAN FOR USA!!! pic.twitter.com/B4Qqg05Hoo

— Red Sox (@RedSox) March 16, 2026

But despite all of this, the fanbase that’s taught me the most about how to act as a human being is the Venezuelans. From now on, when I think of the word joy, I’m going to think of them.

Their manager Omar Lopez said something to the effect of “we just want to bring some happiness to our country” in this tournament. And, well, they’ve already done that and more, despite still being one win away from the championship.

Until you experience a game with the Venezuelans, you will never believe an atmosphere could be both so tense and so friendly at the same time. It was as if I was back in a ballpark with all the passion of Red Sox vs. Yankees of the early 2000s, but none of the hostility. And of course, this is only more amazing when you consider I experienced this while wearing a U.S hat, the very country that bombed their homeland a mere two months ago.

Whenever anything good happened for their team, they wanted to include me in their celebrations, which included dancing, specialized chants, and a joy you barely see anywhere in the world right now. Here I am, as white as Christmas snow equipped with zero dancing ability, and these folks are grabbing my hand and teaching me how they do it.

Perhaps I’ll have better luck at retaining their chants. My favorite of which is when they yell “Ponche! Ponche!” while swinging their right arm anytime their pitcher gets two strikes on a hitter. It actually comes from the English word strikeout or punch out, but it’s clearly pronounced with a delightful Spanish flair. Perhaps we should try to bring this thing to Fenway whenever Venezuelan native Ranger Suarez is on the mound this summer. It’s so much fun!

You know what else was fun? Watching this Venezuelan team celebrate after punching their ticket to the WBC final.

Vibes are HIGH in the Team Venezuela dugout after securing a spot in the #WorldBaseballClassic Final! 🔊 pic.twitter.com/rrQuTbar2W

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 17, 2026

I have no idea how this tournament manages to keep topping itself every single day, but with the U.S. and Venezuela set to match up for all the marbles tonight, it just might do it again. But regardless of who gets crowned champion, this has already been an enormous win for the sport of baseball on a scale of global proportions, and that’s something we can all celebrate.

Morning everyone!

The WBC finally comes to an end tonight with the finale set up between the USA and Venezuela. While many expected the US national team to be here, this is Venezuela’s first time reaching the final round of the competition. And of course with world events going on right now you can’t help but feel the added sense of importance for players on both squads.

The Americans are set to send Mets right-handed Nolan McLean to the bump this evening for what’ll be his second start of the tournament. His first one didn’t go all that smoothly as he got tagged for three runs in three innings of work. Team Italy seemed to get the jump on the young righty so he’ll be hoping to turn his and his squad’s fortunes around in this winner-take-all matchup. This is likely going to be the biggest game of the 24-year-old’s young career so let’s hope he got a good night’s rest as is ready to take on the impresses Venezuela lineup.

Team Venezuela meanwhile has Diamondbacks lefty Eduardo Rodriguez getting the nod for the final game of the tourney. Like McLean he also got hit hard in his lone start during the WBC, but unlikely McLean Rodriguez is a seasoned veteran. This is going to be for all the marbles now. Let’s see who wants it worse.

And of course we have some A’s baseball to look forward to this afternoon as well when the Athletics take on the Chicago White Sox. Opening Day is fast approaching and it’s nearly time to start getting the roster officially set. The A’s don’t have seemingly as many roster questions as they’ve had in recent years but there’s always tough decisions to be made around this time of year. Let’s hope manager Mark Kotsay makes the right calls early and gets our team started strong for what could be a surprising year for people not familiar with our group of guys.

Have a good Tuesday A’s fans!

