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Why Nolan Arenado is playing for Puerto Rico in 2026 World Baseball Classic

There’s no point, Nolan Arenado figured, in waiting for a phone call that wasn’t likely to come.

That’s one reason why Arenado, after twice playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, is representing Puerto Rico in this year’s edition.

His mother is the other driving force.

Arenado’s father is Cuban and his mother Puerto Rican, but the California native represented Team USA with distinction in two WBCs – as part of their 2017 championship squad, and then in 2023 contributing 10 hits and a 1.025 OPS for the squad that fell just short in the title game against Japan.

Arenado finished third in NL MVP voting in 2022, hitting 30 homers and driving in 103 runs for the St. Louis Cardinals; he was an easy pick as Team USA’s primary third baseman in 2023 and went on to an eighth All-Star Game selection that summer.

Yet his mid-30s plateau had arrived.

As his WAR dropped from 7.9 in 2022 to 1.3 as a 34-year-old in 2025, Arenado wondered if his old gig for Team USA had expired.

Sure enough, the Americans called on Alex Bregman and Gunnar Henderson to man the hot corner, leaving an opening for his former Cardinals teammate Yadier Molina, the manager of Puerto Rico’s WBC squad.

“I wanted to play for USA again, but I didn’t get the call," Arenado told USA TODAY Sports this spring. “Honestly, I didn’t deserve the call. And when Yadi called me about it, I felt a little hesitant about it because I played on USA, and I was recovering from a shoulder surgery.

“But my mom really wanted me to do it, and my family kept telling me to do it."

So, Arenado will don different shades of red and blue, on behalf of the Boricua.

Just like that, he’s by far the most accomplished player on his WBC squad, with Puerto Rico’s infield dotted with part-time major leaguers such as Emmanuel Rivera and Darell Hernaiz.

Still, Puerto Rico has a knack for WBC success – it joins Team USA, Japan and Cuba as the only countries to advance out of pool play in all five tournaments. And Arenado himself has participated in the past two championship games.

And, with Carlos Correa failing to obtain insurance for the tournament, Arenado will be at his familiar third base position, aiming to glean the benefits of full go baseball as he prepares for his first season with his third team, the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“I love it, for me, selfishly, it's the energy," says Arenado. “It gets you mentally ready for the season. Obviously, the stakes are high right away, which is tough, but it brings that intensity. It brings the focus that you only get when opening day of the season starts.

“I really think it’s beneficial."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Nolan Arenado is on Puerto Rican team after prior USA WBC service

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2026 World Baseball Classic rules: Is there a ghost runner in extra innings?

Who doesn't love free baseball?

Fans at the 2026 World Baseball Classic will surely have no issues if the game they attend goes extra innings, providing more bang for their bucks on the tickets purchased. That means more time to soak in the environment at the top level of international baseball.

However, the organizers of the WBC may not be fans of potentially elongated games. With most MLB players only in early Spring Training mode, pitch count limits and mercy rule regulations have been put in place to protect the players.

One rule to limit an extra-inning game from going too long is the ghost runner being placed on second base in the extra innings. Here's what you need to know about the ghost runner in extra innings in the WBC:

Is there a ghost runner in extra innings in the World Baseball Classic?

There are no ties in baseball. That means a game must continue until there is a winner. So, yes, the World Baseball Classic will have the ghost runner rule for extra innings in 2026.

So starting in the 10th inning, a runner is placed on second base with zero outs. This rule is similar to the one in MLB, where the last out of the previous inning is placed on second to start the inning. Of course, this rule for MLB is in the regular season only.

This was a rule that was also in place for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is there a ghost runner in extra innings the 2026 World Baseball Classic?

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Why is Cuban-born Randy Arozarena playing on Mexico in the WBC?

He was a star on the Cuban team that participated in the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s U-18 Baseball World Cup in 2013.

At 19, he was the starting second baseman for Pinar del Rio in the Cuban National Series

And after his breakout performance during the 2020 MLB postseason, news outlets referenced his given nickname El Cohete Cubano, "The Cuban Rocket."

So why is Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena – born in Mantua, a small town about 170 miles west of the Cuban capital of Havana – playing for Mexico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic?

The short answer is because Arozarena is a Mexican citizen, thus qualifying him to play for the Mexican national baseball team.

Why is Randy Arozarena playing on Mexico?

Arozarena, who fled Cuba in 2015, became in Mexican citizen in April 2022.

The previous year, Arozarena had posted his desire to become a Mexican citizen on Instagram, asking then-Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador to expedite his citizenship application so Arozarena could represent Mexico in the WBC.

It apparently worked.

According to a 2023 story on MLB.com, Mexican secretary of foreign affairs Marcelo Ebrard helped Arozarena become a Mexican citizen.

Arozarena went on to play for Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, earning a WBC All-Tournament Team award, which was presented to Arozarena by Ebrard before a Tampa Bay Rays' game in May 2023.

Randy Arozarena reacts while playing for Mexico against Puerto Rico during the 2023 World Baseball Classic at LoanDepot Park.

How did Randy Arozarena flee Cuba?

According a 2020 New York Times story, Arozarena began feeling alienated by his team in Cuba following the 2014 death of his father. With officials there fearing he might defect, Arozarena was left off Pinar del Río’s roster for the 2015 Caribbean Series in Puerto Rico.

He decided it was time to leave.

Arozarena said he took an eight-hour boat ride on rough seas in June 2015 to Isla Mujeres, just off the coast from Cancún, Mexico, establishing residency in a third country so he could sign as an international free agent with any MLB team.

The St. Louis Cardinals signed Arozarena on Aug. 1, 2016. He made his MLB debut on Aug. 14, 2019 before the Cardinals traded him to the Rays in January 2020.

Randy Arozarena stats

In seven MLB seasons, Arozarena is a two-time All-Star with a career .250 average, 118 home runs, 390 RBIs and 131 stolen bases, while playing for Cardinals, Rays and Mariners.

Arozarena had a spectacular postseason in 2020, earning ALCS MVP honors after batting .321 with four home runs and a 1.152 OPS in the seven-game series against the Houston Astros. He became the first rookie position player in MLB history to win an LCS or World Series MVP award.

Arozarena won AL Rookie of the Year in 2021 after batting .274 with 20 home runs, 69 RBIs and 20 stolen bases.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why is Randy Arozarena playing on Mexico in World Baseball Classic?

