CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 13, 2026: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles bats during the third inning of a spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark on March 13, 2026 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
For the last four seasons, the story of the Most Valuable Oriole has largely told the story of the Orioles’ entire season. In 2022, a rookie Adley Rutschman took home MVO honors after debuting in May and rallying the O’s to a 67-55 record over the last four months of the season. Another rookie took home the award in 2023, as Gunnar Henderson earned ROY and MVO as the Orioles captured the AL East crown.
Henderson was a back-to-back winner in 2024, as the Orioles’ Country Boy posted the best season in franchise history by WAR (9.1) by anyone other than Cal Ripken Jr. Trevor Rogers denied Gunnar the three-peat last year, as the lefty overcame an early-season injury to post one of the best 18-start stretches in Orioles’ history.
The Orioles will need a concerted effort from the entire 26-man roster if Baltimore is going to reverse its fortunes and return to the playoffs in 2026. But after disappointing seasons from many star players in 2025, the O’s will need their stars to lead from the front of the lineup or rotation if they want to reverse their fortunes in the new season. With that in mind, let’s give sportsbook-style odds for which players are most likely to add their name to the pantheon of Most Valuable Orioles winners.
*Disclaimer: These are not real betting odds. I set these odds myself. Do not actually try and bet them.*
The favorite: Pete Alonso
Beers Sportsbook Betting Odds: -150
Gunnar Henderson has been the Orioles’ best player for some time now, both in terms of on-field production and national recognition. After rising to the No. 10 player in all of baseball on the heels of a record-setting season in 2024, Henderson has slipped to No. 26 in MLB.com’s latest Top 100 Players of Right Now due to a down 2025. That’s still the best ranking of any Oriole, but right behind him at No. 33 is major offseason signing Pete Alonso.
What is often the separator in “Most Valuable” conversations is not solely a player’s stats, but the narrative attached to their season. If the Orioles are going to reach their full potential in 2026, the offense will have to lead the way. Before injuries to Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday, many projection models had the O’s lineup as the best in the American League. Last year, the O’s finished near the bottom of the league in runs scored and toward the middle of the pack in home runs. Alonso will look to help the O’s match or better their 2024 form when they finish Top 5 in both runs and home runs.
Given his track record as a five-time All-Star and perennial 40+ HR hitter, I’m sure a lot of credit will be given to Alonso if the O’s reach their full offensive potential. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t expect big things from Henderson, Rutschman, Taylor Ward, Samuel Basallo and others. However, Alonso is the leader this team will be looking to throughout the season, and the player MVO voters will look to if he leads an offensive revolution.
The leading competition
Trevor Rogers or Kyle Bradish
Beers Sportsbrook Betting Odds: +150
The Orioles’ rotation is full of talent, but also full of uncertainty. The additions of Shane Baz and Chris Bassitt, and the re-signing of Zach Eflin, have made the Orioles’ rotation deeper. And yet, this rotation still lacks a fully-proven, front-line starter. That is, unless Rogers or Bradish prove their best seasons were not one-offs.
When Rogers took home the award last year, a big part of his value came from the unexpected nature of his breakout season. Coming into last season, Rogers wasn’t projected to make the rotation and his only previous experience with the O’s was a disastrous four-start stint after being acquired at the 2024 trade deadline. The southpaw only got a chance last season because Baltimore needed a second starter for a doubleheader in Boston.
What ensued from there was a stretch that put Rogers’ name next to the likes of Jim Palmer and Mike Mussina when it comes to best single-season pitching runs in Orioles history. Rogers’ MVO win last year made him the first pitcher to win the award since closer Randy Myers in 1997, and the first starter since Mike Cuellar in 1974.
Both Rogers and Bradish come into this season with plenty of expectations. The 28-year-old southpaw will get the Opening Day nod, looking to build on his Top 10 Cy Young finish from last year. Bradish slots into the No. 2 spot in the rotation and looks to prove that his dominant 2023 season and spectacular cameo last September are what we should expect going forward. If either can live up to the lofty expectations and put a stranglehold on the ace role, it could be enough to beat out Alonso and the rest of the offense for MVO.
Gunnar Henderson
Beers Sportsbook Betting Odds: +200
In Henderson’s MVP-level season, he put up a 9.1 bWAR while hitting 37 HRs, collecting 92 RBIs, 31 doubles, 21 stolen bases and 118 runs. The majority of that production came with Henderson as the Orioles’ leadoff hitter. Indications from Sarasota are that new manager Craig Albernaz will put the star SS back in the leadoff role after spending most of last year as the No. 3 hitter.
If the return to the top spot in the lineup brings out the best in Baltimore’s best player, his all-around contributions will make it near impossible for any other Orioles to outpace him in the MVO race. Henderson may also be coming into this season with a chip on his shoulder after having to fight for his spot in Team USA’s World Baseball Classic lineup. And a Gunnar Henderson that’s both pissed off and back in his best spot in the order, that’s an MVO waiting to happen.
The dark horse
Coby Mayo
Beers Sportsbook Betting Odds: +1000
Pretty much everything about Coby Mayo is up in the air as we head toward Opening Day. Has he shown enough defensively in the spring to lock down the starting spot at 3B? Once Jackson Holliday and (maybe) Jordan Westburg get healthy, can he keep his spot in the lineup? Will he get any playing time at 1B or DH with Alonso, Basallo and Ryan Mountcastle all competing for ABs at those spots?
The one thing that becomes less of a question every day is Mayo’s bat. He’s gone 13-for-26 in Grapefruit League play while posting a 1.195 OPS, a team-high 10 RBIs and one absolute moonshot. With his spring training performance and his .941 OPS last September, there’s growing reason to believe that the 24-year-old is starting to make good on his offensive upside. If he can break out like Gunnar did in his second full season, we could see Mayo have a 2021 Cedric Mullins run to an unlikely MVO win.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 20: Trea Turner #7, Alec Bohm #28, Bryce Harper #3, and Bryson Stott #5 of the Philadelphia Phillies look on against the Seattle Mariners at Citizens Bank Park on August 20, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Mariners 11-2. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Good Phight will be previewing the 2026 season by going over each position on the field. We’ll talk about the players that will occupy them, the played behind them, their strengths and weaknesses and give a few takes about how we think the season will shake out.
After the dust settled on the offseason roster churn, the Phillies ended up standing pat with the same starting corps of infielders that they rolled out last year. Along with the re-signings of Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto, this decision to “run it back” again has a significant portion of the fanbase calling for Dave Dombrowski’s seat warmer to be turned up to 11. While it maybe doesn’t carry the same excitement as months of prognosticating how a new dynamic might have performed, it does leave the team with a veteran, battle-tested crew that has won over 90 games in each of the past three campaigns.
