“I was really shocked that Pete would leave New York for Baltimore,” Strawberry said Monday at spring training. “Pete could have broken all the records and could have been on top of every offensive category for this organization and then sometimes when you don’t see that and realize how important that is, one day he is going to wake up just like I did and regret you didn’t stick where you are at.”
Strawberry, who left the Mets through free agency to join the Dodgers after the 1990 season, said Alonso — who received a five-year contract worth $155 million from the Orioles — should have never opted out from his contract after last season. Alonso would have received $24 million this season from the Mets if he didn’t opt out.
After his opt-out, Alonso never received an offer from the Mets. According to sources, the team was expecting him to circle back after exploring the market, but the length of the Orioles’ offer made it a moot point.
Pete Alonso stretches before the Orioles’ spring training game against the Yankees on Feb. 20, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostDarryl Strawberry speaking at Citi Field last season. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“The biggest mistake I saw was after they lost in Miami he opted out,” Strawberry said, referring to the Mets’ final game last season. “I think if he just waited and said, ‘OK, I’ll stay at that, but give me a four-year deal, something like that, they could have worked it out.’”
Strawberry was asked if the Mets should have fought harder to keep Alonso.
“I think it’s a combination,” Strawberry said. “I think they both could have fought harder in that situation.”
Alonso last season eclipsed Strawberry’s previous franchise record of 252 homers. Like Strawberry, he was a homegrown Mets player.
“He worked his way up to become the player that he was,” Strawberry said. “He deserved all the credit for that and what he accomplished. I just don’t leave New York to go to Baltimore. Don’t get me wrong, I am not getting on Baltimore. But I am saying, this is New York, come on. Baltimore is a good place, but it’s not New York.”
This Vote represents the last in our series this year, as we are into Spring Training and also now bumping right up against the Top 100 countdown. Our voters play an important role in almost half of that list, but it doesn’t make much sense to be voting on players who are already showing up in the Top 100 profiles.
And in fact, this year’s Vote went longer than any other we’ve run under “normal” circumstances. (In 2020, we ran the Vote to 50 rounds given there was no baseball being played/minors season cancelled outright, and in 2018 we ran the Vote well into the regular season as a first-time effort.)
It was a fitting, even poetic, end to the polling, as Reudis Diaz finally advanced, on his 33rd ballot. That is doubtlessly an all-time record span on the ballot for our Prospect Vote.
Diaz in fact won this round with authority, outpacing fellow long-balloter Aldrin Batista by 18 votes. Making an enormous jump of five spots on the ballot and 23 total votes, Diaz routed the rest, with 28 of 71 (39%) votes:
This was Diaz’s first time in our voting. Perhaps next year he won’t have to linger so long on the ballot.
Diaz also become the fourth right-handed reliever to advance, as well as the third RHRP in the last six results:
Here’s the overall breakdown of our readership winners: one catcher, three second basemen, two third basemen, four shortstops, one left fielder, three center fielders, four right fielders, seven right-handed starting pitchers, nine left-handed starting pitcher, four right-handed relievers and one left-handed relievers. There were no first basemen voted forward this year.
Overall, that’s 21 of 37 winning prospects being pitchers, and 16 of 37 winners being starting pitchers.
South Side Sox Top-Voted White Sox Prospects for 2026
Round 24 of voting was the last of 2023 (we did not do an actual wrap for the voting, but Jordan Sprinkle ended up being our final pick), and the full archive.
Aug 5, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios (17) pitches in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
No Bo in the Mets’ lineup, which is normal for a road spring game. Teams tend to let veterans skip bus trips.
The Jays have set their pitching rotation for the week:
Blue Jays upcoming Grapefruit League starters
Tues vs NYY— TBD, likely a minor leaguer Weds @ DET — Cody Ponce Thurs vs MIA — Kevin Gausman Fri @ TBR — Eric Lauer Sat vs PHI (SS) — Dylan Cease Sat @ NYY (SS) — Jose Berrios
Today it is Jose Berrios’ first time on the mound since last September, before he went on the IL and then was left off the playoff roster. I’m sure he feels he has something to prove this spring.
