Mets manager Carlos Mendoza cleared up any confusion Saturday morning, announcing the team will go with a five-man starting rotation to begin the regular season.
Freddy Peralta was already announced as the Opening Day starter against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 26, but it was unclear the order of pitchers who will follow him.
David Peterson will start the second game of the season on March 28 with Nolan McLean going on March 29 to round out the opening series. Clay Holmes will then take the mound on March 30 against the St. Louis Cardinals, followed by Kodai Senga in fifth game of the season on March 31. The manager also said that if Senga needs to pitch on regular rest this year, he will.
Mendoza then clarified that Sean Manaea will be used out of the bullpen and piggyback one of the starters, but did not say which game.
"We are going to use him in a piggyback tandem, but we're not necessarily going to announce which game he's going to be pitching," Mendoza said.
Mendoza gave some more insight into what went into the decision to go with a five-man rotation over a six-man rotation, noting that plan will likely be used for two turns through the rotation.
"Six guys throwing the ball really well," Mendoza said. "And we were pretty honest with all of them at the beginning of camp. If everyone was healthy, we were going to have to make some tough decisions and one of them were going to be pitching in that type of role.
"The way we see it is, he's taking that turn right now, probably two times through the rotation because of the schedule and the off days, we don't feel like we need that sixth starter yet. He's going to make starts for us. Couple times through, making sure guys go through their routine. We'll revisit when we have to and maybe there's somebody else's turn at the time. But for now, that's the decision there."
Mendoza added that Manaea was "not happy" about the choice, but was "very respectful" and "understood" the move. The manager also said Manaea's velocity dip in spring training did not impact the decision.
"He's a professional and he'll be ready to go," Mendoza said.
Manaea later spoke with reporters after the announcement, saying he is ready to step up in the different role. The left-hander also said he's built up to 60 pitches and is hoping to reach 65-70 pitches next game (Monday in an intrasquad scrimmage).
"For me, I just want to go out and pitch and help this team win. Whatever capacity that is, I know I'm going to be the best at that," Manaea said.
He added: "I consider myself a starter. To not be that is frustrating. At the end of the day, I'm just going to let my pitching do the work, whatever capacity that is, and we'll go from there."
Carlos Mendoza announces the Mets' rotation to begin the season
🔸 Thursday, March 26 : Freddy Peralta 🔸 Saturday, March 28: David Peterson 🔸 Sunday, March 29: Nolan McLean 🔸 Monday, March 30: Clay Holmes 🔸 Tuesday, March 31: Kodai Senga pic.twitter.com/6HIwzCYTqe
Sep 13, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first round draft pick JoJo Parker takes batting practice before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
I have a busy Saturday, in front of leaving for Japan on Sunday, so getting this together Friday night.
The Jays are in Bradenton, Florida, which is a very pretty town. But the game isn’t going to be on TV.
Also the Jays Prospect are playing the Phillies prospects in Clearwater. And this game is on Sportsnet. MLB is running these games to let us see some of the top prospect on our favorite teams. I like the idea. Apparently, the teams are using their MLB Pipeline top 30, plus others picked by their teams.
The Jays team will be players from this list:
Pitchers
Austin Cates, RHP Javen Coleman, LHP Daniel Guerra, RHP Adam Macko, LHP Landen Maroudis, RHP Carson Messina, RHP Nolan Perry, RHP Grant Rogers, RHP Gage Stanifer, RHP
Catchers
Edward Duran, C Aaron Parker, C Brandon Valenzuela, C
Infielders
Cutter Coffey, 3B Josh Kasevich, SS Sean Keys, 3B/1B Charles McAdoo, 3B/1B Arjun Nimmala, SS JoJo Parker, SS Tim Piasentin, 3B Josh Rivera, SS Juan Sanchez, 3B
We have seen many of these guys in spring games this year, but I’d love to see JoJo Parker play.
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 08: Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. looks on during the MLB and the Dominican Baseball Federation announcement at the 2025 Winter Meetings at The Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek on Monday, December 8, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mary Holt/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
In 2022, the “It’s not my Moneyball” series was created in response to the lockout imposed by the owners that disrupted Spring Training and arguably cost Clayton Kershaw a perfect game in Minneapolis (I had fun). As the season starts, the World Baseball Classic concludes, we must revive this series as trouble looms in the distance, hanging in the air, exactly in the way a brick does not.
The current consensus among MLB pundits is that the sport will slam to a grinding halt in December 2026; to which I respond: Where were you lot literally three years ago, when I pointed out the clear writing on the wall?
The owners are going to lock out the players (again) in December 2026 when the current collective bargaining agreement expires.
[emphasis as in original.]
The following point needs to be repeated loudly because most owners are counting on everyone in the media and the fans to ignore the following immutable truth: there is absolutely no reason for a lockout to occur; if the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) were to expire, the players and owners could proceed under the current system until a deal for a new CBA is struck. The only reason owners impose a lockout is to pressure the Players’ Union into accepting a salary cap, which the Union is hellbent on rejecting.
Back in 2023, the baseball world quivered in fear of Steve Cohen bullying the league with his seemingly limitless financial resources for the Mets, and looked at the efforts of Peter Seidler doing his best Mike Ilitch (Mr. I) of the Detroit Tigers impersonation as Exhibit B of why the sport would grind to a screeching halt in December 2026.