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Team USA features star-studded roster for 2026 World Baseball Classic

They are well-decorated, yet many are still in their prime. A handful with extremely bright futures, but already a significant number of accomplishments on their dossier. A few more who might merely be hood ornaments on this ride, yet can add gravitas and depth, nonetheless.

It isn't hard to argue that Team USA is sending its most talented group to the World Baseball Classic in the six iterations of this tournament.

Four players have won MVP awards, with four more claiming runner-up finishes, including two guys, Cal Raleigh and Bobby Witt Jr., who would have won top AL honors the past two seasons were it not for three-time winner Aaron Judge.

Oh yeah, he’s on the team, too.

Sure, you can’t overwhelm opponents merely with star power, nor can you field more than 10 guys at a time. Still, this squad is both well-accomplished but also largely in its prime.

Outside the bullpen, every guy save for youngsters Roman Anthony, Brice Turang and Nolan McLean, along with veteran Ernie Clement – who’s merely coming off a record-setting 30-hit postseason – has been an All-Star.

Here's a breakdown of the roster and each guy’s role in the effort to win a second WBC crown:

Catchers

Cal Raleigh, C, Mariners

Age: 29

All-Star appearance: 2025

Honors: Platinum Glove

Last year: 7.4 WAR, 60 homers, 125 RBI, .948 OPS.

Likely role: Starting catcher. Big Dumper can take a load off after years of carrying Seattle’s offense at various times in recent years, and his switch-hitting power will give manager Mark DeRosa significant lineup flexibility.

Will Smith, C, Dodgers

Age: 30

All-Star appearances: Three

Last year: 4.5 WAR, 17 homers, .404 OBP, .901 OPS in 110 games

Likely role: Part-time catcher. Smith flirted with a batting title for a while last year and showed he’s the Dodgers’ off-Broadway MVP by catching every postseason inning and striking the go-ahead, 11th-inning home run in World Series Game 7. Yes, the man will not shrink from this global stage.

Infielders

Alex Bregman, 3B, Cubs

Age: 31

All-Star appearances: Three

Honors: Gold Glove

Last year: 3.5 WAR, .821 OPS, 18 homers in 114 games

Likely role: Primary third baseman. This will be Bregman’s first WBC since earning five plate appearances with the 2017 champions; his role should be much larger this time. Suddenly a veteran of three teams, Bregman’s Pied Piper leadership and ball knowledge will be a significant asset this time around.

Ernie Clement, 2B, Blue Jays

Age: 29

Last year: 4.3 WAR, 35 doubles, .711 OPS in 157 games

Likely role: Deluxe utility guy. Clement can play any position on the infield – and roam the outfield in a pinch – and is coming off a record 30-hit postseason that capped a stellar all-around season.

Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Yankees

Age: 38

All-Star appearances: Seven

Honors: 2022 NL MVP, four-time Gold Glove winner

Last year: 1.2 WAR, 10 homers in 534 plate appearances

Likely role: Right-handed bat off the bench. Goldschmidt’s splits went extreme last year: .336/.411/.570 against left-handers, .247/.289/.329 against righties.

Bryce Harper, 1B, Phillies

Age: 33

All-Star appearances: Eight

Honors: 2015 NL MVP, 2021 NL MVP, 2012 Rookie of the Year

Last year: 3.1 WAR, 27 homers, .844 OPS in 132 games

Likely role: Primary first baseman. Harper’s first high-profile chance to reclaim the “elite” tag his club president questioned this winter. Harper’s 126 adjusted OPS was his lowest since 2019.

Gunnar Henderson, SS/3B, Orioles

Age: 24

All-Star appearance: 2024

Honors: 2023 AL Rookie of the Year

Last year: 5.3 WAR, 17 homers, .787 OPS in 154 games

Likely role: Part-time third baseman. Henderson will likely share time with Bregman at third, the start of a campaign he hopes looks much more like his 37-homer 2024 after playing through a shoulder impingement last season.

Brice Turang, 2B, Brewers

Age: 26

Honors: Platinum Glove

Last year: 5.6 WAR, 18 homers, 97 runs, .794 OPS

Likely role: Primary second baseman. Turang is a fantastic all-around player whose presence will only help in the always-tricky area of team adhesion in a brief sample size.

Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals

Age: 25

All-Star appearances: 2024, 2025

Honors: Two-time Gold Glove winner

Last year: 7.1 WAR, 23 homers, 38 stolen bases, .852 OPS

Likely role: Primary shortstop. Witt was a bit player as Trea Turner starred in 2023. Little reason to think he won’t be that guy this time around.

Outfielders

Roman Anthony, LF, Red Sox

Age: 21

Last year: 3.1 WAR, eight homers, .859 OPS in 71 games

Likely role: Part-time left fielder. As you likely know well, Anthony’s sparse resume belies his status as one of the game’s most imposing hitters. Will be a weapon in the top or middle of the lineup or as a bat off the bench.

Byron Buxton, CF, Twins

Age: 32

All-Star appearances: 2022, 2025

Honors: Platinum Glove

Last year: 4.9 WAR, 35 homers, 97 runs, .878 OPS

Likely role: Center field platoon. Buxton’s power and defense – he put up those 35 homers in 126 games a year ago – will be a significant asset, especially against lefty starters.

Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF, Cubs

Age: 23

All-Star appearance: 2025

Honors: Gold Glove

Last year: 6.0 WAR, 31 homers, 35 stolen bases, .768 OPS

Likely role: Center field platoon. Team USA isn’t expecting First Half PCA – when he hit 25 homers with an .847 OPS, compared to six and .634 after the break – but will settle for elite defense and the ability to ambush at the bottom of the order.

Aaron Judge, RF, Yankees

Age: 33

All-Star appearances: Seven

Honors: 2022, 2024-25 AL MVP, 2017 Rookie of the Year

Last year: 9.7 WAR, 53 homers, .331 average, 1.144 OPS

Likely role: Starting right fielder. After leading the majors in all the slash categories and WAR, Judge enters this WBC on a career high. And will have unparalleled lineup protection in this sprint to the finals.

Designated hitter

Kyle Schwarber, DH, Phillies

Age: 32

All-Star appearances: Three

Last year: 4.7 WAR, 56 homers, .928 OPS

Likely role: Starting DH. Schwarber is immediate danger wherever DeRosa pencils him in – perhaps tucked between Witt and Judge? – and seems destined to have at least one meet-the-moment sequence in this tourney.

Starting pitchers

Matthew Boyd, LHP, Cubs

Age: 35

All-Star appearance: 2025

Last year: 2.5 WAR, 14 wins, 1.09 WHIP in 179 2/3 innings

Likely role: Should get a start or two and perhaps be deployed out of the bullpen against a lefty-heavy pocket. Steady, deceptive and occasionally dominant despite a 92 mph fastball.