As always, don’t read anything in a Spring Training batting lineup. Veterans progress in their own ways in spring. George Springer is planning to have his first game on Thursday
Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (35) delivers a pitch during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Mets lineup
MJ Melendez – RF
Mark Vientos – DH
Ronny Mauricio – 3B
Jared Young – 1B
Hayden Senger – C
Vidal Brujan – SS
Jackson Cluff – 2B
Nick Morabito – LF
Ji Hwan Bae – CF
Clay Holmes – RHP
Blue Jays lineup
Andres Gimenez – SS
Ernie Clement – 2B
Vladimir Guerrero – 1B
Alejandro Kirk – C
Addison Barger – RF
Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
Daulton Varsho – DH
Nathan Lukes – CF
Davis Schneider – LF
Jose Berrios – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 1:07 PM EST TV: Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Manager Kevin Cash #16 of the Tampa Bay Rays poses for a picture during the 2026 Tampa Bay Rays Photo Day at Charlotte Sports Park on February 19, 2026 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Let’s seize the means of production the coveted Grapefruit League title
No TV covereage today, but the game can be heard through the radio.
First pitch is 1:05 against the Boston Red Sox at Charlotte Sports Park.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 20: Mick Abel #20 of the Minnesota Twins pitches against the Cleveland Guardians on September 20, 2025 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First Pitch (CT):12:05 TV: NA Radio: Tigers – WXYT 1270 Know Yo’ Foe: Bless You Boys
We don’t normally include a lot of info on Spring Training games, but let’s try a new “what to watch” section since stats and results and ultimate don’t matter. I suppose today, “what to watch” would be more “what to look for in Statcast player tracking data” due to the game not being available.
What to watch: Can Austin Martin actually play CF? If Martin is able to be a legitimate option there, it would solve a lot of roster issues in one fell swoop.
Feb 11, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets pitcher Nate Lavender (98) throws during spring training. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
It’s not all that common for a relief pitcher in the minors to generate even a moderate level of prospect buzz, but Nave Lavender garnered such attention when we put together our list of the Mets’ top prospects a couple years ago. Coming off a strong season in Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse, the 6’ 2” then-23-year-old looked like he’d have a shot at getting a call to the big leagues in 2024.
Unfortunately, the left-handed Lavender made just five appearances with Syracuse to start that season before he hit the injured list. And he went on to have internal brace surgery a few weeks later, ending his 2024 season.
The Mets left Lavender exposed in the Rule 5 draft following the season, and the Rays took him, hoping that they’d get to give him a shot at pitching for them at the major league level in 2025. But Lavender’s recovery wasn’t a smooth one, as he didn’t pitch at all at any level during the season. When the organization designated him for assignment after the season, he cleared waivers and was returned to the Mets.
Taken by the Mets in the 14th round of the 2021 draft, Lavender recently turned 26. Given the fact that it’s been nearly two years since he pitched in a game, he’ll really just be looking to prove that he can get back on the mound and stay healthy during spring training.
If Lavender can do that, it’ll be interesting to see what he looks like in Triple-A Syracuse, assuming that’s where he starts his season. Over the course of his minor league career thus far, he’s flashed incredible strikeout rates, particularly in the aforementioned 2023 season, walked more batters than you’d like to see, and didn’t have much of an issue with home runs until he got to Syracuse.