The fears were misguided as the Mets continued to find entertaining ways to set money on fire, and like Mr. I, Peter Seidler passed away all too soon, leaving a wake of family trauma, which rippled outwards to the organization and is only now reaching a conclusion.
A juggernaut did arise on the horizon, but it was not the (LOL)Mets, but our very own Los Angeles Dodgers.
If anything, if you want a starting point to the villain arc (apart from the league’s failure to punish the 2017 Houston Astros for cheating — just a piece of metal, huh? — and the 2023 Arizona Diamondbacks whipping the mostly-busted 2023 Dodgers out of the playoffs), one need only look at the Dodgers after one particular signing: Shohei Ohtani in the 2023 offseason.
Lest anyone forget, Ohtani devised the structure of his massively deferred deal and presented it to the Dodgers (who clearly accepted), the San Francisco Giants (who probably should have offered more money), the Toronto Blue Jays (it is a sore subject still), and the Anaheim Angels (who declined).
Far too many people forget that Ohtani proposed the structure, likely in part because on a team with eventual-first ballot Hall of Famer Mike Trout, the closest the Angels could get to the playoffs was buying a ticket to see it with the rest of the hoi polloi.
The Dodgers largely operated with a standard deviation in spending during the first part of the current CBA until Ohtani. However, when presented with the opportunity to win with a unicorn like Ohtani, one would be an absolute fool not to try to leverage both the maximum results on the balance sheet and in the trophy room.
Unlike the Angels, the Dodgers read the room, read their hand, and shoved their chips into the middle.
2022 – $293,330,382, including $32.4 million luxury tax bill
2023 – $268,198,867, including $19.4 million luxury tax bill
2024 – $353,015,360, including $103 million luxury tax bill
2025 – $417,341,608, including $169.4 million luxury tax bill
2026 – $538.7 million, including ~$142.6 million luxury tax bill (projected)
Half a billion dollars on a team’s payroll is the fever dream of those playing MLB: The Show. In essence, the argument about the Dodgers is really three parts of the same conversation, which will be separated below:
The Dodgers have more revenue than anyone in baseball; therefore, the season is over before the first pitch is thrown! And thus baseball needs to have a lockout in 2027 to stop the madness!
Half of the above statement is true and an ironclad fact, which we shall break down and examine over the next two essays.
No one can credibly argue that the Dodgers do not lead baseball in raking in the money. One need only look at “probable Law and Order”-extra Kyle Tucker and the literal king’s ransom he will be paid over at least the next two seasons. So goes the cry before the impending lockout: the Dodgers broke baseball through wanton spending, and no other team has a chance to compete. In fact, reporters like Jeff Passan are starting to carry water for this position.
Fans are angry. At growing payroll disparity. At a Dodgers team that cracked the system. At others unwilling to do the same. And particularly at the threat of no baseball in 2027. Free at ESPN: Where the game stands — and how there's still time to fix it. https://t.co/uZrXarDx7C
Yes, the Dodgers have arguably perfected an imperfect system, much to the annoyance of the 29 other fanbases. Yes, the Dodgers are the first repeat champions in 25 years. But it’s not as if the team has slapped the league with impunity over the past 24 months.
The San Diego Padres led the best-of-five 2024 National League Division Series, two games to one (which some goober predicted that the Padres would win), before literally getting shut out for the rest of the year.
The 2024 Dodgers’ playoff rotation included “rookie” Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty (who literally alternated from good and bad between starts), Walker Buehler (who was awful in 2024), and Landon Knack (bar trivia personified)
Tommy Edman (’24 NLCS) and Freddie Freeman (‘24 WS) had the literal series of their lives to drag themselves to glory.
The ‘24 New York Yankees managed to outmanage themselves (Game 1) and blow their legs off in historic fashion (Game 5) to ensure the Dodgers’ first full-season title since 1988.
Orion Kerkering. That’s the bullet point. (Seriously, though, the Philadelphia Phillies were pretty good in 2025.)
If any one of these bullet points zigs instead of zags, the Dodgers are not the kings of the league. Dave Roberts would not be a surefire lock for induction in Cooperstown, etc., etc. Lex Pryor of The Ringerpublished an essay that largely covers these financial points from the position of a scold, rather than my position as a Dodgers fan and writer.
The Dodgers are not interested in winning 120 games in the regular season, only to lay an egg in the Division Series. They took that terrible route in 2022, which was arguably the last time that the Padres were relevant. Even in situations where things are relatively equal (say, the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes), the Dodgers still prevailed over the league. The Dodgers won 93 games in 2025, good enough for the three-seed, and, as a bonus, just about everyone was in peak form.
Did those facts stop the offense from being largely absent after the Wild Card round? Not really, but from the way people carry on, one would have thought the Dodgers went 13-0 rather than being pushed to the brink against the Blue Jays. If the Dodgers romp to 120 victories (they won’t) and sweep the postseason (inshallah), I will revisit whether the payroll disparity is truly bad for baseball.
What baseball does have in spades right now is a perception problem, one that threatens to engulf the sport in quick order.
Are the Dodgers bad for baseball? Maybe. More accurately, though, they’re becoming a bad look for baseball. And they don’t seem to care what they look like, as long as they win.