Clay Holmes, RHP, Mets

Age: 32

All-Star appearances: 2022, 2024

Last year: 1.9 WAR, 3.53 ERA over 165 2/3 innings

Likely role: He’s been an All-Star closer and successfully reverted to a starting role last year, especially in the first half. That makes him particularly valuable in this format, able to log multiple innings in any role behind his sinker- and sweeper-heavy arsenal.

Clayton Kershaw, LHP, retired

Age: 37

Last year: 1.6 WAR, 11 wins, 3.36 ERA over 112 2/3 innings

All-Star appearances: 11

Honors: NL Cy Young winner (2011, 2013, 2014), NL MVP (2014), Gold Glove

Likely role: Sure, it might be largely ceremonial and perhaps his biggest value will be as clubhouse sage and, as they say, showing the younger guys “how to go about your business.” But Kershaw was very good as a starter last season, got one huge out in Game 5 of the World Series and was on the verge of entering Game 7 in the 11th inning when the Dodgers won it. The man will get the ball. Question is, how big of a spot?

Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets

Age: 24

Last year: 1.8 WAR, 5-1, 2.06 ERA over eight major league starts

Likely role: A big wild card – McLean has a dominant fastball, a legitimate six-pitch mix and a nearly unsullied big league resume to this point. How much do you pour into a guy with just eight starts to his name? For now McLean is slated to start the fourth pool play game against a respectable Italy squad - and leave him on turn should Team USA reach the championship.

Joe Ryan, RHP, Twins

Age: 29

All-Star appearance: 2025

Last year: 4.5 WAR, 194 strikeouts in 171 innings.

Likely role: A back injury will keep Ryan out of pool play and might force his removal from the roster.

Paul Skenes, RHP, Pirates

Age: 23

All-Star appearances: 2024, 2025

Honors: 2023 Rookie of the Year, 2024 NL Cy Young Award

Last year: 7.7 WAR, 1.97 ERA, 216 strikeouts in 187 2/3 innings

Likely role: Ace. Simple enough? With AL Cy Young counterpart Tarik Skubal limited to one start, Skenes will start a pool play game - March 9 against Mexico - and likely get the semifinal nod should Team USA get there.

Tarik Skubal, LHP, Tigers

Age: 29

All-Star appearances: 2024, 2025

Honors: 2024, 2025 AL Cy Young Awards

Last year: 6.5 WAR, 241 strikeouts, 2.21 ERA, AL-best 2.45 FIP, major league-best 0.89 WHIP.

Likely role: One and done. Skubal, entering a season after which he’s expected to be the most coveted pitching free agent in history, has said he’ll start just one game and head back to Florida and resume training with the Tigers. He got his pitch count up to 44 – and hit 99 mph on his fastball – in his final exhibition start before the WBC and should top the 50-pitch mark in his March 7 start against against Great Britain.

Michael Wacha, RHP, Royals

Age: 34

All-Star appearance: 2015

Last year: 2.8 WAR, 3.86 ERA over 172 2/3 innings.

Likely role: Innings eater. Team USA has so much dominant swing-and-miss – a facet they’ve missed in many past WBCs – that Wacha can be looked to for coverage, particularly in pool play action.

Logan Webb, RHP, Giants

Age: 29

All-Star appearances: 2024, 2025

Honors: Gold Glove

Last year: 3.8 WAR, MLB-high 207 innings pitched, NL-high 224 strikeouts

Likely role: Frontline starter. While Skubal and Skenes stole the headlines, Webb’s commitment might be the most important on this squad, giving it pitching depth no previous USA group enjoyed. He'll get the ball in the March 6 opener against Brazil and almost certainly a starting assignment in the knockout rounds.

Relievers

David Bednar, RHP, Yankees

Age: 31

All-Star appearances: 2022, 2023

Last year: 2.2 WAR, 27 saves, 86 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings

Likely role: Potential closer. Bednar flourished after a trade to the Yankees, seizing the ninth-inning role and saving 10 games. Reliable presence after the high-leverage heat enters earlier.

Garrett Cleavinger, LHP, Rays

Age: 31

Last year: 1.9 WAR, 2.35 ERA, 82 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings.

Likely role: Lefty-leaning specialist. Cleavinger’s splits were fairly neutral last season – really good against both right- (.183/.264/.338) and left-handed (.187/.274/.347) hitters. He’ll be joined by Gabe Speier and potentially Kershaw as lefties out of the bullpen.

Griffin Jax, RHP, Rays

Age: 31

Last year: 0.5 WAR, 4.23 ERA, 99 strikeouts in 66 innings

Likely role: Lower-leverage strikeout specialist. Jax got all but 11 of his punchouts on his sweeper and changeup last season, presenting a different look between Team USA’s starters and highest-leverage guys.

Brad Keller, RHP, Phillies

Age: 30

Last year: 1.4 WAR, 0.96 WHIP, 75 strikeouts in 69 2/3 innings.

Likely role: Seventh- or eighth-inning guy. Keller was a reliable piece for the Cubs last season, prompting the Phillies to sign him to work ahead of closer Jhoan Duran.

Mason Miller, RHP, Padres

Age: 27

All-Star appearance: 2024

Last year: 2.2 WAR, 15.2 strikeouts per nine innings, 0.91 WHIP

Likely role: Fireman. Miller’s 101 mph fastball and wipeout slider are an almost unparalleled combo in this tournament or on any given major league day. So think of him deploying in the hottest spots possible – say, to handle Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Junior Caminero and Manny Machado in the late innings against the Dominican – regardless of closer designation.

Gabe Speier, LHP, Mariners

Age: 30

Last year: 1.4 WAR, 0.87 WHIP, 82 strikeouts in 62 innings

Likely role: Left-on-left arm of death. Speier was great against all comers but, even moreso than Cleavinger, was merciless on lefties, holding them to a .179/.214/.302 line and 42 strikeouts to just two walks in 112 plate appearances.

Garrett Whitlock, RHP, Red Sox

Age: 29

Last year: 2.4 WAR, 1.08 WHIP, 91 strikeouts in 72 innings

Likely role: Set-up man. Whitlock owned the eighth inning in Boston, and gave up just two home runs, using his power sinker to induce whiffs, ground balls and chase.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Team USA World Baseball Classic 2026 roster breakdown

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2026 World Baseball Classic rules: Is there a pitch count?