And while it seems unlikely that Lavender’s spring training showing could be so good that he’d make the Mets’ Opening Day roster, the Mets’ bullpen isn’t exactly stacked with players who are certain to make the team.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 21: Luinder Avila #58 of the Kansas City Royals throw against the Toronto Blue Jays at Kauffman Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You know the Royals are in a differYou know the Royals are in a different era when they enter camp with few roster spots on the line, rather than holding an open tryout for the lineup. The Royals are pretty much set with their starting nine and rotation, but if there are roster spots to be won, they’ll be in the bullpen. The Royals have the late innings figured out – Lucas Erceg and Carlos Estévez will shut things down late in games. Matt Strahm will likely set those two up, and face the tough lefties. The middle innings will likely be John Schreiber and Nick Mears.
That leaves some jockeying for position for the last three spots in the pen when the team begins the season in Atlanta on March 27. For once, the question isn’t whether the Royals have enough arms — it’s which capable arms won’t make the team. Here’s who could be competing.
The favorites
Alex Lange led the Tigers with 26 saves in 2023 before suffering lat injuries that derailed his career over the last two seasons. The Lee’s Summit native grew up a Royals fan and can miss bats with a 96 mph fastball and a knuckle-curve that opponents hit just .178 against in 2023. But his injuries are a concern, and he has had trouble throwing strikes at times with a high walk rate and a league-high 15 wild pitches in 2022. He pitched just one big league game, spending most of the second half of last year in the minors. Lange has an MLB contract, but has an option year remaining, so the Royals could give him some time to get acclimated in the minors.
Daniel Lynch IV seems like a good bet to be in the big leagues, but with the acquisition of Bailey Falter last summer, he seems somewhat redundant as a left-handed long reliever. Lynch posted a 3.06 ERA in 57 games last year, but he had the third-lowest strikeout rate among relievers and pitched primarily in low-leverage situations. He has an option year remaining as well, but he could become a trade asset with the Royals looking to sell high on his performance last year.
Starter or reliever?
Ryan Bergert would have a chance to crack the starting rotation for many other teams, but will likely be on the outside looking in with the Royals. He flashed some great stuff last year, but had some inconsistent results, so the Royals could very well have him stretched out in Omaha to be the de facto sixth starter. However, he did make four scoreless relief appearances last year, and if they feel like his stuff could be a weapon in the pen, he could make the team.
Mason Black was acquired from the Giants this offseason after making eight starts for San Francisco the past two years. He has struggled both at the big league level and in the upper minors, but could be a good project for Brian Sweeney and the coaching staff. Black throws from a lower arm angle, which could give hitters a different look if he comes out of the pen. Black has an option year, so he’s likely to begin in the Omaha rotation as a depth piece.
Bailey Falter no longer has options remaining, unlike Bergert or Stephen Kolek. That will likely mean he makes the team, although they could try to pass him through waivers and hope no team is willing to take on his $3.6 million salary. Falter was solid in 50 starts for the Pirates in 2024 and 2025, although with a low strikeout rate. But he struggled after being traded to the Royals last July, ending the year on the Injured List. Falter has much better strikeout numbers in his 31 career relief appearances than he does as a starter, so he could prove to be more useful in that role.
Stephen Kolek, like Bergert and Falter, was acquired last summer, but Kolek had the most success with a 1.91 ERA in five starts with the Royals. He doesn’t miss many bats either, but he throws strikes and gets groundballs. He wants to rely on his four-seamer to get more whiffs, and he did have a noticeably higher velo and strikeout rate in 2024 when he worked exclusively as a reliever. Kolek has an option year and seems likely to be sent to the minors to keep him stretched out as a starter, but an impressive spring may make it hard not to carry him in the pen.
Mitch Spence was acquired earlier this month as rotation depth, but he made 24 relief appearances with the Athletics last year. He was solid in 2024, but had mixed results last year, although a lot of that could be due to poor numbers at the home ballpark in Sacramento. He has a high chase rate and a groundball rate of 46 percent, and was more effective as a reliever than a starter last year. He has an option year, but the Royals love his flexibility, and he could be used out of the pen.