The starters: Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm, Trea Turner
Maybe the most infamous controversy surrounding the team this offseason was Dombrowski’s commentary on Harper’s 2025 performance and whether it deserves his being regarded as an “elite” player going forward. Dombrowski since walked it back a bit but Harper took notice and by all appearances looks motivated to prove that he is deserving of that status. Harper started the spring hot with three extra-base hits in four games before departing the club for the World Baseball Classic as part of Team USA. He hasn’t made the impact he or his country would like to have seen, with one more chance for “The Showman” to emerge in tonight’s championship game.
Stott will maintain his role as the team’s everyday second baseman for the fourth straight season. His production early in the season (.233/.305/.340 through July 31st) suffered from a failed experiment as the leadoff hitter, but from August 1st onward he slashed .310/.377/.503. In his 207 plate appearances in the leadoff spot and a few games hitting fifth and sixth, he went .212/.257/.295, while in his 353 PAs batting in the 7-9 spots he slashed .284/.369/.451. Stott, along with most of humanity, will never be the offensive threat at second base that was Chase Utley, but at the back of a deep order, he is capable of keeping the train running while providing consistently elite defense.
Hopefully Nick Castellanos burned his hairshirt before he left for San Diego, but if he gifted it to anyone, it could be Bohm. He seems poised to be the most likely player to draw the fans’ ire should his production not meet expectations, which might be fair when he’s being counted on by the organization to be one of the primary run-producers in the middle of the lineup. 2025 will be remembered as a down season for Bohm, but he still hit .287 and is a year removed from slugging 44 doubles and driving home 97 runs, so it’s not outlandish to think he can be a driving force for this offense.
The reigning NL batting champion is your plug-and-play everyday shortstop, as Turner had his best season in red pinstripes in 2025 and was the team’s most consistent hitter from start to finish. He will be turning 33 midway through the season and already provides middle of the road defense at a physically demanding position, so it will bear watching whether he can continue to stay at shortstop long term or if a contingency needs to be mapped out for the future.
The backups: Edmundo Sosa, Otto Kemp, Dylan Moore
Sosa will be the primary backup again at the middle infield spots, providing above-average defense at both spots as well as a live bat with underrated pop that also gives lineup flexibility as he hits from the opposite side of the plate as Stott and is especially successful against left-handed pitching.
Kemp and Moore seem destined to carry a lot of the same responsibilities in the field, each having recent experience at every infield position besides shortstop as well as left field. Kemp bats right and Moore left, so a lot of their playing time will come down to matchups and who’s hot.
The depth: Liover Peguero, Jose Rodriguez, Christian Cairo, Aidan Miller, Felix Reyes
Of the non-roster invitees projected to end up in Lehigh Valley or Reading, Peguero has the most MLB experience, 106 games over the last four seasons all with the Pirates. Rodriguez had a cup of coffee with the White Sox in 2023 and has experience at both middle infield spots. Cairo has seen more versatile usage in his journey through the minors, but the Phillies have been looking at him mostly at first and second. Anything these guys provide at the plate would be a bonus, but solid if unspectacular defense up the middle is all you should hope for if any short-term injuries befall Turner, Stott or Sosa.
Miller remains the gem of the farm system but a nagging lower back injury has kept him out of game action so far this spring. Barring a significant injury to one of the starters or a doomsday scenario where the team is out of contention early, expect Miller to see most of his action in the minors this year.
Reyes has gotten a lot of time at the corner outfield spots in the last two years, but corner infield depth is an organizational weakness. With Harper away, the organization has gotten a long look at Reyes at first base and he’s making the most of it, leading the team in RBI and tied for the lead in home runs.
Strengths: Continuity
This will be the third straight season all four infield spots have the same starters penciled in from day one. That sort of continuity begets chemistry and familiarity in vital places on the ball field. Each of these starters has a well-defined role carved out in the lineup and there is no uncertainty about the type and level of production the team expects from them. From a human standpoint, they are a close-knit group of leaders in the clubhouse that want to win for one another, which has to count for something.
Weaknesses: Continuity
At the beginning of the offseason, the possibilities seemed endless at what this group would look like this year. Bohm and Stott were the subjects of trade rumors. The Phillies were tied to Ketel Marte as a trade target and Alex Bregman as a free agent acquisition. They had a deal in place with Bo Bichette before he chose violence and went to Queens. After all of that commotion, the same four guys that couldn’t get this team over the hump in the playoffs are back and they’re all a year older.
Hottest take: Bohm makes the All Star Game
Bohm will build on his hot start to spring and play himself into the conversation as one of the top offensive third basemen in the NL with a stellar first half and the numbers will be too potent for voters to deny.
Realistic take: Turner and Harper make the All Star Game
With Citizens Bank Park hosting the midsummer classic, the fans will be stuffing the ballot boxes. Turner and Harper should get their fair share of votes league-wide anyway.
The most stable unit in the team may also be its most crucial for short-term and long-term prosperity. If the Phillies win 90 games and enjoy a playoff run, these guys will have played a huge part. If they don’t, this will be the first place everyone points a finger and demands be torn down. No pressure.
I’ll make this one fairly short because I know most of you were watching Venezuela’s 4-2 win over Italy in the WBC semifinal, closed out by Cubs closer Daniel Palencia. (I was watching it, too!)
While that was going on, Cubs right-hander Cade Horton was mowing down Guardians hitters. Horton struck out 10 in five solid innings of work, half of the 20 hitters he faced. Horton allowed three hits and one run and the Cubs defeated the Guardians 5-2.
But the story of the game was Horton, who was dominant. He threw 72 pitches (50 strikes), efficient for five innings. Here’s more on Horton’s outing [VIDEO].
It’s Spring Training and only about half of Cleveland’s regulars were in the lineup. But this sort of dominant outing from Horton is what we became used to last year, and hopefully is a sign of a great year to come for the right-hander. All 10 of the K’s were swinging and Horton mixed up the strikeout pitches, some on four-seamers, some on changeups, some on curveballs. Good stuff.
Unusually, the Cubs used just two pitchers in this game. The other was Colin Rea, who relieved Horton and threw four innings, allowing two hits and one run (a two-out homer in the ninth). He walked two and struck out four, throwing 58 pitches (34 strikes). That should get him good and stretched out for long relief.
The Cubs will play another evening contest Tuesday. It starts one hour after the WBC championship game. So … I’ll have game threads here for both, but I’m pretty sure not many of you will be paying attention to the Cubs game, especially since there’s no TV. The Angels visit Sloan Park for Tuesday’s night game, scheduled for 8:05 p.m. CT. Shōta Imanaga will start for the Cubs and Mitch Farris goes for the Angels. As noted, no TV for the Cubs game, there will be a radio broadcast on the Angels flagship station, KLAA 830.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Roman Anthony #3 of Team United States runs around the bases after hitting a solo home run against Team Dominican Republic during the fourth inning at loanDepot park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hello and happy Tuesday, folks. Happy World Baseball Classic title game day, too!