Everyone loves the big hits and awesome swings in momentum that offense can create in baseball. More often than not though, it's pitching that really determines the outcome of a game.

Leaving a breaking ball high results in disaster. Failing to locate your fastball can lead to a barrel. Pitching is all about limiting mistakes, and that's why a pitcher with a hot hand can dominate a tournament.

In the World Baseball Classic though, it won't be that easy. Pitchers will be on pitch counts, possibly preventing them from taking over an entire game. Here are the full details about the pitch count rules for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Why is there a pitch count at the World Baseball Classic?

The WBC has a pitch count in place in order to mitigate injury risks for Major League Baseball pitchers. Pitch limits have been a staple of the tournament since its inception in 2006.

2026 World Baseball Classic pitch count rules

Below are the pitch limits that will be enforced through each round of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Note: all pitchers may exceed the limit in order to complete a plate appearance they are already involved in when crossing the pitch count threshold.

  • Pool Play: 65 pitches
  • Quarterfinals: 80 pitches
  • Semifinals/Championship: 95 pitches

Additionally, any pitcher who throws more than 50 pitches in a single game will be required to take at least four days rest before making another appearance. Similarly, any pitcher who crosses the 30-pitch threshold will be required to take one day of rest.

Finally, any pitcher who pitches on consecutive days while staying below 30 pitches will still be required to take one day of rest before their next appearance.

Will there be a pitch clock this year?

For the first time in World Baseball Classic history, a pitch clock will be introduced. The clock will follow MLB regulations ‒ 15 seconds to throw with no one on, 18 seconds with runners on.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Are pitchers on a pitch count for the 2026 World Baseball Classic?

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2026 World Baseball Classic rules: Is there a mercy run-rule?

Everyone loves a competitive game. Not many enjoy watching blowout games.

Especially in a tournament as exciting as the World Baseball Classic, fans want to see a game where both teams have their stars on the field and are competing to win the ball game.

Of course, the potential of high-scoring affairs is likely, as most players who are participating and playing in MLB are still not in midseason form, with spring training beginning near the end of February. If one team finds a way to get hot, they might be able to run up the score and put a lot of pressure on the other.

Here are the full details about the mercy run rule for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Is there a mercy run-rule in the World Baseball Classic?

Yes, there is a mercy run-rule in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. If a team has a lead by 10 or more runs after the completion of the seventh inning, or 15 or more runs after the fifth inning, the game will end in a mercy run-rule.

However, the run rule is not in place for the knockout stage, which includes the semifinal and championship games. But with the talent it takes to reach those games, the hope is that the competition keeps it from rising to that level of a blowout in the first place.

An important aspect of a potential run-rule victory is that importance run differential plays in the standings, as it is used for a potential tiebreaker for ties in the standings during pool play.

Of course, this will be an adaptation for many MLB players. There is no mercy rule in MLB. The rule follows the Little League Baseball guidelines.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is there a mercy run rule in the 2026 World Baseball Classic?

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What was the strangest late-career signing?

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 03: New York Yankees' Andrew McCutchen #26 waits to hit during batting practice before the American League wild-card game against the Oakland Athletics in the Bronx borough of New York City on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018. McCutchen was recently traded from the San Francisco Giants. (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/The Mercury News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Spring training can often bring us some strange sights as players that have been with one or two franchises long-term suddenly pop up in new uniforms. Seeing stars change teams at their peak and don their new threads is one thing, but the guys who have been through most of their careers before popping up somewhere new feel especially jarring. Yesterday, longtime Pirate Andrew McCutchen officially departed Pittsburgh for a chance to make the Texas Rangers on a minor league deal. Now, it was already clear that the Pirates weren’t interested in bringing McCutchen back for another year after not engaging with him over the offseason, and McCutchen was already traded away from Pittsburgh in 2018, but his return in 2023 felt like the kind of homecoming one makes to ride things out before retirement. Seeing his career now potentially end in a different uniform feels surprising, even if he bounced around to several teams after that trade to San Francisco (including a brief stint here with the Yankees).

The Yankees, of course, are no stranger to this phenomenon, having brought in a wide array of mercenary veterans during and past their prime. Perhaps one of the strangest that sticks out in my memory was seeing Kevin Youkilis don the pinstripes for the 2013 season — though in essence, that signing encapsulated what would be one of the strangest seasons New York played through in the 21st century. That one of the faces of the 2000s Red Sox would get traded away midseason in 2012 and the very next season end up with their archrivals felt inconceivable at the time, regardless of how much he had left in the tank realistically. It still stands out as one of the weirdest looking fits to me, but it’s far from the only one.

New York has seen it happen in reverse to some of their franchise stars when they reached their latter years and the organization decided to move on. Hideki Matsui, for instance, had a legendary 2009 World Series run that capped off a fantastic Yankees career for the slugger, and then he proceeded to take a tour around the league making one-year pitstops in Anaheim, Oakland, and Tampa Bay before retiring.

Outside of the Yankees, one case that’s a textbook example was Joey Votto signing on with the Blue Jays in 2024 after 17 years with the Reds. He wound up getting injured and playing 31 games in the minors for them, but never got the call up before deciding to retire in August of that year — still, we got to see him put on the Jays’ unis in spring and thus got the complete picture for the purposes of jarring Google images a decade down the line. Is there a player that stands out in your mind when you think of guys being in uniforms you’ll never remember them putting on? Who would be the strangest star of today’s game to see in a random one-off uniform five-ten years down the line?

With the World Baseball Classic now in full swing, Andrew will catch us up on yesterday’s action to start the day before Andrés previews Anthony Volpe’s upcoming make-or-break season as he returns from labrum surgery. Nick then covers the promising talent that Francisco Cervelli showcased during his years as the Yankees’ backup catcher to celebrate his birthday, Matt looks at the youth movement going on in Miami for our next team preview, and later in the day I’ll be around to answer your latest mailbag questions.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Time: 6:35 p.m. EST

Video: YES, Gotham Sports App, Rays.TV

Venue: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL

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Tyler Bell cleared to return to Kentucky

Tennessee's Ariel Antigua (2) taps Kentucky's Tyler Bell (6) with the ball as he celebrates hitting a double during an NCAA college baseball game on April 20, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. | Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Kentucky Baseball will have its star sophomore shortstop back, Tyler Bell, after he was medically cleared to return, according to Derek Terry of Bat Cats Central.

Bell is expected to make his return for Kentucky during the Wildcats’ three-game series against The Citadel this weekend. According to Jeff Drummond, Bell will have a limited role in his return, likely serving as a designated hitter while he continues to recover.