Competing for a spot
Luinder Avila is one of the top pitching prospects in the organization and impressed in a cup of coffee last year with a 1.29 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 14 innings. He brings an electric four-seamer with a hammer curve and a cutter with good break, giving him a three-pitch mix that produced a 50 percent groundball rate in his limited action. Manager Matt Quatraro has suggested the 24-year-old could be a front-of-the-rotation pitcher someday, but for this year, he could cut his teeth in the big leagues as a reliever.
Steven Cruz turned a corner in 2025, reducing his walk rate and making 47 appearances in the big leagues with a solid 3.74 ERA. He doesn’t strike out as many hitters as you would expect for a large-framed right-hander with a fastball in the high-90s. He could rely more on his slider this year, as big league hitters struggled to touch it, hitting just .156 against it with a 24.5 percent whiff rate.
José Cuas was effective for the Royals over 2022-23, but has had trouble throwing strikes since they traded him away. He has returned as a non-roster invitee, so the Royals would need to clear a 40-man roster spot to add him to the team. His sinker has been pretty ineffective the last few years, but if he can get back to throwing strikes and getting groundballs, he could be an option for the Royals.
James McArthur led the Royals with 18 saves in 2024, but lost his effectiveness and suffered an elbow injury late in the year that required surgery. He sat out all of last year, and will look to recapture his 2023 performance, when he had a 23-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 18 games. McArthur has an option year, and could begin the year in the minors to work his way slowly back to the big leagues, but the Royals hope his curve can be a weapon later this year.
Eli Morgan was a pretty savvy signing, joining the Royals on a minor league deal. He had a 1.93 ERA in 32 games with Cleveland in 2024, but appeared in just seven games with the Cubs last year due to an elbow injury. Morgan mixes a 92 mph four-seamer with a slider and changeup, and if healthy, he provides another veteran bullpen arm that throws strikes.
Héctor Neris had 17 saves for the Cubs in 2024, but had an ugly 6.75 ERA last year in 35 games. Despite that, he had a very high strikeout rate, so the Royals will bring the 36-year-old right-hander in to see if he has anything left in the tank. Neris has been plagued by control issues the last few years, but he does miss bats with a solid splitter that opponents had a 36 percent whiff rate against last year.
Long shots
Eric Cerantola is on the 40-man roster, which could give him a leg up, and he did have an intriguing strikeout rate of 11.6 per-nine-innings in Triple-A Omaha last year. He also missed six weeks with injury and had mixed results overall with a 4.04 ERA and a high walk rate. He will be pitching with Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, which could hurt his chances of making the team, but realistically, his hope is to pitch well in Omaha and become a factor in the pen later this year.
Helcris Olivárez is a 25-year-old the Royals signed in the offseason who has pitched in the Rockies, Red Sox, and Giants organizations, but has yet to make his MLB debut. He’s a lefty who throws in the mid-90s and held opposing lefties to a .136 batting average in the minors last year. He’s almost certainly ticketed to Omaha, but lefties are always needed and it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see him in Kansas City at some point.
Aaron Sanchez faced the Royals in the 2015 ALCS as a member of the Blue Jays and was an All-Star the following year, but has not pitched in the big leagues since 2022. Right shoulder injuries have kept him out of action, and he did not even pitch in the minors last year, but he impressed scouts with his performance in the Dominican Winter League over the offseason, winning Pitcher of the Year honors. A former starter, Sanchez seems likely to be used as a reliever at this point in his career, but he will need to show he can stay healthy and induce groundballs the way he did a decade ago.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 17: Jack Leiter #22 of the Texas Rangers poses for a portrait during photo day at Surprise Stadium on February 17, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Should we start doing the lineup posts at this point in camp? Sure, why not…
The lineup:
Haggerty — CF
Jansen — C
Duran — 3B
Foscue — 1B
Canha — RF
Wade — SS
Cauley — 2B
Herrera — DH
Velazquez — LF
Jack Leiter is on the mound for Texas. 2:10 p.m. Central start time.