Team USA will be going for their second WBC title in Miami this evening, while Venezuela is trying to become the fourth nation to win the tournament. It’s the culmination of what’s been a fantastic few days of baseball (well not if you appreciate the established parameters of the lower half of the strike zone in the ninth inning), a perfect way to lead us right into the MLB season.
So, simply put: who ya got tonight? I think it’s gonna be the Stars and Stripes at the end of the night, but who can say for sure? Especially when you consider that Nolan McLean is getting the ball again after his rough opening start against Italy in pool play, anything could happen.
No matter what happens, though, let’s just hope that Roman Anthony keeps on cookin’. Lets’ keep our boys healthy and let’s get ready to have a great 2026, huh?
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 5: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with Drake Baldwin #30 after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Truist Park on June 5, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Once again, Monday was a reminder that many parts of the Braves offense have been on fire so far this Spring. Drake Baldwin had another outstanding showing in the Braves Spring Training Victory over the Rays. Ronald Acuna Jr. was a big reason as to why team Venezuela will be facing Team USA in the WBC Finals. This could potentially be the first two hitters in the Braves lineup, but regardless of where they hit, could also be two of the biggest reasons the Braves find their way back to winning at the level they want.
SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory! Drop in SB Nation’s March Madness Feed all week long and we’ll have both on hand! (All times ET)
On this day 51 years ago, Cy Acosta’s extraordinary White Sox career came to an end. | Topps
1901 The White Sox (and their American League counterparts), busy raiding National League teams to bolster talent for their first season in the majors, suffered a rare setback by losing their player-manager, second baseman Dick Padden. Padden cut against the trend lines and joined the NL’s St. Louis Cardinals, making him one of a handful of players whose only White Sox experience came in 1900, the one season in team history when the club was in the minor leagues.
Of course, it’s like Padden had seen the writing on the wall, as Clark Griffith had jumped from the NL to the AL to become the White Sox pitching ace and manager.
1903 The White Sox left for what would become a disastrous Spring Training in New Orleans. Two straight weeks of rain would permit just two games to be played. The club would break for home early, yet still encounter some rain on the way back north.
1910 Construction begins at 35th & Shields on the stadium that would eventually be called Comiskey Park. Architect Zachary Taylor Davis laid a lucky green foundation brick to set off the festivities.
The ballpark would be completed by late June, and officially open on July 1 with a 2-0 loss to the St. Louis Browns.
Think about that one: a new, steel stadium in a little more than three-and-a-half months!
1923 Appropriate for an Irishman, White Sox slugger Pat Seerey is born on St. Patrick’s Day in Wilburton, Okla. The 5´10´´, 200-pound slugger was dubbed “Fat Pat” and served as a precursor to a three-outcomes players like Rob Deer or even Adam Dunn.
Though his seven-year career was largely undistinguished, Seerey had a memorable four-homer game for the White Sox on July 18, 1948, just six weeks after being acquired from Cleveland. Seerey became just the fifth player in major league history to accomplish the feat. He finished the 1948 season with 18 homers for the White Sox in 95 games, but would see action in just four more MLB games after that.
1975 Reliever Cy Acosta was sold to the Phillies. He would appear in just six games for Philadelphia, in what would end up as his final season in the big leagues.
That said, Acosta had authored a breathtakingly-good season for the White Sox in 1973, his sole full, healthy season in the majors. Over 48 games, Acosta threw 97 innings and held batters to 66 hits. The native of Mexico had 18 saves and 10 wins, all adding up to 4.1 WAR — tied for the seventh-best reliever season in White Sox history.
Acosta returned to the Mexican League in 1976, and he remained active there (as a starting pitcher) as late as 1984, his age-37 season.
2012 Carlos Quentin receives his MRI results for a knee injury and will undergo surgery. The good news? This injury, for once, does not affect the White Sox, as Quentin had been traded on New Year’s Eve to the San Diego Padres. The deal, a modern-day salary dump, as the White Sox dealt the defensively-limited and oft-injured slugger for two pitchers who would end up only appearing in five total games for the White Sox.
Quentin would recover well enough to produce 1.6 WAR in half a season, and then put up 2.1 WAR for the Padres in 2013. But from there, his career was toast.
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - FEBRUARY 19: Drew Rasmussen #57 of the Tampa Bay Rays poses for a photo during the Tampa Bay Rays photo day at Charlotte Sports Park on Thursday, February 19, 2026 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Opening Day is right around the corner the Tampa Bay Rays starting rotation plans have been made official.
We already knew that Drew Rasmussen had been selected as the team’s Opening Day starter but we now know how the rest of the starting rotation will fill out.
Here is the Rays plan every five days
Drew Rasmussen
Nick Martinez
Steven Matz
Ryan Pepiot
Shane McClanahan
Drew Rasmussen will serve as the team’s ace while newcomers Nick Martinez and Steven Matz file in behind him. Ryan Pepiot will be counted upon to be a workhorse in the rotation early on in the season as both Steven Matz and Shane McClanahan will have their innings limited with Matz transitioning back into a starters role and McClanahan returing from injury.
With the way the schedule works out, this line up Shane McClanahan to be the starting pitcher when the Rays make their highly anticipated return to Tropicana Field on April 6th when they’ll take on the Chicago Cubs. It will be McClanahan’s first time pitching at Tropicana Field since July 22nd, 2023; only three players to suit up for the Rays that day remain with the team, Yandy Diaz, Kevin Kelly, and McClanahan.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 10: Nolan McLean #26 of Team United States warms up before a World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Italy and the United States at Daikin Park on March 10, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets fell to the Nationals 12-6 as Washington erupted for six runs in the ninth to break a 6-6 tie. David Peterson allowed four runs in his four innings of work, while Christian Scott took the loss after allowing three earned runs in three-plus innings. Carson Benge went 2-for-2, Ronny Mauricio went 2-for-4, and Francisco Alvarez went 1-for-3, while Mark Vientos struggled, taking an 0-for in his four at-bats.
Huascar Brazoban returned from the WBC and will be part of the team’s bullpen on Opening Day so long as he remains healthy to close out the spring.
Tim Britton made the case for Benge to start on Opening Day in the latest edition of “This Week in Mets”.
Britton and Will Sammon shared some notes on the final spot in the team’s bullpen, their fascination with the cutter, and more.
As Benge competes for a spot on the team, his goal is to help the team win any way that he can.
Nolan McLean will start tonight’s championship game for Team USA, and he confidently exclaimed, ‘I’m built for this’ as he looks to fulfill his patriotic duty and delivery a win for Team USA.