Bell is cleared to hit and run the bases, but is not yet expected to return to the field defensively.

The sophomore suffered a left shoulder injury while diving for a ball behind second base during Kentucky’s season opener against UNC Greensboro. Since that injury, the Wildcats have gone 11-2 without their star infielder in the lineup.

The Frankfort, Illinois native burst onto the college baseball scene last season with an impressive freshman campaign. Bell batted .296 while recording 17 doubles, two triples, and 10 home runs. He also drove in 46 runs and stole 11 bases, establishing himself as one of the top young players in the country and a potential first-round pick in the upcoming MLB Draft.

His return could provide a spark for a Kentucky offense that has been somewhat inconsistent early in the 2026 season. The Wildcats are currently batting .292 as a team with nine home runs and averaging 7.2 runs per game through their first 13 contests.

While the offense has had ups and downs, Kentucky’s pitching and defense have helped steady the team. The Wildcats own a 2.84 team ERA and have held opponents to a .203 batting average, while Luke Lawrence has filled in admirably at shortstop during Bell’s absence.

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Pirates Prospect Update: Pittsburgh acquires Tyler Callihan

CINCINNATI, OHIO - APRIL 30: Tyler Callihan #32 of the Cincinnati Reds looks on at his first at bat on his Major League Baseball debut during a game at Great American Ball Park on April 30, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Lydia Schembre/Cincinnati Reds/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates traded for infielder/outfielder Tyler Callihan with National League Central division rivals, the Cincinnati Reds. In exchange for Callihan the Pirates sent pitcher Kyle Nicolas to the Reds.

Callihan was the Red’s No.19 ranked prospect and could immediately become a depth piece for the Pirates in both the outfield and the infield. The 25-year-old prospect began last season with triple-a affiliate of the Reds, the Louisville Bats. Callihan was off to a hot start in triple-a and was promoted to Cincinnati on April 30, seeing time at both second base and left field.

On May 3 Callihan recorded his first hit in an MLB contest against the Washington Nationals. Despite the promise that he showed Callihan would suffer a season ending injury on May 5 after colliding with an outfield wall and fracturing his left forearm. Unfortunately for Callihan injuries have plagued his career to this point. Cincinnati drafted him in the third round of the 2019 MLB draft, but he had a season taken away because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Tommy John surgery in 2021 and was inactive because of a hand injury in 2024.

With Cincinnati in Spring Training Callihan did seem to come back firing on all cylinders. In seven games with the Reds this Spring Callihan had one homer, one double, a walk and scored two runs. His bat has always been highly touted and good be a strong point in a platoon situation.

Pittsburgh was looking to add another piece to their outfield this offseason and Callihan could be a great piece. The more Callihan can see time in the outfield gives more time for Ryan O’Hearn to serve as a designated hitter and keep him fresh for a potential playoff push. If Callihan joins Pittsburgh following Spring Training he could be one of the best bats off the bench.

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Exclusive: Tarik Skubal talks record contract, Tigers' title dreams and WBC plan

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, who grew up just three hours away in a small dusty town where folks stop to get gas on their drive to Las Vegas, who had only one school even interested in giving him a college scholarship, lets his mind race as his USA teammates walk past him into the clubhouse.

It was just a few years ago he was a nobody in Kingman, Arizona and now on the eve of the World Baseball Classic, the Detroit Tigers lefty is just nine months away from receiving the largest contract by a pitcher in baseball history.

“For the most part, I try to live in the moment," Skubal says, “and just appreciate where my feet are, and continue to strive to the best version of myself."

Yet, in a sea of stardom on Team USA, filled with other MVPs, Cy Young winners and All-Stars, Skubal is the one getting the most attention.

He’s the one everyone wants next winter, the one who’ll break the bank, and perhaps the first American League pitcher to ever win three consecutive Cy Young awards.

Tarik Skubal is a free agent after the 2026 season.

Skubal would love to stay put in Detroit, but in a wide-ranging interview with USA TODAY Sports, reveals that the Tigers never made a single long-term offer trying to keep him this winter, or even bothered to negotiate with him after he filed for salary arbitration.

“There is no offer," Skubal tells USA TODAY Sports, “and there won't be an offer until the end of the season….My focus is on playing baseball and winning this year. I’ll deal with the contract stuff at the end of the year, and then we'll kind of see. And that’s fine. It’s their decision."

Detroit vs. Everybody in 2026?

Skubal has no idea if the Tigers are serious about keeping him past this year considering their only long-term offer was two years ago for less than $80 million. But if he departs, he savors the idea of first being on the first Tigers’ team to win a World Series in 42 years. This is a team built for October, signing Houston Astros ace Framber Valdez to a three-year, $115 million contract and bringing back three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander.

“That’s where my focus is, trying to win a World Series for the city of Detroit, the team that drafted me in 2018," Skubal says. “The Tigers fans are excited, they’re really invested in this club, and so are we. There’s a different energy in camp this year about the guys that we brought in and additions that we've made, and there's a true belief and trying to win a World Series. I think that's awesome.

“It’s not that wasn't the belief last year, but I think the focus was more realistically on kind of winning the division and getting back in the playoffs.

"We didn't win the division, but we made the playoffs and made another good run. You can kind of see that a World Series is attainable with the additions that we've made. And that's all you can ask for, is to play on a team with World Series aspirations year in and year out. So it’s going to be a ton of fun this year."

Skubal's WBC pickle

Skubal smiles talking about enjoying life being on Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, hanging out with future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw, and 23-year-old sensation Paul Skenes, but he also cringes, knowing what you’re thinking, reading what you’re saying and just wishes folks would understand.

Instead of being grateful he’s participating in the first round of the WBC, which begins Friday night against Brazil at Daikin Park in Houston, the public seems disappointed Skubal is pitching Saturday evening against Great Britain in the second game of USA’s first round where he plans to throw about 50 to 55 pitches.

The next day, he will be gone, flying back to Florida to finish spring training with the Tigers.

His WBC participation will be over, although he could visit his USA teammates and root them on from the bench if they advance to the championship game March 17 in Miami, he says, taking a three-hour drive from Lakeland.

Skubal will be USA’s lone starter to make just one start. Logan Webb, Paul Skenes and Nolan McLean are each scheduled to pitch twice, with McLean, who has eight career starts for the New York Mets, potentially pitching the championship game.