A’s Coverage:

• A’s Shutout the Angels 3-0
• Eyeball Scout Wowed By 12— Win: Lots To Love
• March Reminder: Opening Day Rosters Matter More To The Fans
• A’s Lose To Texas 7-6 in Spring Training Matchup
• Can Muncy’s glove catch up to his bat at third base? 
• A’s Slug Their Way To Fifth Straight Cactus League Victory
• What Have We Learned So Far In Spring Training?
• Jacob Wilson Has a Message For A’s Fans in the Bay Area
• Young, talented Athletics need veterans to show the way

MLB News and Interest:

• Venezuela beats Italy in WBC semi-finals, sets up showdown with USA
• Japan manager Ibata steps down after WBC loss
• Phillies outfielder Rojas receives 80-game suspension
• Latest on Angels’ second base competition
• Yamamoto set to start Opening Day for Dodgers
• MLB set to test check-swing rule in Triple-A
• Travis Bazzana will not make Guardians’ Opening Day roster
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Big game tonight:

Venezuela vs. USA. Tomorrow.. The game of baseball has long been intertwined with politics whether we like it or not. The current climate of our world & specifically the relationship between these 2 countries recently ramps that up on an international scale. Goes without saying…

— Dallas Braden (@DALLASBRADEN209) March 17, 2026

Love to see it:

The WBC finals have included:
Japan
Cuba
Dominican Republic
United States
Venezuela
South Korea
Puerto Rico.

That's seven different countries in the finals in seven World Baseball Classics.

Shows how baseball truly is an international sport.

— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) March 17, 2026

Any chance we see him as soon as April?

Leo De Vries Spring Training Recap

🟡 .409/.447/.682
🟡 30 TB
🟡 3 HR
🟡 1.129 OPS
🟡 7.2 OppQual

See you in 2026 ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/okjXthASyI

— SleeperAthletics (@SleeperAth) March 17, 2026

Stephen Vogt said Jose Ramirez’s shoulder is already feeling better and he won’t need imaging on it, so nothing else matters.

Venezuela beat Italy to advance to tonight’s final against the USA. Brayan Rocchio had one at-bat for team Italy, flying out to left.

The Guardians didn’t look good losing to the Cubs yesterday but the important thing is we are closer to Opening Day and Jose is ok. Peyton Pallette looked sensational again in two spotless innings and Tim Herrin had a clean inning as well.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Sox fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

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It’s undeniable, the excitement that the World Baseball Classic brings to baseball fans around the world. Legends are made, fan and player customs become more familiar, and players off of our MLB-centric radar lunge to the fore.

But there are downsides to the tournament, particularly with regard to injuries. Our White Sox, with just five active players involved in the WBC, were snakebitten, as platoon-starting catcher Kyle Teel strained a hamstring that will likely keep him out of the regular season until May.

It’s unlikely that the WBC will be going away any time soon (although you haters do have a voting option below), so when is the best time to hold this world tournament?

Good morning.

Evan Grant offers up a few observations from camp as the Texas Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox in a Cactus League game yesterday.

Kennedi Landry writes about president of baseball operations Chris Young speaking on how the roster is shaping up.

With Opening Day right around the corner, Grant has more from Young’s Q&A, including thoughts on the general vibes of camp.

Jayson Stark writes that more rules changes are coming to the minor leagues, which is often a testing ground for future changes to the big leagues.

Grant writes that the spotlight has been on Corey Seager this spring after the Rangers transitioned away from players that Seager won a World Series with.

Jim Callis checks out the state of the farm for the Rangers in camp, including a couple of youngsters that Texas is trying to develop as two-way players.

Grant notes that, after making it back from spring injuries, Marc Church and Justin Foscue were sent to minor league camp in the latest round of camp cuts yesterday.

Davy Andrews at FanGraphs begins their positional power rankings with a look at catcher where the Rangers project in the bottom third.

Landry writes that Michael Helman is the owner of a brand new Rolex after relinquishing No. 24 to Brandon Nimmo.

Grant writes about Cal Quantrill trying to remain in the mix for a spot on the staff after performing for Team Canada in the WBC.

Shawn McFarland believes Winston Santos could pitch in the big leagues this year which lands him at No. 8 on the DMN’s top 30 list.