The sport is having a renaissance with steady upticks in attendance and ratings. Game 7 of the 2025 World Series was the most-watched baseball game in over 30 years, drawing in about 24.3 million viewers in the United States and Canada. When Japan is included, that figure rises to 51 million viewers.
In contrast, the 2026 World Baseball Classic Final drew 10.784 million viewers, a record for the tournament but still barely a fifth of what Game 7 pulled in. Baseball should be basking in this era of success, but, like an illness that has been ignored for too long, things are less than 260 days away from slamming to a dead halt.
Like a dog that catches a chased car, nothing good will come from the perception that the Dodgers somehow broke baseball. It takes eight owners to scuttle a deal, and I see at least a dozen owners would rather burn the sport to the ground in the name of short-term thinking rather than refine the system that currently exists.
Accordingly, ownership is on the precipice of unleashing a Pandora’s Box of self-inflicted harm and stupidity by catering to the perception of inequality rather than the roots of inequality. I would encourage everyone to savor every last drop of the 2026 season, because while colleagues like Eric Stephen believe that no games will be lost in 2027, I do not share their optimism.
The stupidity and greed run thick, and I would genuinely be shocked if we get even half of a season next year. I have not lost a single case or a single night’s sleep by underestimating people’s greed and stupidity. Next essay, we introduce the twelve franchises that will likely run the sport aground in nine months’ time. I would dearly love to be wrong, but after all, it’s not my money(ball).
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 12: Kristian Robinson #62 of the Arizona Diamondbacks runs to first base during a Spring Training game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 12, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Soroka Sharp Against Sox Michael Soroka looked to be in mid-season form in his final spring outing. The bounce back candidate had a strong outing against the lowly White Sox as he made his case for a place in the rotation.
Diamondbacks Game Pushed Back At this point, it is mostly a reminder that all mid-day Cactus League games have been rescheduled due to the continuing heat wave hammering the Valley.
Gallen Discusses Final Start of Spring Zac Gallen’s Friday start was the last outing he will have before the games start to count. The next time he takes the bump will be against Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Dodgers in the season opener.
As Opening Day Looms Bullpen, Closer Questions Remain It is hard not to believe that this winter’s drastic jump in the cost of pitching did not play a major factor in the roster that Mike Hazen wound up with. Paul Sewald continues to make fans nervous.
Eduardo Rodriguez Returns Eduardo Rodriguez has returned from the Diamondbacks after leading his home nation of Venezuela to the WBC crown.
Other Baseball News
Padres Select Walker Buehler The former Dodgers ace has managed to earn himself another chance to see if there is anything left in the tank after multiple Tommy John surgeries.
Marcelo Mayer Named Red Sox Starting Second Baseman In what has been pretty much a foregone conclusion for a few weeks now, Marcelo Mayer has been named by the Red Sox as their Opening Day starter at second base.
Andrew Painter Makes Phillies’ Rotation The 6’7” right-handed Painter will break camp as a member of the Philadelphia rotation. The young man turns 24 on 10 April.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 14: Logan Allen #26 of the Cleveland Guardians throws a warm up pitch during a Spring Training game against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Stadium on March 14, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians gave up 20 runs to the Mariners last night. But it’s Spring Training so it doesn’t count. So there.
Logan Allen gave up 12 runs. I am always surprised when Allen doesn’t give up 12 runs, so nothing new here for me. Matt Festa got knocked around but hey it’s Arizona, it’s early, etc.
Jose Ramirez, Angel Martinez and Wuilfredo Antunez hit homers. CJ Kayfus doubled.
The team designated Nolan Jones for assignment to Columbus. MLB’s rules are opaque but I think he will either be claimed by another team or have to accept the assignment to keep his $2M contract because he is short of five years of service time. That Columbus team will be crowded with Jones, Johnathan Rodriguez, Petey Halpin, Kahlil Watson, Juan Brito and even potentially Stuart Fairchild in the outfield mix… with options like Antunez not far behind. Makes you wonder if we might see some small trades prior to Opening Day.
I think CJ Kayfus takes Valera spot as a right field option and Angel Martinez secures the fourth outfielder spot. With Gaddis on the IL, the Opening Day roster has come into focus, and I do think Parker Messick will beat out Logan Allen for the fifth starter role.
Jim Rosenhaus spoke to Chris Antonetti, Daniel Schneemann and Angel Martinez on the latest Guardians Weekly podcast.
Feb 22, 2026; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox infielder Caleb Durbin (17) is congratulated by infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2) after he scored during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
At this point each season, everything is fresh and new, and nearly anything seems possible. For the Red Sox infield, the mystery of what the season holds is even more intriguing because the Red Sox have an almost completely new-look infield.
For the most part, the players are new to each other and to Fenway: Willson Contreras, Caleb Durbin, Isiah Kiner-Falefa (bench), and Andruw Monasterio (bench) are all new to the Sox. All but Kiner-Falefa have arrived from the National League. Durbin and Marcelo Mayer, the starting third and second basemen, are still new-ish to MLB, with both returning for just their second year in the big leagues. Mayer, in particular, is an unknown quantity since his first season was cut short by injury.