All signs point to McLean being ready for his big moment on the big stage tonight.
Carlos Mendoza has mixed feelings about McLean starting tonight’s WBC final.
Needless to say, Juan Soto was not happy with how the WBC ended for the Dominican Republic.
Vientos struggled again last night, but Mendoza had a simple message for him: “You’re on the team. You’re not trying to make a team here.”
Phillies’ outfielder Johan Rojas tested positive for Boldenone, resulting in an 80-game suspension. He became the third player from Philadelphia’s 2025 roster to receive a suspension for performance enhancing drugs.
Braves’ star Ronald Acuña Jr. is making up for a lost World Series with this year’s World Baseball Classic participation.
Christina De Nicola discussed who might grab the final spots on the Marlins’ roster ahead of Opening Day.
Around Major League Baseball
Venezuela put up a three-spot in the seventh inning to rally past Italy and advance to the WBC final against the United States.
Amid the turmoil back home, Team Venezuela is savoring their WBC moment.
Eduardo Rodriguez will start for Venezuela in tonight’s game.
USA’s stars are finding criticism of their play in the 2026 WBC ‘hilarious’.
David Bednar is likely unavailable to pitch tonight for Team USA, but Mason Miller may be an option out of the pen out of closing the team’s semifinal win against the Dominican Republic.
David “Captain America” Wright hit a walk-off, two-run single to lift the United States over Puerto Rico in the WBC quarterfinals on this date in 2009.
The baseball world is in the throes of the World Baseball Classic, with the final game Tuesday night featuring Team USA against. Will Smith is the only Dodger still playing in the WBC.
Samuri Japan was eliminated Saturday by Venezuela and as such, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani are back in Arizona. While neither is happy with how their WBC run ended, their eyes are now on getting the Dodgers that Three-Peat.
On Monday, Yamamoto was named the Opening Day starter. Eric Stephen covered that story here.
As for Ohtani, he did not pitch in the WBC, but he did throw bullpens. His most recent was a four-inning outing last Thursday. Since the assumption was that Samurai Japan was going to go all the way to the finals in the WBC, there wasn’t much of an expectation that Ohtani would pitch in Spring Training this year. Now, Ohtani will have time to take the mound at least once before the season starts.
Ohtani could pitch later this week in Arizona, or be kept until the Freeway Series starting on Sunday. Sonya Chen covers all the details for MLB.com.
Shohei expressed his regrets for what he referred to as his “shortcomings” in the WBC. As Chuck Schilken of the L.A. Times notes, one wonders what those shortcomings might be as Ohtani had a better WBC this year than he did when he was the MVP in 2023. Dodger fans hope that Ohtani continues to make up for those perceived flaws throughout the 2026 season.
The Ontario Tower Buzzers are the newest addition to the Dodgers family, starting their first season as the Dodgers’ Low-A farm club on April 2nd. While stating that the Tower Buzzers have hit the mark in every other facet of their digs, Jim Alexander of the OC Register posits that they have missed the spot on one area – having nothing named after Don Drysdale, who was so good at ‘buzzing the tower’ of opposing batters.
The Dodgers have signed an agreement with Uniqlo that will give them naming rights to the field at Dodger Stadium. For those of you who are also not cool like me, Uniqlo is a Japanese clothing company. Anthony Soloranzo covers more of the details of the deal here. I don’t know about you, but if the team is selling rights to iconic things like the field at Dodger Stadium, they can wear those beautiful blue spring training jerseys a couple games a year.
Build Your Winning Bracket!
SB Nation’s CBB expert Mike Rutherford and resident bracketologist Chris Dobbertean will answer all your questions this week and help guide you to bracket glory! Drop in SB Nation’s March Madness Feed all week long and we’ll have both on hand! (All times ET)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 16: Maikel Garcia #11 of Team Venezuela celebrates after an RBI single in the seventh inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Semifinals between Italy and Venezuela at loanDepot park on March 16, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gene Wang - Capture At Media/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Vinnie Pasquantino incorrectly noted which teams were in the WBC final four and apologized. Oops. It’s ok – he’s highly caffeinated and we all make mistakes when we’re W I R E D.
“It’s amazing,” Pasquantino said. “I don’t know how many people would’ve picked the Dominican Republic, Japan, the United States and Italy in the final four, but we’re here now, so we’re going to enjoy this for the probably next few hours. We’ve got a flight to catch. This is incredible, man.”
Pasquantino’s comments came hours before Venezuela advanced to the final four by defeating Japan.
The Royals Spring Breakout game will be televised on the Amazon MLB FAST channel on Friday.
Caglianone’s expected stats, which take quality of contact into account rather than the actual results, not only indicate he was much better than his OPS implies, they show he was one of the unluckiest hitters in the game.
In fact, he had MLB’s largest unlucky gap (the difference between his expected and actual production) in all three of these categories (minimum 100 PAs):
Colleran was the Royals’ 2024 seventh-round pick out of Northeastern and in his first year of professional ball in 2025, he went from Low A to High A and even pitched in one game at Double A, going a combined 9-0 with a 2.85 ERA in 66 1/3 innings with 72 strikeouts. He was so dominant that he represented the Royals in the Arizona Fall League, where he posted an impressive 1.17 ERA over seven relief appearances. He’s on a fast track to the majors and I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes his major-league debut sometime this year once his slider becomes more consistent and he throws more strikes.
Matt Quatraro, manager: “Dennis has been absolutely electric. He has an upper-90s fastball coming out of a low arm slot with an emerging slider. Hitters have really had uncomfortable at-bats against him.”
Verdict: Real. Witt had 32 home runs in 2024 before dropping to 23 in 2025, so we know there’s 30-homer power here — and maybe closer to 40 with the new ballpark dimensions. He’s entering his age-26 season, a common age for a player’s best season. Add 20 points or so back to his batting average, and reaching 92 extra-base hits is in play.
Last season, the Royals opted to let Massey be the everyday second baseman, and India rotated as a utility guy in left field and at third base at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, the move was disastrous for India, especially on defense. India posted a -5 FRV in 3B, and that poor defense carried to second base, as he posted a -4 FRV at the keystone. The poor defense seemed to have a mental impact on India’s bat, and he ended up having his worst season at the Major League level.
Quatraro is intent on India being their regular second baseman, with Massey mixing in here and there based on matchups. So far this spring, it seems like that has helped India be in a better headspace in 2026.
John Smoltz was his typical downer self about Paul Skenes on the broadcast for the WBC. Some unfortunate honesty in there, though I have no love for Smoltz as a commentator.