And, read the context for the statue.

Have a nice day!

Every year, there is one prospect in the Yankees system in whom I am irrationally invested. Sometimes it pays off. For example, I was along for the ride with 2016 Dustin Fowler. Other years, not so much … everyone take a moment please for all the seasons I spent conducting the Luis Medina Hype Train.

This year, for my money, it’s the man they call Elmer. Acquired from Boston in December 2024 along with international bonus money in exchange for catcher Carlos Narváez, Rodríguez climbed all the way from High-A ball to get a cup of coffee at Triple-A by season’s end. His results were enough that he comes into 2026 firmly ensconced in sundry top prospect lists. MLB Pipeline has him at #82, while Baseball Prospectus (#60) and Baseball America (#59) are even higher on the right-hander.

Although he may not appear in the Bronx at all this season, he is right on the doorstep. After a great 2025 and an excellent 2026 spring—including a nails outing at the World Baseball Classic—Rodríguez won’t sneak up on anyone.

2025 Stats (High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A): 27 G (26 GS), 11-8, 2.58 ERA, 2.47 FIP, 150 IP, 29.0 K%, 9.4 BB%, .190 BAA

A few things jump out about Rodríguez’s performance last season. To begin, it was almost impossible to drive his pitches in the air. He notched a 54.5-percent groundball rate and allowed only three home runs in 150 innings last season. I suspect that latter is unsustainable but it also suggests he isn’t going to just start allowing gopher balls all the time.

Moreover, the “stuff” is there. He sits in the mid-90s with his fastballs, with the ability to heat it up into the upper 90s. Meanwhile, he features four other offerings: a slider, a curveball, a changeup, and a cutter. FanGraphs, who recently slotted Elmer in as the Yankees’ second-best prospect, are believers in the slider and curve, assigning each of the pitches a 50 on the 20-80 scales, with upward future projections on both.

We’ve gotten good looks at Rodríguez already in 2026. He earned the nod as the starter for the first game of spring training against the Orioles. Three shutout innings later, he was back in the dugout with nary a free pass marring his ledger, the walk having been a bit of a bugaboo for Rodríguez in the past. Backstop Austin Wells said after the game: “He mixed it really well, hit the spots when he needed to, and got some big groundballs. He’s got a lot of really good pitches. He’s got the talent. He’s just got to go do it.”

Elmer made one more appearance for the Yankees then headed to the WBC where he pitched for Puerto Rico. Facing Cuba on March 9th, he tossed three scoreless in international best-on-best, whiffing three.

The Yanks recently optioned Rodríguez back to minor-league camp, but that should be no surprise. Even with the injuries to Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt, the Yankee rotation is basically sorted out to start the season, with Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, Luis Gil, and Ryan Yarbrough on the 26-man roster.

But with attrition rates what they are with pitchers, numbers 6-10 in the rotation depth chart increasingly take on outsized importance. With Elmer already on the 40-man roster, he’s likely pretty darned close to Next Man Up if something happens, and Schlittler demonstrated just last year what can happen when opportunity strikes.

As it stands, Elmer will almost certainly start the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre — potentially even starting their season opener on March 27th in Buffalo. And that’s fine. Only 22 years old, Rodríguez has made a grand total of two starts there (including one in the International League playoffs), after just 11 starts at Double-A. That’s not a whole lot of reps above A-ball. With any luck, the Yankees don’t actually need him this season and he’s able to spend the majority of 2026 working on his pitches and refining his mechanics. If there is one point of concern in his scouting report, it is command.

FanGraphs notes “some of the markers in his delivery… hint that he’s going to work regions more than hit spots. Perhaps he’ll grow into a half-grade more command than we’re projecting if he stays healthy and accumulates reps…” Getting the chance to accumulate those reps and see if he can elevate his ceiling sounds just fine to me.