Trevor Story holds a special place in the infield; at this point, he’s the only infielder who returned from the 2025 team and is not on the IL or in the minors. As such, he’s the anchor, though even he brings some question marks with him related to health and age.
What are these infielders capable of, individually and as a group? With as many unknowns as there are, it would be foolish to make predictions but there are certainly goals.
Stabilize the Infield Defense
This is foundational goal and must be considered a bare minimum for the season. Veterans Story and Contreras will lead the way here, facilitating the transition out of the chaos of recent seasons.
The organization’s new focus on defense will be stabilizing in its own right because it’s given the front office a mission. By signing a number of glove-first utility players, the team should be able to significantly reduce the errors that have plagued them for too long, and shut the revolving door on the procession of Quad-A players who were needed due to poor roster construction and lack of depth.
Stay (or Get) Healthy
This might be considered a stretch goal, as injuries are a way of life in professional sports and the Red Sox have had their share recently.
Romy González and Triston Casas could be contributors this season but they begin the season on the IL, recovering from their respective surgeries (shoulder and knee). Brendan Rodgers, who wasn’t likely to make the MLB roster anyway, is likely out for the season due to surgery.
With Story and Mayer, who have been defined in many ways by their injuries in recent years, fingers are crossed. For Mayer especially, finishing the year on the field—something he hasn’t done since 2021, the year he was drafted—is crucial. He has never played more than 100 games in a season as a professional and needs to prove what he’s capable of. He will surely want to shut down the speculation, which only reignited when he experienced “soreness” late in spring training.
Unlike recent years, there is a versatile bench to draw from—to allow Alex Cora to execute his matchups, to keep starters fresh, and to step in when infield injuries arise.
Manufacture Enough Runs to Quiet the Talk About the Missing Power Bat
This is absolutely a stretch goal.
This task doesn’t fall only to the infield, of course, but since first and third base are typically seen as power-hitting positions, the battle lines are drawn. Contreras has amassed 172 HRs in his career, though never more than 24 in a season. His bat is one of the strongest on the entire team, not only among infielders, which speaks to the lack of overall power. There are other ways to score runs, of course, but in working to create those opportunities throughout the batting order, they find themselves operating outside of the long-time Red Sox identity. Contreras has decent power and hits to the gaps. His goal is to hit close to 20 homers and consistently drive in runners with doubles off the wall, or other well-placed hits.
Durbin (.256/.334/.387) is known for slapping singles, not for pop. He has speed and baserunning smarts, with 18 stolen bases in 2025. His part of this collective goal? Continue to get those hits, work walks, and turn on the speed to stretch some of those hits into another bag. Once he’s done that, the mission becomes swiping bases and racing home to score. He seems like a player who would find his groove in this hard-working, keep-the-pressure-on style of play.
Story rebuilt trust with Red Sox Nation and resurrected his career in 2025, as he hit 25 homers, drove in 96 runs, and stole a career-high 31 bases. At 33 and with his injury history, it’s unclear if he can maintain that pace, though he has spoken about managing his routines as a means of staying healthy and fresh. He will need to do just that and be a major offensive contributor, as he was last year.
Mayer has plenty of room to grow at the plate, slashing .228/.272/.402 with eight doubles, a triple and four home runs in 44 games. In the small sample size of 136 plate appearances over 44 games, he struck out 41 times (a rate of 30%) and walked eight times (a rate of 5%). Alex Cora has challenged him to improve his batting eye and plate approach, and in many ways, Mayer can only improve from here.
When González returns later in the season, he will hopefully be ready to do his share by mashing off the bench. Casas’ future in the infield or on the roster is unclear at this point, but if there’s any hope that he can resume the production he’s showed flashes of, he’ll be welcomed back with open arms.
Later this week, the infield will get the chance to prove itself in real games that matter. The foundation is there to build on, and the infield looks better, on paper at least, than any the Red Sox have rostered in several years.
Mar 3, 2026; Goodyear, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) talks with coaches during the fourth inning of the game against he Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Roki Sasaki has struggled with command this spring training, all while adding new pitches to his repertoire. The Dodgers have been exceedingly patient with the 24-year-old right-hander, insisting all spring that he will start the season in the starting rotation, rather than get optioned to the minors to continue his work in progress.
“There’s obviously a big gap between Triple-A and the big leagues,” Friedman said. “With certain really talented young players that we really believe in, we think that last mile of player development is generally better served at the major-league level.
“That said, even with our established guys it’s one of continued player development. Now for some guys, that’s more on the margins. For other guys there’s more involved. But we believe very strongly that he is going to be a very successful major-league starter. Just how quickly that comes to be is a fair question. Obviously we’re going to pour everything we can into making that happen sooner rather than later and we’ll go from there.”
I wouldn’t say our mindset is all that different. But obviously, when you’re in a moment in time with an incredibly talented roster, I think the mindset is, ‘Don’t sit back on your heels, be aggressive, and don’t be nonchalant about the opportunity that we have in front of us.’ And so it’s more the idea of pressing an advantage and being aggressive on that front.
Major League Baseball on Thursday announced that Polymarket is now the league’s official prediction market exchange, which is definitely a group of words that make complete sense together. Gabe Lacques at USA Today wrote about the potential pitfalls:
Manfred himself even has some control over the market.