The Chiefs have their new interim starter/backup for when Patrick Mahomes comes back next season – it’s Justin Fields. CBS Sports has a grade for the trade.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 04: Ethan Holliday #18 of Team USA looks on during the 2026 World Baseball Classic exhibition game presented by Capital One between Team USA and Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Ethan Holliday (No. 2 PuRP) made his debut with the Colorado Rockies big league club on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs at Salt River Fields. The shortstop – who was drafted fourth-overall in the 2025 MLB Draft – played six innings and went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts at the plate, but also made a spectacular diving stop to nab first baseman Carson Kelly right before being lifted (the clip below doesn’t do it justice, but alas).
“It was a blessing to be out there with those guys,” Holliday said after the game. “I look forward to things like this in the spring. I was super fortunate to be able to go out there, enjoy some baseball and get better. It was fun.”
Holliday, of course, is the son of Rockies legend Matt Holliday and has grown up around the game. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s ready for MLB action quite yet. In 18 games with the Single-A Fresno Grizzlies in 2025, Holliday batted .239/.357/.380 with 14 runs scored, four doubles, two home runs and six RBI. He also walked 12 times (14.3%) and struck out 33 times (39.2%).
“You don’t really know how it feels until you experience it,” he said. “When you first get out there, the speed of the game gets on you a little bit, but take a deep breath and just remember you’re playing a game that you’ve always played, and it’s the same game you played back when you first started.”
He’s also taking camp one day at a time, “making adjustments, and [I] still have some time until the stats really matter.
“I’m just trying to improve my game every single day and trying to get my body healthy and get ready for it to be worked this season,” he continued. “And I’m just really trying to prepare for what’s ahead, but focus on the now and just try to improve every day.”
Holliday is in his first spring training, but it’s not his first experience with the Rockies – both from his dad’s time and his own short experience last summer after his draft. But he’s taking note of the new atmosphere surrounding camp.
“It’s been great [with] the new front office and a lot of new faces around here, even from when I was just here for the summer,” he said. “It’s been really cool to kind of get to know these people. And there’s a really cool buzz around this place right now, and it’s a super exciting time to be a Rockie and we’re in a really cool spot. So I’m super excited.”
In addition to his normal routines, Holliday has also been selected to represent the Rockies in the Spring Breakout game next weekend and was also selected to play for Team USA in their exhibition game against the Rockies on March 4.
“It was insane,” he said of the Team USA experience. “I walked out there and Clayton Kershaw was on the mound. You look around and you’ve got Hall of Famers all around you, and it’s an emotion you really aren’t ready for. But you get out there, and it was so much fun. I really enjoyed it, so it was a great experience.”
Even though he was surrounded by baseball giants, there was one player in particular he was excited to meet.
“Bryce Harper was pretty cool to meet,” Holliday said. “I’d heard a lot of things about him, and I’ve always looked up to him. I’ve always watched him since I was young, so it was really special to interact with him.”
But he added that, “all of the guys treated us like we were part of the team, so that really meant a lot.”
Finishing out the spring, Holliday said, “everyone’s goal is to get up to the big leagues fast and have success” but their timelines are out of their control.
“It’s one of those things where you work for it every day and you follow a process, but the answer people want is to get up there as fast as [they] can,” he said. “That’s what I want, so I’m going to work hard every single day and help the team win.”
“And I’ll be ready,” he continued. “When my time’s right, I’ll be ready.”
We always know that baseball is a family business a lot of the time, and Saturday was no different. Rockies bench coach Jeff Pickler served as the manager for one of the split squads, and his dad, Scott, served as his bench coach. It was a fun full-circle moment not only for the Picklers, but for many players and coaches who knew Scott from previous teams he coached them on.
Cade Horton looked damn good, throwing 10 Ks in five innings of work. The Cubs that were willing to ride the bus or unable not to did a good job, with Scott Kingery swatting a two-run homer and Matt Shaw making good contact. Brett Bateman made good contact as well, though his was against the center-field wall. Colin Rea also threw very well.
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RIP Tony Balsamo.
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SARASOTA, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Taylor Ward #3 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a home run during the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
My brain refuses to wrap itself around the fact of Taylor Ward being on the Orioles. I’m well aware that they traded for him since I wrote about that here on Camden Chat when it happened. It’s just not real yet. Spring training hasn’t done enough for the idea to sink in that the O’s have this guy – presumably an everyday corner outfielder – for the year.
Ward is coming off a 2025 season with the Angels where he socked a career-high 36 home runs. As we all remember quite well, the 2025 Orioles were lacking in home run threats in the lineup, with no one hitting more than 17 homers as an Oriole. Acquiring Ward was one part of Mike Elias’s plan to fix that. Maybe he’ll do something to make me happy to remember him as the season goes along.
Here’s how two of the big projection systems look at Ward for this season:
ZiPS (FanGraphs): .243/.328/.454 with 27 home runs, 2.7 WAR
PECOTA (Baseball Prospectus): .232/.317/.411 with 22 home runs, 2.4 WAR
We will all be hoping things turn out more like ZiPS for Ward than that PECOTA projection. If Ward hits only 22 home runs, not many people are going to fondly recall the trade, without even getting into what happens with Grayson Rodriguez in Los Angeles.
What do you expect from Ward this season? Do you think he’ll be bombing balls over Walltimore 2.0 for the year, or will he just be bombing his way out of the starting lineup?
Feb 25, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees infielder George Lombard Jr (96) hits a two-RBI double during the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
With the World Baseball Classic stealing the show this spring training, the spotlight in Yankees camp has turned to the team’s young prospects. Namely, manager Aaron Boone has been able to give plenty of looks to the up-and-coming trio of Jasson Domínguez, Spencer Jones, and George Lombard Jr. Lombard, who was named New York’s new top prospect for 2026 by MLB Pipeline, FanGraphs, and Baseball America, is gearing up for a vital season in his development — with eyes on becoming the next great Yankee shortstop in the next few years.
The precocious young infielder and son of a former big leaguer-turned-coach by the same name tore up the High-A South Atlantic League with the Renegades for 24 games to start the year before getting the call to the Patriots in May. His production there was unspectacular (.215/.337/.358), but he continued to showcase his stellar athleticism in the field and on the basepaths (24 steals). And ultimately, it wasn’t a terrible showing at the dish for the youngest qualified hitter at the Double-A level.
Lombard’s tools are loud; he should have far more thunder in his bat than Anthony Volpe, the previous heir apparent at shortstop. Acknowledging that this is a bit of a subjective, his talent jumps off the screen in a way that Volpe’s never really did, even though he was also once a highly acclaimed prospect. (And if you’ve ever seen Lombard’s glovework in person, you know just how dazzling it can be.) While his Grapefruit League results didn’t blow anybody away—he hit under .200 with a .740 OPS and just one homer—you see a sparkle of superstardom in every game he plays. Take that one spring homer: a leadoff comet off a 97-mph heater from AL Cy Young runner-up Garrett Crochet.