If Elmer debuts this season, here’s hoping it’s solely because he’s been too brilliant to hold down any longer. Otherwise, let’s see what he can do with a full season at Triple-A.

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See more of the Yankees Previews series here.

For the last four seasons, the story of the Most Valuable Oriole has largely told the story of the Orioles’ entire season. In 2022, a rookie Adley Rutschman took home MVO honors after debuting in May and rallying the O’s to a 67-55 record over the last four months of the season. Another rookie took home the award in 2023, as Gunnar Henderson earned ROY and MVO as the Orioles captured the AL East crown.

Henderson was a back-to-back winner in 2024, as the Orioles’ Country Boy posted the best season in franchise history by WAR (9.1) by anyone other than Cal Ripken Jr. Trevor Rogers denied Gunnar the three-peat last year, as the lefty overcame an early-season injury to post one of the best 18-start stretches in Orioles’ history.

The Orioles will need a concerted effort from the entire 26-man roster if Baltimore is going to reverse its fortunes and return to the playoffs in 2026. But after disappointing seasons from many star players in 2025, the O’s will need their stars to lead from the front of the lineup or rotation if they want to reverse their fortunes in the new season. With that in mind, let’s give sportsbook-style odds for which players are most likely to add their name to the pantheon of Most Valuable Orioles winners.

*Disclaimer: These are not real betting odds. I set these odds myself. Do not actually try and bet them.*

The favorite: Pete Alonso

Beers Sportsbook Betting Odds: -150

Gunnar Henderson has been the Orioles’ best player for some time now, both in terms of on-field production and national recognition. After rising to the No. 10 player in all of baseball on the heels of a record-setting season in 2024, Henderson has slipped to No. 26 in MLB.com’s latest Top 100 Players of Right Now due to a down 2025. That’s still the best ranking of any Oriole, but right behind him at No. 33 is major offseason signing Pete Alonso.

What is often the separator in “Most Valuable” conversations is not solely a player’s stats, but the narrative attached to their season. If the Orioles are going to reach their full potential in 2026, the offense will have to lead the way. Before injuries to Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday, many projection models had the O’s lineup as the best in the American League. Last year, the O’s finished near the bottom of the league in runs scored and toward the middle of the pack in home runs. Alonso will look to help the O’s match or better their 2024 form when they finish Top 5 in both runs and home runs.

Given his track record as a five-time All-Star and perennial 40+ HR hitter, I’m sure a lot of credit will be given to Alonso if the O’s reach their full offensive potential. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t expect big things from Henderson, Rutschman, Taylor Ward, Samuel Basallo and others. However, Alonso is the leader this team will be looking to throughout the season, and the player MVO voters will look to if he leads an offensive revolution.

The leading competition

Trevor Rogers or Kyle Bradish

Beers Sportsbrook Betting Odds: +150

The Orioles’ rotation is full of talent, but also full of uncertainty. The additions of Shane Baz and Chris Bassitt, and the re-signing of Zach Eflin, have made the Orioles’ rotation deeper. And yet, this rotation still lacks a fully-proven, front-line starter. That is, unless Rogers or Bradish prove their best seasons were not one-offs.

When Rogers took home the award last year, a big part of his value came from the unexpected nature of his breakout season. Coming into last season, Rogers wasn’t projected to make the rotation and his only previous experience with the O’s was a disastrous four-start stint after being acquired at the 2024 trade deadline. The southpaw only got a chance last season because Baltimore needed a second starter for a doubleheader in Boston.

What ensued from there was a stretch that put Rogers’ name next to the likes of Jim Palmer and Mike Mussina when it comes to best single-season pitching runs in Orioles history. Rogers’ MVO win last year made him the first pitcher to win the award since closer Randy Myers in 1997, and the first starter since Mike Cuellar in 1974.