The folks at home hate the idea that he’s one-and-done, believing if he’s really committed to the WBC, he should stay with his teammates and pitch twice during the tournament. Skubal even has WBC officials and teammates hoping he changes his mind, but for now he’s not budging, certainly not with free agency looming.

“The guys have been cool about it," Skubal says, “but I mean publicly, it’s a little bit different perception. But I think they understand what it means for me to be here. Obviously, I want to be in the room, you know, and that's cool for them to even take me aside and be like, 'it's awesome that you're here.'"

'The boys love it'

Players like three-time Yankees MVP Aaron Judge, captain of Team USA, have effusively praised Skubal for being on the team and have condemned those who are critical over his limited role.

“He's got the two Cy Young awards, but this guy's about to make half a billion dollars here in the next offseason," Judge said. “So, for him to put it all on the line for his country, and come out here and show up for us…..You know, maybe it is just one game, but you know there's a risk with everything you do, and for him to take that risk and come out here and be with us, the boys love it."

They’d love it a whole lot more if Skubal sticks around. They are privately hoping that Skubal gets so caught up in the WBC frenzy that he changes his mind, and decides to pitch again in the knockout rounds.

“Those [conversations] have already started," Skubal says, laughing. “So, we'll see. I mean, when you get in the moment and you're competing, especially in the next four-ish days with games that really matter, we’ll see."

So, you’re saying there’s a chance?

“Yeah, sure," said Skubal, who’s scheduled to pitch for the Tigers in a spring training game the day of USA’s potential semifinal game. “I need to get back to camp and get back to my routine, but I want to go to Miami and just be at those games. … I might just be there and be a cheerleader."

Skubal certainly has the final call, but even when he finally agreed to pitch in the WBC, it was against agent Scott Boras’ advice and the Tigers’ wishes. He didn’t commit until Boras, the Tigers, USA manager Mark DeRosa and USA pitching coach Andy Pettitte agreed to the plan of making one start and returning to Lakeland.

“We kind of explained that, 'Hey, I want to be part of this, but it’s going to be in a limited role,'" Skubal says. “So, once the plan was kind of laid out what to expect from me, and what my workload is, that's kind of when it became an easy decision to be here."

Skubal's top WBC concern? Timing

Really, it’s just the timing of the WBC that gives Skubal reservations, just as it has with plenty of pitchers in the past. Their arms aren’t built up for the regular season, and suddenly, you’re thrown into a playoff environment.

Skubal and others wish the World Baseball Classic would be played in July during an extended All-Star break – like they’re planning in 2028 with the Olympics – instead of interrupting spring training.

“Hopefully they get this tournament right to where it can be kind of a mid-season thing," Skubal says. “That’s kind of the only knock I got on it. It’s just the timing for starting pitching doesn't really work. You know, it doesn't add up. It's a very limited capacity of being able to go.’’

Pitchers in the WBC are restricted from throwing more than 60 pitches in the first round, 75 in the quarterfinals and 90 pitches in the semifinals and finals.

“I'd love to come here and just have a game where I have 100 pitches and be ready to go," Skubal says. “So hopefully the Olympics, they get that at the All-Star break, and they get it right. That way we can send out the best lineup and arms, and they can be at max, full-go. And they don't have to worry about injuries.

“If you look at injury rates, a lot of them happen in spring, and then it kind of flattens out. And then a lot of them happen right after the All-Star break, and then it kind of flattens out. So those are the two times you have a little bit heightened risk. And that's why the timing is a little bit different with this tournament and what I can bring to the table.

“I mean, I would love to say this is a postseason game, and go as long as you want. But it's just not the way it is.’’

Still, Skubal says, this is something he’ll forever cherish. It’s the greatest collection of talent he’s ever seen. He’s still blown away that Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who hit 60 homers last season, was the one catching him during his bullpen session Tuesday afternoon with seven of his fellow pitchers intently watching.

“I mean, that's a big reason of why I wanted to be a part of this," Skubal says, “even going into a contract year and free agency. It’s like, I don't want to miss the opportunity to be a fly on the wall in this room, just with all the knowledge and baseball presence that's around. Watching these guys prepare, watching the pitchers prepare, watching the hitters prepare, how they get themselves ready to go, their bullpens, playing catch, workouts, nutrition, all of that stuff.

“It’s just such a cool experience to be part of. It’s like, I can’t pass up an opportunity to be teammates with Clayton Kershaw."

Skubal and Paul Skenes link up

He also gets the chance to pitch alongside Skenes, the defending NL Cy Young winner, for the first time.

“He’s a great player, a great talent,’’ Skubal said. “He’s lived up to every ounce of the hype that he’s got, and that’s special."

Certainly, Skenes will be indebted to Skubal for raising the bar with his $32 million arbitration victory, shattering the previous record of $19.75 million for a starting pitcher set by David Price in 2015. The win was momentous for the players union, particularly with Skubal being on the union’s eight-person executive committee.

“There’s a ton of pride," Skubal says. “You look at a rising tide lifts all boats in that aspect, so I take a lot of pride in that. As a player, you want to leave the game in a better spot than how you found it. So I think going to arb and going through that process is always a great one, but it’s good to get my feet in there and take a stand for players.

“And, obviously, get what I feel like I deserve with what I’ve accomplished so far."

If Skubal is earning $32 million in arbitration, and almost certainly will become the highest-paid pitcher in history through free agency, can you imagine the payday when Skenes starts to negotiate?

“His market is going to be crazy," Skubal says. “He’s got a Rookie of the Year, a Cy Young and three more years to see what happens. I’m excited for him. Obviously, he deserves it."

For now, free agency can wait. The USA players have even avoided trying to recruit Skubal a year early, saying they don’t want to interfere with the task in hand.

That’s winning a gold medal, with Skubal planning to do his part against Great Britain.

“I think the energy and environment is going to be awesome,’’ Skubal says. “I can’t wait to feel it. It's the first time I've ever been able to wear the USA jersey, and it's going to be special. My family and friends will get to enjoy that. It will be pretty special for everybody involved.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun."

Who knows, maybe so much fun that Skubal’s teammates persuade him to hang around just a little while longer?

“Is there a chance?" DeRosa said, smiling. “There’s always a chance."

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tarik Skubal talks contract, WBC plan and Tigers World Series hopes

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Ranking the 5 best pitching staffs in the 2026 World Baseball Classic

The World Baseball Classic always features the best pitching on the planet, and oftentimes, it goes underappreciated. The big hits and great defensive gems get all the attention, but it's easy to forget just how crucial the performances on the bump are.

In 2023, Japan won the World Baseball Classic largely due to clutch pitching from guys like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani.