The former two-sport athlete credits his time as a top-flight soccer player in helping to develop his physical and mental game. Let that be a lesson to parents who want their kids to specialize in a sport right away!
I don’t bring it up for nothing: that mental maturity manifests in his plate discipline. While most young hitters are overly aggressive hotshots at the dish, Lombard’s outstanding walk rate shows he has a discerning eye and won’t make pitchers’ lives easier with poor swing decisions. The key will be making sure he doesn’t become overly passive and spot them extra strikes by waiting for the perfect pitch to hit. Lombard himself said as much: “I think the most important part is just competing, having competitive at-bats and not giving any free ones away,” he told MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
However, what he does outside the zone is less important than what he does within it. With that, we must discuss his greatest weakness as a prospect. From MLB Pipeline’s latest scouting report writeup:
“Despite an efficient right-handed swing and a patient approach, Lombard has persistent issues making contact against in-zone fastballs.”
That’s a pretty big warning sign which threatens to undermine the strides he’s made in taking walks and hitting the ball in the air.
With the wealth of data all young players have access to, Lombard and his camp have probably already diagnosed the issue and formulated a plan to improve. This season will be a referendum on whether his strategy works. If Lombard can take a major step forward in Bridgewater, he could be on the fast track to the Bronx; as every prospect buff knows, the jump from Double-A to Triple-A is significantly smaller than High-A to Double-A.
Last week, Lombard was sent to minor-league camp to continue preparing for this consequential campaign. He had no realistic shot of battling for a roster spot, though the Yankees have been effusive about his work ethic and his defensive bona fides. Brian Cashman went as far as to say he “could play defense in the big leagues right now”—they’re just waiting for the bat to come along.
The Yankees don’t have quite as many blue-chip prospects as they did when the Baby Bomber era began a decade ago. But when they do come along, Cashman and his braintrust tend to give them every possibility to succeed. Lombard will get plenty of opportunity to make their jobs tougher if he takes a big step forward in 2026. Even with Volpe, José Caballero, and Ryan McMahon already covering the left side of the infield, it’d be hard to argue against bringing him into the fold if the complete version of GLJ starts to shine.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MARCH 27: A general view of the stadium before Opening Day between the Minnesota Twins and the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on March 27, 2025 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Earlier in the spring, I took a swing at predicting how the final roster was going to be constructed for opening day, and it’s important to note that the roster on March 26th could wind up looking a lot different on May 1st or even August 3rd. This exercise is intended to take a snapshot of where the roster currently stands with the context we have gathered from decisions and comments gathered from decision makers. I’m certain that not everyone will be happy about how I see the final roster looking 9 days from now, when the clydesdales are galloping around the warning track, and the DeWitt’s are standing at home plate shaking the hands of the men carrying on the tradition of Cardinals baseball for the 2026 season.
Analysis: Matthew Liberatore came into spring as the favorite to lead the rotation to open 2026 after trading away staff ace Sonny Gray in the offseason. Liberatore has done nothing to fall short of that expectation in Spring action, and he has also added a split-finger fastball grip to his arsenal that should help further neutralize right-handers. The key will be putting two full halves of a season together in 2026, similarly to Alec Burleson in 2025, when questions lingered about his ability to perform at a high level for a full season. This is the next step for Liberatore, and I believe he is poised to take it.
Dustin May came into Spring camp 20 pounds heavier than he was when he finished the 2025 season in Boston, and that is very encouraging, given that his velocity was down 2-3 MPH after suffering an esophageal tear that put his life in danger. May, in his 2 outings so far this Spring, has sat 97 MPH on his FB and has touched 99 on several occasions. He appears on track to be the Dustin May of old; the only question will be health and his ability to hold up for the first 4 months of the season. The Cardinals had a lot of luck and success in regulating pitcher workloads last season, and the possibility exists that May has the most healthy and successful season of his career so far in 2026.
Michael McGreevy enters the regular season as a young, reliable innings-eater type who will provide a solid floor for the big league club, as a command and control righty of yesteryear we commonly found ourselves watching during the John Mozeliak era. Mired as the 6th starter for a team capable of being a big league contributor behind a staff that saw no injuries in 2025 is no longer a factor, as McGreevy found himself all but penciled in before the season began. A full season of results will be of great intrigue to follow.
Andre Pallante has had a solid spring training, and after he told us at Winter Warm Up about his struggles with build-up before the 2025 season, that was going to be a point of emphasis heading into this season. The probability of him regaining his 2024 form, where he was 2nd in most fans’ eyes in terms of confidence in pitchers in the rotation. I keep coming back to that point because it’s not like I, or the Cardinals, are trying to convince you this is Miles Mikolas who “still has something left in the tank.” Down years happen for young players, especially those who take on foreign workloads when it comes to regular rest and recovery with that grind. I have a reasonable expectation that Pallante will be a reliable back-end starter through the duration of the 2026 season.
Kyle Leahy earns the final spot in the rotation, and I was pretty convinced he was going to be the 6th man/swing starter, much like Steven Matz was in 2025, until we had the opportunity to speak with Manager Oliver Marmol this past Friday were he laid out what he is seeing from Leahy and his lofty personality comparisons he used when describing the same level of competetitor Leahy has displayed. Therefore, it’s my belief he will be in the rotation and be given a real shot and extended opportunity (those who said runway in their heads owe a dollar to the swear jar.)
Bullpen
CL – Riley O’Brien
SU – JoJo Romero (L)
SU – Matt Svanson
MRP – Ryne Stanek
MRP – George Soriano
MRP – Matt Pushard (R5)
MRP – Justin Bruihl (L)
SP6/LRP – Richard Fitts
Analysis: Riley O’Brien would be the odds-on favorite to close out games early in the season. With 4 years of control remaining and the high-octane stuff he works with, that’s the type of reliever contending teams will pay significant price tags on at the deadline for. At 31 years old, O’Brien is nearing the end of his physical peak, and projecting forward, the Cardinals would be smart to try and parlay 4 strong months of 2026 on top of a strong 2025 performance into added prospect capital.
Speaking of relievers who are destined to move at the deadline, JoJo Romero and veteran Ryne Stanek enter the season as the expirienced grizzled vets of the group that will lead and foster the young arms as they ascend to the major leagues. Romero had a sparkling 2.07 ERA in 2025, but his underlying stats severely underwhelmed when it came to comparing against peers in a similar bracket. 2026 will be important, not only getting guys out, but how he does it that will dictate a deadline return. You should expect to see him get some save opportunities in games that feature a lefty-heavy lane in the 9th inning, but I don’t anticipate him being penciled in as that primary closer unless things change (and they always do, so who knows)
Matt Svanson enters 2026 looking to build on a very impressive rookie campaign that has him positioned as the clear heir to the closer’s role as early as the 2nd half of 2026. Svanson will likely be deployed similarly to how Kyle Leahy was a season ago in a fireman-type high-leverage role as Oliver Marmol’s “queen-like” chess piece; he can move up or down based on in-game need. Armed with an upper 90’s sinker and hard-biting slider, Svanson is the exact prototype right-handed hitters have nightmares trying to adjust to late in games.