The No. 2 search result after “2026 win totals” on Polymarket is “New MLB (collective bargaining agreement) by Dec. 1?” While Manfred has telegraphed a lockout by that date, the market believes there’s a 49% chance a deal will be struck between MLB and the players’ association by then.
Britain's King Charles III greets Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, during an audience at Buckingham Palace in London on March 16, 2026. (Photo by Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty Images) | POOL/AFP via Getty Images
It is time for my favourite post of the year. It is fun to read about where everyone who comes here is from and their answers to the various questions.
Your mission, if you choose to accept, is to copy and paste these questions into the comment thread and give us your answers.
Name:
Location:
Favourite Current Jay:
Favourite All-Time Jay:
Favourite Non-Jay:
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect:
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond:
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit:
Favourite Baseball Movie:
What was the best thing about your past year:
When Not Bantering, I:
On Twitter or BlueSky, I am:
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact:
Walkup Music:
Name: The One and Only Billy Shears
Location: Calgary. Surrounded by guitars and a mess. Or a mess of guitars.
Favourite Current Jay: Addison Barger
Favourite All-Time Jay: Depends on the moment. Let’s go with Jesse Barfield
Favourite Non-Jay: Former Red Sox outfielder Dwight Evans
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: JoJo Parker, if his walk-up music isn’t ‘Get Back’, I’ll have to pick someone else. Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner, But he knew it couldn’t last
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Second base. Moved over from short since my arm isn’t good enough to make that Metaphysical throw from the hole. Me and Bo, if we stand close together, you couldn’t tell us apart.
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Right now? Tokyo Dome. And I hope to get to in a few days.
Favourite Baseball Movie: Still Bull Durham. “Don’t think, it hurts the team”
What was the best thing about your past year: We had a vacation to Africa, that was amazing.
When Not Bantering, I: been playing tennis a lot, squash some and trying badminton, because why not.
On Twitter or BlueSky, I am: @bluebirdbanter
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: I have my name on a bowling trophy. And no, it wasn’t for a record low score.
Walkup Music: Oh I don’t know, how about All Just To Get To You
Name: Tom M
Location: Calgary
Favourite Current Jay: Vlad
Favourite All-Time Jay: Jose Bautista
Favourite Non-Jay: Francisco Lindor
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: I’m about to list 40 of them
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Crafty junkballing lefty starter
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: Fenway
Favourite Baseball Movie: Bull Durham
What was the best thing about your past year: I got published as lead author on an academic paper for the first time
When Not Bantering, I: take pictures, develop pictures, sometimes run marathons.
On Twitter or BlueSky, I am: silent
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: I can tell the difference between butter and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter
Walkup Music: Work to Do, Average White Band
Name: Colin C
Location: Edmonton
Favourite Current Jay: Alejandro Kirk
Favourite All-Time Jay: Carlos Delgado
Favourite Non-Jay: Bobby Witt Jr
Favourite Blue Jays Prospect: Gage Stanifer
Metaphysical Position on the Diamond: Guy who sits on the ball bucket and heckles the ump
Ballpark I’d Most Like to Visit: PNC Park
Favourite Baseball Movie: Major League
What was the best thing about your past year: vacation to Mexico
When Not Bantering, I: Run around with my kid to all her different activities, play baseball and travel back and forth to Winnipeg a lot. (Editor: Because the mosquitos in Edmonton aren’t big enough??)
On Twitter or BlueSky, I am: A lurker
Baseball Card Back Fun Fact: Have played baseball in 3 different Arizona Spring Training complexes.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 15: A general view of Oracle Park before a MLB game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the San Francisco Giants on August 15, 2025 at Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
We have officially reached the last weekend before baseball gets back! Opening Day for the San Francisco Giants is right around the corner. So this weekend, I wanted to get one last temperature check before the season starts.
Personally, I’m just excited for baseball to be back. I have a tiny, tiny bit of cautious optimism. I can’t help it. A new season is like the first day of school, full of potential and not yet tainted with disappointment and annoyance. A fresh start. A time where anything is possible because it hasn’t actually started yet.
It’s the best. I’m gonna ride that feeling right into the first series. Maybe even two, depending on how the Yankees series goes.
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (11) and Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy (49) shake hands before the National League Division Series game on Saturday October 4, 2025 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
In this week’s Reacts survey, we asked fans who they think will win the NL Central in 2026. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it really came down to two teams: the Brewers and the Cubs.
Here’s what the results showed:
The Brewers, who have won the division in each of the last three and four of the last five seasons, came away with 74% of the vote, with the Cubs coming in second at 22%. The Reds garnered 2%, while the Pirates and Cardinals each picked up 1%.
After a franchise-best 97-65 record last season, the Brewers return most of their roster, with the notable exceptions of Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers (traded to the Mets), Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler (traded to the Red Sox), and Isaac Collins and Nick Mears (traded to the Royals). They also lost Rhys Hoskins, Jose Quintana, Erick Fedde, and Danny Jansen in free agency.
In terms of additions, the Crew added a lot of young guys, primarily through those trades. That includes pitchers Kyle Harrison, Shane Drohan, and Brandon Sproat, as well as utility players in David Hamilton and Jett Williams. The Collins/Mears trade also netted them another lefty reliever in Ángel Zerpa, and they added Akil Baddoo, Gary Sánchez, Luis Rengifo, and Reese McGuire in free agency.