That said, given how prevalent pitch limits are at the World Baseball Classic, one star arm won't be enough to win a championship. These units require depth, star talent at every level from the starters to the middle relievers to the closer.

Here are the top-five pitching staffs at this year's WBC:

Best pitching staffs in the World Baseball Classic

5) Canada

A few years ago, this Canada unit would've been dangerous. James Paxton, Jameson Taillon, Cal Quantrill, Michael Soroka. These are all guys who've had great moments in Major League Baseball. But those moments have passed them by.

Nonetheless, they are all still tremendously talented ball players, providing Canada with a relatively well-rounded starting rotation. While the bullpen certainly has some issues, there is enough talent throughout this roster to keep Canada in games, and based on its lineup, this could be a sleeper team in the tournament.

4) Mexico

Mexico doesn't boast a plethora of MLB arms, but it does have several strong bullpen options, most notably Andres Muñoz, who posted a 1.73 ERA with 38 saves for the Mariners in 2025, and Victor Vodnik, a Rockies pitcher who nearly managed a sub-3 ERA. That's impressive in its own right, but Vodnik is an absolute flamethrower with great control and a tendency to prevent fly balls. That's a winning combination.

As for its starters, the team returns a few names from the 2023 roster, including Taijuan Walker. However, many of them are coming off injury or struggled in 2025. Walker obviously had a down season (4.08 ERA) and struggled to get strikeouts, while Cubs pitcher Javier Assad only managed 37 innings while dealing with an oblique strain for most of last season.

This is an interesting group with a lot to prove, but a lot of potential.

3) Dominican Republic

Outside of Sandy Alcantara and Christopher Sanchez, the starting pitchers on the Dominican Republic team are a bit lackluster. That said, Alcantara and Sanchez are both pretty good. The bullpen also has the potential to be nasty, with guys like Camilo Doval, Carlos Esteves, Gregory Soto, and Seranthony Dominguez all handling late-inning work.

This might be a pitching staff that the pitch count rules benefit. With so many talented late-inning arms, the DR could lean on its high-end flamethrowers more often than other countries will be able to.

2) Japan

While Shohei Ohtani will not take the mound for the Japanese this time, Japan still boasts a remarkable rotation, anchored by Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The last time we saw Yamamoto in a big-game situation, he won World Series MVP and almost single-handedly carried the Dodgers to back-to-back championships.

Outside of Yamamoto, other MLB talent like Tomoyuki Sugano and Yusei Kikuchi will be available as well. The relievers are also dangerous. Look no further than their numbers in the Nippon Professional League a season ago. Guys like Koki Kitayama posted a 1.59 ERA across 158.2 innings. Hiromi Itoh had a 2.52 ERA in nearly 200 innings.

Us Americans may not know these names, but that doesn't make them any less filthy.

1) United States

The United States has Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal. That's practically everything that needs to be said. When you boast each of the reigning MLB Cy Young Award winners, you tend to steamroll through the competition.

But if that wasn't enough, the USA also has someone who has finished top-six in Cy Young voting each of the past three years in Logan Webb and a young stud in Nolan McLean. Meanwhile, it also has three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw just for fun, and he probably won't play much.

Even if teams get beyond the starters, there's Mason Miller waiting for them. That's like crawling through hell just to reach super hell.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Power ranking top five pitching staffs at the 2026 WBC

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Ranking the top 5 best lineups in the 2026 World Baseball Classic

The World Baseball Classic is underway, which means baseball fans are in for a ton of great matchups featuring some of the biggest stars in Major League Baseball. The celebrations will be grander. The cheers will be louder. And the cracks of the bat will be even more thunderous.

It's hard to forget the biggest hits in World Baseball Classic history. Who could forget Trea Turner's go-ahead grand slam in the 2023 semifinals against Venezuela? What about Ichiro Suzuki's game-winning single in 2009? Or Munetaka Murakami's walk-off double to propel Japan into the finals in 2023?

The hits are the moments that fans never forget, but which teams are due for some big hits in this year's tournament? Here are our power rankings of the top five lineups in the World Baseball Classic, bound to bring endless offense to a thrilling tournament:

Power ranking best lineups in the 2026 WBC

5) Mexico

Projected lineup:

  1. RF Randy Arozarena
  2. LF Jarren Duran
  3. C Alejandro Kirk
  4. 1B Jonathan Aranda
  5. 2B Nick Gonzales
  6. 1B Rowdy Tellez
  7. 3B Ramón Urías
  8. CF Alek Thomas
  9. SS Joey Ortiz

The left side of the infield certainly leaves a little to be desired, but Ortiz, Urías and Gonzales provide remarkable gloves that will impact Mexico's ability to win games. The top of this lineup is far and away the most dangerous part. Randy Arozarena has historically been a monster in the World Baseball Classic, with numerous clutch hits under his belt. Following him up will be MLB All-Stars Jarren Duran, Alejandro Kirk and Jonathan Aranda. If they can do some damage, Mexico could be a force throughout the tournament.

4) Venezuela

Projected lineup:

  1. RF Ronald Acuña Jr.
  2. 1B Willson Contreras
  3. CF Jackson Chourio
  4. DH Salvador Perez
  5. LF Wilyer Abreu
  6. 3B Maikel Garcia
  7. 2B Andres Gimenez
  8. C William Contreras
  9. SS Gleyber Torres

You look at this lineup and realize it's filled to the brim with high-end MLB talent already. Then you remember that league hits leader Luis Arraez and elite slugger Eugenio Suarez are available off the bench, as well. Then, you start to panic. This is a team that not only can damage you from everywhere in the lineup, but has the depth to play according to the situation as well. That's a recipe for success.

3) Japan

Projected lineup:

  1. DH Shohei Ohtani
  2. CF Seiya Suzuki
  3. RF Kensuke Kondoh
  4. 3B Kazuma Okamoto
  5. 1B Munetaka Murakami
  6. 2B Shugo Maki
  7. LF Masataka Yoshida
  8. C Seishiro Sakamoto
  9. SS Kaito Kozono

It's easy to look at this lineup, notice the lack of MLB players, and assume they won't be able to reclaim their glory from 2023. But they are the defending champions for a reason. After all, they do boast the best player in baseball at the top of their lineup.

Apart from him, this is a team filled with star Japanese players. Kensuke Kondoh is coming off a season where he recorded a .925 OPS. He had a 1.115 OPS in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Munetaka Murakami was the most sought-after foreign prospect in baseball this past year. Kaito Kozono hit .309 in Japanese play last year, and he is likely going to be at the bottom of their lineup.