Sep 17, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44, left), Cincinnati Reds first baseman Spencer Steer (7, center), and Cincinnati Reds third baseman Sal Stewart (43) walk back to the dugout after Steer hit a three-rin home run in the fourth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Vizer-Imagn Images | Tim Vizer-Imagn Images
Back in the go-go dinger days of 2019, Eugenio Suárez socked nearly as many home runs (49) as he blew gum bubbles, a number he matched in a 2025 season split between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners.
So, if you ponder the question of who leads the 2026 Reds in dingers, it’s easy to simply point at Geno.
Is it really that simple, though?
Geno’s now 34 years old, and he’ll hit 35 in July of this year. On top of that, sandwiched in between his seasons with 49 bombs are single-season totals of 31, 31, 22, and 30, so it’s not as if he’s reached those lofty numbers each and every season.
Yes, he’s now calling Great American Ball Park home after spending far too much time in Seattle, where right-handed power hitting goes to die. Yes, he’s on a one-year ‘prove it’ contract for 2026 after nobody presumably offered him a long-term deal of enough value for him and his agent, and that may prompt him to go nuts again offensively in a contract year.
But is it really too outlandish to suggest that maybe, just maybe, someone else on this team finishes 2026 with more homers than Suárez? Someone like, say, Elly De La Cruz?
If Geno ‘slips’ back to only hitting ~30 homers in 2026, is it out of the question that a healthily-shouldered Spencer Steer could flirt with 30 after topping 20 in each of the last trio of seasons?
JJ Bleday once swatted 20 homers for the Oakland A’s! Noelvi Marte’s power has long been hyped as potentially plus…could 2026 be the year he finally puts it all together?
Lest we forget Sal Stewart, who led the 2025 Reds in homers after his call-up in September. He’s one of the most advanced hitters the Reds have seen as a rookie in a generation, and scouts have long said his raw power was ahead of his in-game power…at least until it showed up in-game at the end of last season. Might he step right in to the Cincinnati lineup on Opening Day and become the thumper this lineup has missed for years?
Who do you think leads this club in dingers in ‘26?
Nov 3, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; A fan reacts in the second half between the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Some fans choose their team, and some fans are chosen by their team. Which was it for you? Today, we want to hear your story from you: How you became a fan of the Arizona Cardinals.
When did you first become a fan? Were you born into it? Was there a specific game or season that pulled you in? What’s the earliest moment you remember as a fan?
For me, I have told the story quite often, but my dad was born and raised in Arizona, so when they got an NFL team for the first time when I was just three, he was immediately a fan.
He hated the Cowboys even growing up here and getting the games every week, but as soon as the Cardinals were in Arizona, it was all Cardinals.
What a curse it has been, but the suffering makes you stronger as a fan.
Jeff Kent still hasn’t gotten over Alex Rodriguez’s cheap shot.
Kent, who was recently inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame, was a guest on the KNBR broadcast during Sunday’s spring training game between the Giants and Cardinals.
One announcer brought up Rodriguez’s hard slide into second base in 1998 that caused Kent to miss a month with an injury. Kent didn’t hold back when discussing his feelings.
Jeff Kent spent 17 seasons in MLB across stints with six different teams, the most of which came with the Giants. AP
“He tore my knee up. He slid and rolled his fat ass past the base, the son of a bitch, and put me out for a little while. I was not happy about that,” Kent said of the play, which came when he was a member of the Giants, and Rodriguez was on the Mariners.
“He was a middle infielder, and we were beating them up pretty good. He didn’t need to be doing that.”
Kent continued, diving into his mantra as a second baseman back in his playing days.
“I would literally throw the ball between their eyes. If they came in and they weren’t ducking down, I was throwing the ball right between their eyes. They better get down,” Kent said.
At the time of his injury, Kent had started the year hot. In eight games, he was hitting .448 with two home runs and 13 RBIs.