Is this a team that can stay atop the NL Central for the fourth straight year? Weigh in in the comments! Thanks for participating in our Reacts survey, and be sure to use FanDuel Sportsbook for all of your sports betting needs.
Brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.
SARASOTA, FL - MARCH 20: Ethan Anderson #57 and Joseph Dzierwa #67 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrate after the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
The final day of spring training has arrived! Huzzah! Kind of.
At 1 p.m. today, the Orioles will host the Phillies for their last game down in Florida. It will be broadcast on MASN and the Orioles Radio Network. Then, they will head north for a home-and-home of exhibitions with the nearby Nationals over the two days that follow. So, technically, they have a couple more “pre-season” games left on the docket before they actually open the season against the Twins on Thursday. But still, it feels like a significant landmark as we suffer through the final days without regular season baseball.
Friday featured the third annual Spring Breakout prospect showcase. The Orioles youngsters faced off with the Red Sox squad in a game in which the O’s prevailed 3-1. MLB.com’s Jake Rill recapped the action, but here are some of the highlights:
Trey Gibson started and tossed three shutout innings.
Joseph Dzierwa got the win and struck out eight over his three clean frames
Reed Trimble had two hits and stole two bases
Nate George and Ike Irish each doubled once.
How much can be gleaned from a single game full of well-regarded young players? Almost nothing at all. But it’s fun! And the final days of spring can be pretty dull, so it continues to be a welcome addition to the mix.
The big league Birds were also in action on Friday. They traveled to Tampa for a face-off with the Yankees, where they lost 3-1.
It was a pretty grim showing for the O’s offense, which collected just three hits, three walks, and struck out 11 times. Pete Alonso doubled, Douglas Hodo tripled, and Samuel Basallo had the lone RBI.
Things were better for the pitching staff! Zach Eflin tossed 5.1 shutout innings and struck out seven while throwing 70 pitches. It seems like he might be ready for Opening Day after all? Dietrich Enns got the final two outs of the sixth inning, and Rico Garcia worked yet another shutout frame. The only pitcher to get knocked around was Cohen Achen, a 24-year-old that has appeared in just two games above Double-A.
Outside of the game action, there are likely to be a flurry of roster moves around the league this weekend. Teams will start to make final cuts. Usually a few minor surprises crop up, which could make some bench or bullpen pieces available. The Orioles, like many teams, aren’t entirely settled in those departments. So, it is possible that a new name or two could make their way onto the Opening Day roster. But nothing has been reported on that front just yet.
Links
Buck Britton happy to be back on Orioles’ coaching staff after wild first season in majors | Roch Kubatko Britton as well as many of the pitching coaches are back despite the rocky 2025 for the big league club. Some level of continuity on the coaching staff seems like a wise choice for Craig Albernaz and the broader organization. Although Albernaz has gotten nothing but rave reviews since joining the club, connecting with every single player in a clubhouse is difficult. Having a few familiar faces around should help to bridge any gaps that exist.
Orioles’ Dylan Beavers: Scratched from lineup | CBS Sports Beavers was supposed to play against the Yankees on Friday. Instead, he sat out with right knee discomfort. There has been no reporting on the severity of the problem. It could be nothing. We should know more today.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Chadwick Tromp turns 31 today. He was one of the many catchers to don an Orioles uniform in 2025. Ultimately he only played in six games for the Birds.
Jimmy Yacabonis is 34 years old. The righty spent parts of three seasons from 2017-2019 on the Orioles pitching staff, accumulating a 5.75 ERA over 101.2 total innings.
The late Tommy Davis (b. 1939, d. 2022) was born on this day. He played 18 seasons of big league baseball, including a four-year stint in Baltimore from 1972 through ‘75.
This day in O’s history
2018 – Just before Opening Day, the Orioles add former Rays hurler Alex Cobb on a four-year, $57 million deal.
Well, that was no bueno. At least the televised game started out well. I made a bad coin flip and started out listening to the Reds game. Boyd wasn’t exactly good Friday night. Taillon wasn’t much better. Miguel Amaya had some juice. Al will have details at 8 a.m. CT.
“I’ve suggested to the hitting coaches that they stay away from him,” Counsell said. “I did have a meeting with the hitting coaches at one point this spring. I called them all together, and they got a little nervous. I said, ‘You guys should stay away from Ballesteros.’
“Joking, you know, but they got the message.” — Patrick Mooney.
Four and a half games left, including the Spring Breakout Game. Cub Tracks is not in favor of ST night games. Or Eugenio Suárez in the Central.
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Andy Koval (WGN9*): PHOTOS: Cubs unveil new food for 2026 season at Wrigley Field. The teams’ respective 2026 journeys begin on March 26, when the Cubs will host the Nationals at 1:20 p.m. CT at Wrigley Field on Opening Day.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
Kyle Freeland will take the ball for the Rockies on Opening Day in 2026 — the fifth Opening Day nod for a pitcher who has quietly built one of the most unique résumés in franchise history. By Baseball-Reference, he is already the Rockies’ all-time leader in WAR among starting pitchers (19.2), a reflection of both longevity and effectiveness in baseball’s most difficult pitching environment.