Both Rogers and Bradish come into this season with plenty of expectations. The 28-year-old southpaw will get the Opening Day nod, looking to build on his Top 10 Cy Young finish from last year. Bradish slots into the No. 2 spot in the rotation and looks to prove that his dominant 2023 season and spectacular cameo last September are what we should expect going forward. If either can live up to the lofty expectations and put a stranglehold on the ace role, it could be enough to beat out Alonso and the rest of the offense for MVO.

Gunnar Henderson

Beers Sportsbook Betting Odds: +200

In Henderson’s MVP-level season, he put up a 9.1 bWAR while hitting 37 HRs, collecting 92 RBIs, 31 doubles, 21 stolen bases and 118 runs. The majority of that production came with Henderson as the Orioles’ leadoff hitter. Indications from Sarasota are that new manager Craig Albernaz will put the star SS back in the leadoff role after spending most of last year as the No. 3 hitter.

If the return to the top spot in the lineup brings out the best in Baltimore’s best player, his all-around contributions will make it near impossible for any other Orioles to outpace him in the MVO race. Henderson may also be coming into this season with a chip on his shoulder after having to fight for his spot in Team USA’s World Baseball Classic lineup. And a Gunnar Henderson that’s both pissed off and back in his best spot in the order, that’s an MVO waiting to happen.

The dark horse

Coby Mayo

Beers Sportsbook Betting Odds: +1000

Pretty much everything about Coby Mayo is up in the air as we head toward Opening Day. Has he shown enough defensively in the spring to lock down the starting spot at 3B? Once Jackson Holliday and (maybe) Jordan Westburg get healthy, can he keep his spot in the lineup? Will he get any playing time at 1B or DH with Alonso, Basallo and Ryan Mountcastle all competing for ABs at those spots?

The one thing that becomes less of a question every day is Mayo’s bat. He’s gone 13-for-26 in Grapefruit League play while posting a 1.195 OPS, a team-high 10 RBIs and one absolute moonshot. With his spring training performance and his .941 OPS last September, there’s growing reason to believe that the 24-year-old is starting to make good on his offensive upside. If he can break out like Gunnar did in his second full season, we could see Mayo have a 2021 Cedric Mullins run to an unlikely MVO win.

The Good Phight will be previewing the 2026 season by going over each position on the field. We’ll talk about the players that will occupy them, the played behind them, their strengths and weaknesses and give a few takes about how we think the season will shake out.

After the dust settled on the offseason roster churn, the Phillies ended up standing pat with the same starting corps of infielders that they rolled out last year. Along with the re-signings of Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto, this decision to “run it back” again has a significant portion of the fanbase calling for Dave Dombrowski’s seat warmer to be turned up to 11. While it maybe doesn’t carry the same excitement as months of prognosticating how a new dynamic might have performed, it does leave the team with a veteran, battle-tested crew that has won over 90 games in each of the past three campaigns.

The starters: Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm, Trea Turner

Maybe the most infamous controversy surrounding the team this offseason was Dombrowski’s commentary on Harper’s 2025 performance and whether it deserves his being regarded as an “elite” player going forward. Dombrowski since walked it back a bit but Harper took notice and by all appearances looks motivated to prove that he is deserving of that status. Harper started the spring hot with three extra-base hits in four games before departing the club for the World Baseball Classic as part of Team USA. He hasn’t made the impact he or his country would like to have seen, with one more chance for “The Showman” to emerge in tonight’s championship game.

Stott will maintain his role as the team’s everyday second baseman for the fourth straight season. His production early in the season (.233/.305/.340 through July 31st) suffered from a failed experiment as the leadoff hitter, but from August 1st onward he slashed .310/.377/.503. In his 207 plate appearances in the leadoff spot and a few games hitting fifth and sixth, he went .212/.257/.295, while in his 353 PAs batting in the 7-9 spots he slashed .284/.369/.451. Stott, along with most of humanity, will never be the offensive threat at second base that was Chase Utley, but at the back of a deep order, he is capable of keeping the train running while providing consistently elite defense.