In 17 MLB seasons, mostly spent with the Giants and Mets, Kent finished with a .290/.356/.500 slash line with 377 home runs. He also made five All-Star appearances and won the MVP award in 2000 when he hit .334 with 33 homers.
Jeff Kent received two more votes than he needed to make the MLB Hall of Fame in December. AP
He’s remembered as one of the best power-hitting second basemen of all time; Kent’s 351 homers at the position are the most in baseball history.
Kent was voted into the Hall of Fame by the contemporary era committee in December, receiving 14 of 16 votes. He’ll be inducted into Cooperstown on July 26 alongside Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones, who were chosen by the BBWAA.
Despite a Hall of Fame resume, Rodriguez received just 40 percent of the votes (well below the 75 needed) to get inducted into Cooperstown. Rodriguez was one of the faces of the PED era and was suspended for the entire 2014 season due to his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal.
Alex Rodriguez at Yankees’ Old-Timer’s Day in 2024. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
"He tore my knee up. He slid and rolled his fat ass past the base, the son of a bitch."
Jeff Kent was asked about the knee sprain he got when Alex Rodriguez slid into him in 1998 pic.twitter.com/gjmmB3VO02
“I hugged my wife after the phone call had come in, and I told her that a lot of the game had come rushing back to me at that moment,” Kent said. “It reminds me of the ‘no crying in baseball.’ Well, I was bawling when I left the game because all that emotion just overcomes you.”
But before his official induction, Kent was in the headlines for a different reason Sunday.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 14: Designated hitter Shotaro Morii #18 of The Athletics hits during the 9th inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the San Diego Pares at Peoria Stadium on March 14, 2025 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
*In an effort to make the nomination voting easier for everyone, I will comment, “NOMINATIONS”, and you may reply to that with your picks and upvote the player you’d like to see on the next nominee list.
We got an interesting player as this round’s winner. Two-way prospect Shotaro Morii gets on the list at #18. A right-handed pitcher and a shortstop, Morii is the exact definition of a work in progress as he’s just 19-year-old and only played at Rookie level this past year. While he didn’t get on the mound in his first professional season it looks like that’s going to change this coming season as the A’s determine whether or not he’s really going to be able to thrive while playing on both sides of the ball.
The next nominee is a recent addition. In exchange for former Rule 5 pick Mitch Spence, the A’s acquired right-hander A.J. Causey from the Kansas City Royals and he’s been selected as the next name on the list. Causey actually made it into yesterday’s game but things didn’t go well in his first action in the Green & Gold. Still, the righty possesses some potential as a late-game relief option down the line and displayed that in his first professional season this past year. Using a deceptive delivery to boost his arsenal of pitches, Causey has already made it and thrived at Double-A and like many other prospects on our list could be an option as soon as this season.
The process for this public vote is explained below. Please take a moment to read this before participating:
Please only vote for one. The player with the most votes at the end of voting will win the ranked spot. The remaining four players move on to the next ballot where they are joined by a new nominee.
In the comments, below the official voting, the community will nominate players to be put onto the ballot for the next round. The format for your comment should be “Nomination: Player Name”.
If a prospect is traded, his name will be crossed out, and all other players will be moved up a space. If a prospect is acquired, a special vote will be put up to determine where that player should rank.
The voting continues! Who is the 18th-best prospect in the A’s system? Here’s a quick rundown on each nominee— the scouting grades (on a 20-to-80 scale) and scouting reports come from MLB Pipeline.
Morris runs up his four-seam fastball to about 95-96 mph and also throws a sinker with good arm-side run in the 92-95 range. His mid-80s slider has developed into an above-average secondary offering. His mid-70s curveball provides a good variation of pitch speeds, though he is still working to make it a more consistent pitch, along with his improving upper-80s changeup.