George Soriano and Justin Bruihl are two beneficiaries of the rebuilding season, as both players are out of options and looking for an opportunity to latch on and find their major league footing. Soriano, acquired for Andre Granillo early in spring, has 4 unique pitches that offer an answer against both sides of the plate. The rationale behind swapping the two was that Soriano could handle both lefties and righties with his impressive changeup to offset the strong side platoon and mid-90s fastball and big slider to beat the righties. The Cardinals felt that Granillo did not have an answer against lefties in his repertoire, thus they executed that swap. Justin Bruihl came over in a cash deal from the Cleveland Gaurdians and he will give fans some John King vibes as the 2nd lefty out of the pen with a sinker primary but where as King had a less deceptive secondary slider offering Bruihl’s sweeper against lefties is a true swing and miss option that should give him a chance at marginal success greater than John King couldve offered. It’s important to note that the Cardinals are not married to either of these players in a sense, and if either doesn’t perform, they won’t be held onto for dear life the way the previous regime tended to do when confronted with a “path of least resistance” ideology.
Matt Pushard has had an okay spring, and I still think the Cardinals like what he has to offer, and I think they will be willing to carry him into the season and give him a shot. But, the pressure will be on him to show something worth keeping around, as referenced with Bruihl and Soriano, they have a bunch of options that will be waiting in the wings at AAA, ready for their shot if this trio does not perform or show tangible growth.
Richard Fitts has impressed in Spring action with the high-velocity fastball and pitch mix and looks to be someone who will have the opportunity to pitch multiple-inning outings for the Cardinals in 2026. What role that comes in will be dependent on several variables, but Fitts appears to have the inside track at a spot on the roster and will hold significant value when it comes to trying to get through a full season. Being that Fitts has remaining options, he may ride the Memphis shuttle a time or two just because they have the flexibility with him to do so.
I did want to acknowledge that both Chris Roycroft and Gordon Graceffo have had excellent springs, and should they carry that into the regular season with Memphis, they will likely have their opportunities in St. Louis this season as well. Ryan Fernandez appears to be more on a DFA trajectory, which is unfortunate, after the promise he displayed in 2024. The league, unfortunately, has seemed to figure him out, and he has been unable to this point to adjust back to it.
Starting Lineup
Vs. RHP Drew Rasmussen
2B JJ Wetherholt
SS Masyn Winn
1B Alec Burleson
DH Ivan Herrera
3B Nolan Gorman
LF Nelson Velazquez
C Pedro Pages
RF Jordan Walker
CF Victor Scott II
Analysis: In 221 PA in AAA JJ Wetherholt had a .416 OBP and .973 OPS, this spring, in 33 PA as I write this on Sunday the 15th, Wetherholt has a .455 OBP and a .955 OPS with 8 BB to only 5 K’s. Wetherholt might not only be the best lead-off option for the Cardinals in 2026. He might be their best CURRENT hitter on the team, and he’s never taken a big league at bat. The process is elite, the swing decisions are terrific, his ability to control the strike zone and do damage when pitches are in the zone, and to “not do too much” based on where the pitch is thrown means he will be happy to take his hits the other way. Normally, yes, you try to ease young players into roles, I think, and I believe the Cardinals think as well, that JJ has been preparing for this for over a year now and is ready to take on such an assignment. Normally, such small sample sizes are easily explained away, but when it’s an impressive continuation of what we had seen all of last year in the upper minors and in college previous to that, at some point, you have to just believe what you see and let it ride. Wetherholt should bat lead off opening day and if anyone is going to lead the team in PA this season, it SHOULD be Wetherholt. This guy is an elite processor, and the MORE reps he gets the better and better he will be.
Masyn Winn in the 2 spot, I know will give some fans heartburn, “his OBP is terrible, why would they put him at the top of the order!” Masyn himself has been very public about his approach over the last 2 seasons, and he admitted he was just up there trying to hit home runs and do as much damage as possible. When we talked to Oli on Friday, he told us that Masyn has made an important approach change, is focused more on spraying the ball all over the field, and picking and choosing where he takes his shots when trying to muscle up in favorable counts and against favorable pitchers as well as being more open to taking his walks and letting the guys behind him do the damage. You put Masyn Winn and his hit spray/ line drive approach behind JJ Wetherholt and Victor Scott II after the lineup turns over, and you’re really setting a table for your 4 most dangerous bats in Burleson, Herrera, Gorman, and Velazquez. The other point I will offer is that Winn has been the 2nd best baserunner on the team over the last 2 seasons, behind only Victor Scott II in terms of baserunning value according to Baseball Savant, and you want the faster/smarter/ more aggressive runners ahead of your production guys.
I don’t think I need to say much about Alec Burleson, steady, dependable, contact-oriented with 20+ HR pop, and I think he will impress a few people with how well he moves at 1B as a defender. Set it and forget it type player who will be a driver of offense all season long.
Ivan Herrera at DH more predominantly throughout the season will irritate some fans, and I hear you on that. According to Derrick Goold of the STL Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals dont view the Ivan Herrera catching question as one that was ever going to be decided before the season began, that also comes with the caveat that, Herrera wasnt likely to take the bulk of reps behind the plate throughout the season anyhow, and now with yet another lower body injury Herrera is working through in spring the question about a position switch continues to linger over his head and I’ve been adamant all along that if his catching gets in the way of his bat being in the lineup and his health is negatively affected in such a way that the carrying tool (Bat) is compromised then it’s not worth it. Herrera has enough athleticism to play a less demanding defensive position, such as 1B or even LF, and the offensive production he provides will certainly play in those positions. This will be one of the single most intriguing storylines for me to follow in 2026. Is Herrera able to overcome the nagging injuries and come out on the other side as one of the most valuable hitting catchers in baseball, or is it just not meant to be, and you still have a really impressive hitter on your hands who needs a less demanding spot on the field so that his true tools can shine?
Nolan Gorman, I have espoused my fair share of criticism over the last couple of seasons when it comes to approach and controlling the strike zone. The power has always been undeniable; the question has always been, will he hit enough to tap into it? This Spring Gorman has demonstrated an offseason approach change that he worked with a reported “mystery hitting Guru,” according to a piece written on MLB.com, and the work has been continued with hitting coach Brant Brown very diligently, which appears to be yielding positive results and reviews from Cardinals decision makers. Gorman could finally be on the verge of a breakout, and the Cardinals as an organization could be in positon to cash in on him as an asset should he do so.