And yet, that same metric — WAR — is part of why Freeland is so often misunderstood.
Because here’s the reality: WAR doesn’t always evaluate pitchers at Coors Field particularly well. And Freeland is one of the clearest case studies of that disconnect.
His 2018 season is the most extreme example. FanGraphs credited him with 4.1 WAR. Baseball-Reference credited him with 8.4 WAR. Same performance, radically different value depending on the model.
That season stands out — an outlier peak — but it doesn’t stand alone. Freeland has put together multiple solid seasons in Colorado, just not always at that elite level.
Why Coors breaks clean metrics
Most public pitcher WAR (Wins Above Replacement) models rely on two approaches:
FIP-based WAR (FanGraphs) — built from strikeouts, walks, and home runs.
Both work well in most environments. At Coors, they don’t.
At altitude, air density is roughly 15–20% lower than at sea level. Pitch-tracking research shows fastballs can lose roughly 2–3 inches of movement in Denver.
Movement isn’t just reduced: It’s altered. That makes generating swing-and-miss more difficult and increases reliance on contact.
So pitchers adapt.
Freeland doesn’t overpower hitters — and that’s exactly what WAR tends to undervalue.
2018 shows the disconnect
Freeland’s 2018 line:
202.1 innings
2.85 ERA
3.67 FIP
4.1 fWAR
8.4 rWAR
That gap between fWAR and rWAR isn’t small — it’s philosophical.
One model saw a pitcher without dominant strikeout numbers. The other saw elite run prevention.
At Coors, Freeland threw 93.2 innings with a 2.40 ERA — not just surviving, but thriving.
Coors isn’t just hitter-friendly
Coors is often called “hitter-friendly,” but that undersells it.
Park factors are averages — one adjustment applied broadly.
It interacts with pitch shape, contact quality, and decision-making in ways that don’t scale cleanly. Two identical pitches can produce completely different outcomes depending on where they’re thrown. Even the humidor reduced but didn’t eliminate these effects.
In Colorado, the numbers rarely tell the whole story.
The skill that gets missed
Freeland’s profile won’t jump off the page:
Modest strikeout rates
Solid command
Heavy reliance on contact
But his value shows up differently:
Weak contact
Ground balls
Avoiding letting one inning break everything
At Coors, that last skill might be the most valuable.
WAR rewards outcomes that translate cleanly across environments. Freeland’s value comes from handling one that doesn’t.
There’s also a perception gap — call it the Coors credibility tax.
A 4.30 ERA in a neutral environment looks like back-end production. At Coors, that same performance can resemble mid-rotation value or higher.
If the Rockies are building around pitchers like Freeland, the question isn’t just whether they’re good enough: it’s whether we’re measuring them correctly.
So what is he actually worth?
On paper, a ~2 WAR pitcher looks replaceable.
In reality, it’s not that simple.
Freeland is owed $16 million in 2026, with a vesting option tied to innings in 2027. That reflects something the numbers struggle to capture: reliability in a uniquely difficult environment. A pitcher with similar “true talent” elsewhere might not translate to Coors at all. Freeland already has.
Kyle Freeland isn’t an ace in the traditional sense.
He’s something more specific:
A pitcher built to survive — and occasionally thrive — in baseball’s most difficult pitching environment.
Until metrics better capture environmental context and contact management at altitude, pitchers like Freeland will continue to look ordinary on paper and essential in reality.
So the next time you see a WAR total next to a Rockies pitcher, ask:
Is that number telling the whole story — or just the part that survives outside of Coors Field?
The Rockies’ spring training offered a mix of optimism and reality — some encouraging performances, but familiar concerns still lingering. A few players showed growth, especially on the offensive side, yet questions about pitching depth and consistency remain. In the end, the biggest takeaway is that spring can hint at progress, but proving it in the regular season is a different challenge entirely.
Ezequiel Tovar returned to the Rockies fresh off helping Venezuela capture a World Baseball Classic title, bringing both momentum and confidence back to Colorado. The young shortstop embraced the emotional weight of the moment, calling the experience meaningful not just for himself but for his country. Now back with the Rockies, the question becomes whether that energy — and his strong international performance — can carry over into a bounce-back season at Coors.
The Rockies reassigned top prospects Charlie Condon and Cole Carrigg to minor league camp, a move framed less as a setback and more as the next step in their development. Both impressed during spring training, with the organization emphasizing their strong performances and long-term upside. Ultimately, the decision reflects timing rather than talent — and reinforces that both remain firmly in the Rockies’ plans for 2026, even if their debuts will have to wait.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 17: Bryce Harper #24 of Team USA celebrates after hitting a single in the sixth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The team’s starting rotation is out and it should not be a surprise. Cristopher Sanchez will start the opener and will be followed by Aaron Nola and Jesus Luzardo. Anyone thinking Rob Thomson would keep the lefties back-to-back has not watched Thomson manage these past few years. Not there is much to gain from it, but having them split up keeps with is M.O. he’s had in playoff series past.