Morris is athletic with his 6-foot-3 frame. His competitive drive stands out whenever he takes the mound. Discovering the right arm slot that allows for the most consistency is the next big step in his development. How that pans out as he moves through the system will likely determine his long-term role, though he profiles as a back-end starter given his overall pitch mix and solid control.
Causey thrives with a fastball that hovers around 90 mph, but that’s because he has a funky sidearm delivery that helps him get crazy movement and deception with his arsenal. Causey excelled in his first full pro season, posting a 1.72 ERA across High-A Quad Cities and Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He’s a fast mover with a different look that could add to the Royals’ bullpen in the coming years.
Causey began the year with a sinker, changeup and sweeper, but he added a four-seam fastball this season to help him at the top of the zone. After years of working on adding a cutter, Causey finally found something that works with the four-seamer.
Per Billy Owens, Athletics director of player personnel and assistant GM: “Perez is a live-bodied specimen with high-caliber tools. His range and athleticism stand out defensively. Offensively, he can be streaky, but he has displayed plus bat speed, patience and real power. Solid package. Development is not linear. Patience will be required to realize his significant potential.”
Kuroda-Grauer’s athletic size and hard-working mentality remind some in the A’s organization of a young Marcus Semien. While he may never have Semien-type power, his high-level ability to frequently make contact and rarely strike out is reminiscent of another more high-profile touted top prospect in Jacob Wilson. His advanced approach at the plate allows him to work counts and make good decisions with his simple swing. The power remains below-average, though the A’s believe he could grow into some extra pop with 15-homer potential as a ceiling.
There is a speed element to Kuroda-Grauer’s game, and while he may not be a burner, his 40 stolen bases in college show he can be a decent threat on the basepaths. Defensively, his arm is average, but his overall glovework and instincts give him the chance to stick as a shortstop with second base as a fallback. Between that and his excellent bat-to-ball skills, Kuroda-Grauer enters his first full professional season with a chance to quickly rise through the system.
Tur is 26 but only signed with the A’s before the 2023 season after several seasons pitching in the Serie Nacional in Cuba. He started almost all of last year, going from High A to Triple A, although I think he’s a straight reliever. He comes straight over the top, sitting 96 with some ride along with a 55 splitter and a low-90s cutter that doesn’t miss many bats. The slider is fringy and he’s very north-south because of the arm slot. He could pitch in the big-league bullpen right now.
* * *
Programming Note: Each CPL vote will run for around 48 hours, so don’t delay in making your vote!
Spring is in the air... as long as you're in Florida or Arizona, anyway.
With Spring Training still ramping up, we're looking at a trio of plus-money moneyline predictions from today's schedule, including the Philadelphia Phillies in the day's closer.
Read on for my Spring Training MLB picks on Monday, February 23.
Spring Training predictions for February 23
Picks
Mariners moneyline
+102
Athletics moneyline
+140
Phillies moneyline
+120
Pick #1: Mariners moneyline
+102 at DraftKings
Logan Gilbert is among baseball's top arms, and the Seattle Mariners right-hander makes his spring debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers today.
That's a tough sell, but it's why we're getting a good number on Seattle. With Landon Knack on the bump for L.A., I'll go with the better starter.
Plus, the Mariners boasted a better bullpen in 2025, and I'll take that edge if Gilbert can leave with the lead intact.
Pick #2: A's moneyline
+140 at DraftKings
I generally prefer the A's lineup to the San Francisco Giants. So, getting plus money against right-hander JT Brubaker is a boon.
Obviously, it depends on the respective lineups, but if we get Lawrence Butler, Nick Kurtz, Tyler Soderstrom, Brent Rooker, and Shea Langeliers — even if only for an inning or two — that could be enough.
The 28-year-old made his MLB debut in 2025 as a reliever, which explains why the Nats are favored. But Irvin was one of baseball's least effective starters last summer, boasting a 5.70 ERA across 33 starts.
While both teams will go to the pen relatively early, I won't be surprised if Philly's bats jump on the right-hander out of the gate.
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