Nelson Velazquez has probably been the single most impressive performer not named JJ Wetherholt this spring, and as I’m typing this, he just belted his 4th spring home run to lead the team in that category. When you watch the plate appearances, he controls the strike zone, works counts, has impressive all-field power, and more specifically, he hits right-handed to offer some balance to what could have been a lefty-heavy lineup. It’s part of the reason why I see Lars Nootbaar putting more pressure on Jordan Walker early on than Joshua Baez. If Walker isn’t producing and Velazquez is, Nootbaar will slide into Walker’s spot and could cause the Cardinals to more seriously consider a demotion, and by midseason, if Baez is continuing to do what he showed in spring and all of last season, he could pass Walker by as well. If Velazquez doesnt carry over his impressive spring into the regular season, then Walker is afforded more time.
Speaking of Jordan Walker, it’s continued to be a struggle for consistent success this spring, and he has been working hard on the back fields with Cardinals coaches, trying to refine his approach. I asked Oli about Walker and Velazquez, and he told me, “Walker keeps us up at night.” The raw talent is obvious, the drive and desire to improve are there, a decision point is coming sooner than later for Walker, and it seems as though he’s really starting to feel the pressure of his opportunity. I’ve been reminded that pressure is privilege, and the people who feel it the most are the ones with the most to gain. Odds at this point are against Walker, but there is still an internal belief that they can unlock him, and he becomes the talent the organization hoped he could be when they drafted him.
Pedro Pages, because of his limited offensive ceiling, will draw unjust criticism from the fanbase when the offense struggles, because his value lies on the other side of the ball, even though if the Cardinals were to have a capable competetive offense on the field regularly Pages would not be nearly as much of a lightening rod if it meant the Cardinals were winning and he was contributing in a relative to league average way for catchers. Pages is viewed as a leader in the clubhouse, someone who is respected by the pitching staff, and has displayed flashes of offensive production. Could he take another step? Not impossible, but maybe most of the fan base would bet against it.
Victor Scott II will enter his 3rd major league season, after an offseason where he spent a large portion of it working with a bio-mechanical specialist who focused on making him more efficient with his swing and rebuilding it from the ground up. Vic also spent the offseason working on his bunting and will look for more ways to leverage his speed and athleticism into more consistent production. Manager Oli Marmol has talked about Vic as one of the guys whose spring stats don’t look very good, but the “under the hood” numbers are encouraging. Scott’s baserunning and defense are borderline elite tools, and if he can even get to league average offensively, that’s a real weapon and building block type talent for future contending Cardinals teams. This could be a very important season for Scott, and for Cardinals fans’ sake, it’s hopefully another positive step forward.
Bench
C/1B/DH Yohel Pozo
INF Ramon Urias
UTL Thomas Saggese
UTL Jose Fermin
Analysis: I caught some flak the first time around for projecting Yohel Pozo on the bench in the capacity that I described above, and that’s exactly how the Cardinals have deployed him this spring, and he lines up to be the backup coming into 2026 again. Pozo is beloved in that locker room, and he seems to have really flourished as a Cardinal. Pozo is an average-ish defender behind the plate, a solid framer, a decent blocker; the throwing arm seems to be below average, but the overall catcher profile you can live with as a backup. Offensively, he makes a ton of contact, avoids striking out, but doesn’t walk either. He has played some 1B in the minors and would seem to be comfortable enough over there should Burly need a spell from the lineup a few times this year.
Last time I did this, Bryan Ramos was on the roster, and I was admittedly intrigued by the potential he had untapped at the big league level. That seemingly didn’t matter when the Cardinals claimed Zak Kent for the 49th time and then subsequently DFA’d him again when they signed Urias. Ramon Urias has a gold glove to his name, and he can play all over the infield. He offers some right-handed pop to counter a tough lefty and will provide the “veteran leadership.” At least he projects to offer more offensively than Brandon Crawford or Matt Carpenter…
Thomas Saggese has added outfield to his list of credentials, and we could see him out there a fair bit. Could he be the next version of Brendan Donovan/Tommy Edman? Maybe. He’s still away at the WBC with the espresso-drinking Italian team that’s become the cinderella of this year’s classic. More ways to work Saggese into the fold isnt a bad thing and perhaps he could find a home in the outfield should an opportunity present itself.
Jose Fermin represents the 26th man on the roster and is out of options. Fermin works counts well and can reasonably play most defensive positions. I know this is probably a spot some fans would’ve liked to see Nathan Church grab. But I’ll get to him in a moment. Fermin came into spring with the opportunity to win a job in LF and early on looked like he was trending that direction. Velazquez has pretty much put that conversation to bed in the last week and a half, respectfully. Fermin is someone the organization is probably fine with being a bench piece, providing good clubhouse presence, and playing sparingly while they get extended looks at other guys they want to see on a nightly basis.
The aforementioned Nathan Church is someone who is starting to grow on me. I thought 4th outfielder at best, and thought that was a reasonable outcome. It seems as though Church might have more in the tank offensively, and if that’s the case and he projects as more than just a 4th outfielder bench bat type, then I want him playing every day in Memphis in CF as Victor Scott insurance and playing on a winning team between Josh Baez and Chase Davis every night rather than sitting the bench maybe playing twice a week, some would argue it shouldnt be that way, but in reality it would be, and if you believe there is more in the tank then the best thing for him to is keep playing and wait for his opportunity to play everyday in the big leagues.
Wetherholt and Velazquez will require 40-man spots to be added to the roster. There are a few relatively painless routes that could alleviate this. Nick Raquet, “Mr. Bulletproof” as I’ve jokingly referred to him, is someone who could reasonably be DFA’d and more than likely wouldn’t be claimed, but if he were, you still have 5-6 LH relief options in-house that the loss of depth isn’t heartbreaking. With the emergence of JJ Wetherolt and Bryan Torres, Cesar Prieto doesn’t appear to have a long-term fit with the Cardinals. This could be a trade opportunity or just a flat DFA gamble. But one way or another, it could solve one of your roster-related conundrums relatively pain-free.
The last one would be a little more disheartening for Cardinals fans, and I don’t have a good updated timetable for Lars Nootbaar, but a 60-day IL trip could kick the can down the road on a roster decision, and perhaps the Cardinals wouldnt mind giving Lars the additional time until what would be May 25th at the earliest. That has to be an option the Cardinals’ front office is weighing as they continue to shrink the spring roster.
We’re just 9 days away from the return of Cardinals baseball. SINGLE DIGITS FOLKS, GO CRAZY!