Sept 16, 2007; Boston, MA , USA; New York Yankees pitcher (22) Roger Clemens throws a pitch during the 1st inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The Yankees defeated the Red Sox 4-3. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Dodgers are making a farce of the league. After winning back-to-back championships on the back of impossibly stacked rosters, they gave the best free agent on the market almost as much guaranteed money over the next four years than the White Sox, Guardians, and Marlins’ entire 2026 team payrolls combined. It is now a forgone conclusion that the Dodgers will capture their third consecutive World Series title in 2026. When – not if – that happens, expect Major League Baseball to suffer the same consequence that followed the crowning of its last three-peat champions; fans of the other 29 teams, driven to apathy, will simply walk away from the sport, in droves, and nothing will bring them back. Rob Manfred must choose one of two paths. He can stand idly by while baseball dies a slow death, or he can take decisive action to curtail —
Hold on, I’m getting a phone call from my editor. Yes? What’s that? Yeah, I was just writing about how the Yankees ruined baseball with their three-peat. That mass exodus of fans after 2000 was really something, right? Wait, what do you mean that never happened? People kept on watching baseball? 1998-2000 isn’t remembered as a black mark on the game’s history?
Oh. Well, I guess I can still submit this story to the Post.
Overwrought intro skit aside, my actual take is this: the Dodgers aren’t “ruining baseball”. Yes, it is groan-worthy to see the game’s leading financial juggernaut, possessing an already elite roster which just won the World Series, take on even more payroll to acquire a top-tier player. But pretending like it’s an affront to the integrity and health of the game itself is pretty rich, especially if you’re a fan of the Yankees. After all, our beloved team did just that in the 1998-1999 offseason, when they celebrated their historic 114-win championship year by trading for literally Roger Clemens. They won the World Series that year, and the year after that too – and then what happened?
I’ll tell you what didn’t happen – baseball didn’t die. Fans kept showing up to games. In 1998, a total of 70.37 million fans attended MLB games, coming out to an average of 29,285 per game. In 1999, those figures dropped all the way to…70.13 million total and 29,152 per game. I’m sure many non-Yankees fans were disgusted with Clemens being traded to the Yankees, but by and large, that disgust did not translate into a marked decrease in attendance. Likewise, the Yankees repeating as champions in 1999 also did not result in MLB attendance suffering in 2000. If anything, total attendance increased to 72.74 million that season, with the per-game average exceeding the 30,000 mark. It was the first 162-game season to accomplish that feat since the 1994 strike.
TV ratings for the World Series in those years also bear this out. The 1998 World Series garnered a Nielsen rating of 14.1 (meaning that an estimated 14.1% of all households with a TV were tuned in), with total viewership estimated at 20.34 million. In 1999, those figures actually improved to 16.0 and 23.73 million, respectively. And while 2000 did see a marked decrease (12.4 Nielsen rating, 18.08 million viewers), those figures rebounded strongly in 2001 (15.7 Nielsen rating, 24.52 million viewers). If fans of the other 29 teams were sick and tired of having to watch the Yankees play in the World Series year after year, they sure didn’t show it by tuning in to something else.
Now, you may argue that my comparison is flawed, because I’m ignoring the magnitude by which the Dodgers currently outspend the rest of MLB. It’s not just the fact that they have two rings in the bag and are going for their third – it’s that they’re going about it by flexing their financial muscles in a way that few other teams can compete with.
The raw figures seem to support this argument. The Yankees did have the highest payroll in baseball in 1999, but their $88.1 million figure only bested the second-highest spenders (the Texas Rangers) by $7 million or so. They led MLB again with a $92.9 million payroll in 2000, but this time, their lead over the second-place Dodgers was only $2 million. Compared to the Dodgers’ 2026 projected Opening Day payroll of $397 million, which clears the runner-up New York Mets’ payroll by a good $30 million, the 1999-2000 Yankees seem like small fries.
However, such a view ignores both inflation and the staggering increase of spending in MLB as a whole. Relative to their peers, the 1999-2000 Yankees outspent the league on a scale comparable to the current Dodgers. To wit: the 1999 Yankees’ payroll was 8.3% bigger than the next-highest spending Rangers, and 583% bigger than the last place Marlins’ $15.1 million mark. In 2000, the Yankees’ lead over the second-place Dodgers shrunk to 2.4%, but their $92.9 million payroll represented a 593% increase from the cellar-dwelling Twins’ $15.6 million total. Meanwhile, the 2026 Dodgers’ projected payroll is 9% bigger than the second place Mets, and only 543% bigger than the last place Marlins’ $73 million tally. Believe it or not, when adjusted for their respective eras, the scale of the Yankees’ spending during their three-peat years isn’t far apart from what the Dodgers are doing now.
The turn-of-the-millennium Yankees were every bit as villainous as the Dodgers are now, in terms of both their success and the ruthless spending by which they pursued it. And yet, despite the bad guys winning three consecutive World Series (and nearly winning a fourth!), fans kept showing up and tuning in, and MLB did not wane into irrelevance. So, I hope you can see why I’m a wee bit skeptical towards the claim that the Dodgers are ruining the game. This isn’t to say that what the Yankees did and what the Dodgers are doing is necessarily good for baseball. I do believe that a more level playing field would benefit the game (although I vehemently disagree with the idea that a salary cap would solve the issue). I do believe that fans of small and mid-market franchises do have a legitimate gripe against the Dodgers. But Yankees fans? The only sports team in America who was compared to U.S. Steel in their prime, and not as hyperbole? I think it’s best for us to sit this one out.