2) Dominican Republic

Projected lineup:

  1. RF Fernando Tatis Jr.
  2. LF Juan Soto
  3. 2B Ketel Marte
  4. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
  5. DH Junior Caminero
  6. 3B Manny Machado
  7. CF Julio Rodriguez
  8. SS Geraldo Perdomo
  9. C Augustin Ramirez

Geraldo Perdomo finished fourth in National League MVP voting a season ago. He's projected to bat eighth for the Dominican Republic. That's scary.

From top to bottom, this lineup is filled with exciting players, many of whom are considered the top of their position in MLB — Ketel Marte, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Junior Caminero, Juan Soto. And many more have strong cases for their own positions as well. It's undeniable that the DR might have the best pure hitters all around, but there's one nation with a bit more pop and a similarly well-rounded lineup.

1) United States

Projected lineup:

  1. SS Bobby Witt Jr.
  2. DH Kyle Schwarber
  3. RF Aaron Judge
  4. 1B Bryce Harper
  5. C Cal Raleigh
  6. LF Roman Anthony
  7. 3B Alex Bregman
  8. CF Pete Crow-Armstrong
  9. 2B Brice Turang

Going toe-to-toe with the DR, the U.S. gets the slight edge. Bobby Witt Jr. is a little bit better than Perdomo. Cal Raleigh is certainly better than Augustin Ramirez. Aaron Judge is the best hitter in the world. Kyle Schwarber might have the best raw power in the sport.

There are certainly some weak spots, particularly Brice Turang at second base, but the U.S. has the luxury of working with Gunnar Henderson on the bench as well. While Henderson has only played three games at second base since joining the Baltimore Orioles, he has experience there and could make the move if needed. So long as Pete Crow-Armstrong looks more like he did in the first half of last season than the second half, the United States certainly has the best lineup in this year's tournament.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Power ranking the top five lineups in the 2026 World Baseball Classic

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MLB players union gearing up for CBA fight — and potential lockout: ‘Been preparing for this fight for years’

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TAMPA — With just under nine months to go until the current Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire, both MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association have been battening down the hatches for what appears to be increasingly likely next winter: a lockout.

While the two sides are set to begin bargaining some time next month, the looming battle is expected to center on the possibility of a salary cap — with owners pushing for it and the union staunchly against it.

“We’ve been preparing for this fight for years,” MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer said Thursday morning at Steinbrenner Field, where the union made a stop on its annual spring tour of all 30 teams.

“We’re coming off a season of incredible momentum and great fan interest, as evidenced by attendance, ratings, anything you want to look at. If the league is saying they’re looking to shut that down, that doesn’t make a lot of sense for a lot of reasons. But we’ll be prepared for that and everything else that may be coming.”

Gerrit Cole, who has previously served on the executive subcommittee, described the meeting with the PA as “very informative, very thorough.”

It came in the wake of Meyer replacing Tony Clark as the head of the union last month, after Clark resigned in the wake of an internal investigation that found he had an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law, who was hired by the MLBPA in 2023.

While Cole said he is trying to keep an “optimistic” view in the face of concerns of a lockout, he acknowledged that a salary cap is not the “answer to the questions that we’re trying to answer.”

Gerrit Cole, throwing earlier in the spring training, said he is trying to be “optimistic” that there won’t be a lockout next season. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“The sport is growing, the viewership is younger, the gate is up, the players’ pay is up, club appreciations are up,” Cole said. “Obviously there is a whole list of concerns. … I’m optimistic that through good conversations, through a lot of deliberation and some tense moments, ultimately the best will come out.”

Meyer said that the union has never thought that salary caps were in the best interest of players.

“We see no reason to change that view,” he said.

Meyer also added that salary caps “don’t really guarantee competitive balance,” indicating that baseball has the best competitive balance as opposed to the other major sports, which all have salary caps.

“The problem we have in baseball is not with the teams that are trying to win games and trying to spend money,” Meyer said. “It’s with teams that maybe aren’t trying as hard as they can. That’s the problem with competition in baseball.”

Oswaldo Cabrera will make his spring debut on Friday night, starting at shortstop against the Rays in his first game action since breaking his ankle and suffering ligament damage last May.

“Excited for him,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Obviously it’s been a pretty long road for him. It’s been exciting to see some of the improvement he’s made over the last few weeks.”

Cody Bellinger returned to the lineup Thursday for the first time in a week after dealing with a stiff back.

He played four innings in right field and went 0-for-1 with a walk in a rain-shortened 15-0 loss to the Twins at Steinbrenner Field.

“Felt really good,” said Bellinger, who is scheduled to play left field Friday. “Felt 100 percent.”

The Yankees made a round of cuts Thursday, optioning RHP Chase Hampton to Double-A Somerset and reassigning him, RHP Travis MacGregor and RHP Drake Fellows to minor league camp.

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Yankees news: Oswaldo Cabrera set to return to field Friday

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 24: Oswaldo Cabrera #95 of the New York Yankees participates in a spring training workout at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 24, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

New York Daily News | Peter Sblendorio: On May 12th of last year, utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera broke his ankle in one of the more gruesome injuries you’ll watch in real time. It’s taken quite a bit of rehab for Cabrera in the ensuing ten months, but he’ll finally play something close to competitive ball today, with Aaron Boone announcing Waldo’s spring debut (coinciding with Cam Schlittler’s). Cabrera is more of a depth piece, and certainly a glue guy, rather than one of the stars the Yankees are looking to turn to, but I’m happy he’s back all the same.

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: The Yankees acquired lefty Ryan Weathers from the Marlins over the winter, and his stuff raised serious eyebrows in his first spring start for the Bombers. A possible breakout may be genetic for Weathers, whose father won two World Series, one with the Blue Jays and one with the 1996 Yankees. It goes even a step further, as David Weathers was also dealt from the Marlins to the Yankees, although it seems clear that the son has more natural talent. It’s not quite clear yet what Ryan’s role will be with the Yanks, but if that stuff plays, he’ll be called upon to do quite a bit.

Yahoo! Sports | Matthew Schmidt: Another winter trade hasn’t quite started so optimistically. Angel Chivilli was nabbed from the Rockies with clearly an eye to his powerful fastball and low walk rate, but he hasn’t looked great in Grapefruit League action. He gave up six runs against the Twins yesterday, and with a number of pitchers all competing for the final slots in the Yankee bullpen, it seems increasingly likely Chivilli will start the year with Triple-A Scranton.