Hopefully Nick Castellanos burned his hairshirt before he left for San Diego, but if he gifted it to anyone, it could be Bohm. He seems poised to be the most likely player to draw the fans’ ire should his production not meet expectations, which might be fair when he’s being counted on by the organization to be one of the primary run-producers in the middle of the lineup. 2025 will be remembered as a down season for Bohm, but he still hit .287 and is a year removed from slugging 44 doubles and driving home 97 runs, so it’s not outlandish to think he can be a driving force for this offense.

The reigning NL batting champion is your plug-and-play everyday shortstop, as Turner had his best season in red pinstripes in 2025 and was the team’s most consistent hitter from start to finish. He will be turning 33 midway through the season and already provides middle of the road defense at a physically demanding position, so it will bear watching whether he can continue to stay at shortstop long term or if a contingency needs to be mapped out for the future.

The backups: Edmundo Sosa, Otto Kemp, Dylan Moore

Sosa will be the primary backup again at the middle infield spots, providing above-average defense at both spots as well as a live bat with underrated pop that also gives lineup flexibility as he hits from the opposite side of the plate as Stott and is especially successful against left-handed pitching.

Kemp and Moore seem destined to carry a lot of the same responsibilities in the field, each having recent experience at every infield position besides shortstop as well as left field. Kemp bats right and Moore left, so a lot of their playing time will come down to matchups and who’s hot.

The depth: Liover Peguero, Jose Rodriguez, Christian Cairo, Aidan Miller, Felix Reyes

Of the non-roster invitees projected to end up in Lehigh Valley or Reading, Peguero has the most MLB experience, 106 games over the last four seasons all with the Pirates. Rodriguez had a cup of coffee with the White Sox in 2023 and has experience at both middle infield spots. Cairo has seen more versatile usage in his journey through the minors, but the Phillies have been looking at him mostly at first and second. Anything these guys provide at the plate would be a bonus, but solid if unspectacular defense up the middle is all you should hope for if any short-term injuries befall Turner, Stott or Sosa.

Miller remains the gem of the farm system but a nagging lower back injury has kept him out of game action so far this spring. Barring a significant injury to one of the starters or a doomsday scenario where the team is out of contention early, expect Miller to see most of his action in the minors this year.

Reyes has gotten a lot of time at the corner outfield spots in the last two years, but corner infield depth is an organizational weakness. With Harper away, the organization has gotten a long look at Reyes at first base and he’s making the most of it, leading the team in RBI and tied for the lead in home runs.

Strengths: Continuity

This will be the third straight season all four infield spots have the same starters penciled in from day one. That sort of continuity begets chemistry and familiarity in vital places on the ball field. Each of these starters has a well-defined role carved out in the lineup and there is no uncertainty about the type and level of production the team expects from them. From a human standpoint, they are a close-knit group of leaders in the clubhouse that want to win for one another, which has to count for something.

Weaknesses: Continuity

At the beginning of the offseason, the possibilities seemed endless at what this group would look like this year. Bohm and Stott were the subjects of trade rumors. The Phillies were tied to Ketel Marte as a trade target and Alex Bregman as a free agent acquisition. They had a deal in place with Bo Bichette before he chose violence and went to Queens. After all of that commotion, the same four guys that couldn’t get this team over the hump in the playoffs are back and they’re all a year older. 

Hottest take: Bohm makes the All Star Game

Bohm will build on his hot start to spring and play himself into the conversation as one of the top offensive third basemen in the NL with a stellar first half and the numbers will be too potent for voters to deny.

Realistic take: Turner and Harper make the All Star Game 

With Citizens Bank Park hosting the midsummer classic, the fans will be stuffing the ballot boxes. Turner and Harper should get their fair share of votes league-wide anyway.

The most stable unit in the team may also be its most crucial for short-term and long-term prosperity. If the Phillies win 90 games and enjoy a playoff run, these guys will have played a huge part. If they don’t, this will be the first place everyone points a finger and demands be torn down. No pressure.