The Rangers v Hearts encounter was a top-of-the-table clash for the ages and Rangers' comeback ensured they very much remain in contention for the title.
It was a performance and result that simply could not have happened earlier in the season as Rangers showed a grit and determination along with a clinical edge that had been missing under Russell Martin.
That short-lived era has been gradually erased from the memories of the club's supporters who are now revelling in the possibility of a turnaround in their season most would not have deemed conceivable when Danny Rohl took over in late October.
But since then, Rangers have taken 11 points more than Hearts and nine more than Celtic (from one game more) to give themselves a fighting chance of reclaiming the Premiership title.
His January signings all made significant contributions to Sunday's victory. Tuur Rommens' energy and strength on the left flank, allied to good crossing ability, make him a force to be reckoned with. Tochi Chukwuani has also added a powerful edge to the midfield as well as an element of guile that had been lacking previously.
In attack, Andreas Skov Olsen is improving with every passing game and could have a huge role to play in Rangers' quest for a league and cup double, while Ryan Naderi - although not on the scoresheet against Hearts - showed terrific positional awareness and a desire to put himself about.
Questions remain over Rohl's team selection against Motherwell last midweek. Rommens and Skov Olsen might have made the difference and Rangers could be in an even better position but the manager has earned the right to make the calls he believes are best for the team and given what he has achieved so far, it's difficult to be too critical.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 04: Carlos Ruiz, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins Philadelphia Phillies bobbleheads sit on display before the game against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on June 4, 2013 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 7-3 in the eleventh inning. (Photo by Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Baseball is coming soon. Hot dogs, green grass, the crack of the bat and the sharp cry of “safe!” from the umpire… you can’t have a baseball game without these things. You can, however, have a baseball game without a stadium giveaway. But isn’t it better when there is one?
A new season means new giveaways: bobbleheads, hats, jerseys, various Phanatic-themed tchotchkes. The giveaways bring joy to children and adults alike, reminding us all how much fun toys can be (and the scalpers, sadly, remind us how much of a pain they can be).
Today’s question is: What’s your favorite stadium giveaway?
Longstanding owner Neil Hudgell has revived club and the Super League champions take on Brisbane Broncos with the world crown up for grabs
To appreciate the absolute highs, you perhaps have to first experience the ultimate lows: when Hull KR walk out for Thursday’s World Club Challenge, few will be better placed to say they have done that quite like their longstanding owner, Neil Hudgell.
The Super League champions will aim to be crowned the world’s best club rugby league side for the first time when they take on the NRL’s Brisbane Broncos. To satisfy the unprecedented demand, they have taken ownership of the venue of their great rivals, Hull FC, for one night only – with 25,000 supporters, double the capacity of their Craven Park home, buying tickets in record time.
BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 03: J.J. Hardy #2 celebrates with his teammates Nelson Cruz #23 and Jimmy Paredes #38 after sliding safe to home plate to score the go ahead run on Delmon Young #27 of the Baltimore Orioles three run RBI double to deep left feild in the eighth inning against Joakim Soria #38 of the Detroit Tigers during Game Two of the American League Division Series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on October 3, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here at Camden Chat, we have been posting a question of the day every day for a few weeks now. Most of these questions asked your thoughts about the upcoming season, but today I want to look backward and ask you, “What is your favorite Orioles memory?”
We have baseball fans of all ages here, so it’ll be fun to read answers from throughout the Orioles’ history. Some of us have seen three World Series winners; others have seen zero. I expect some favorite memories will be about the team itself, while others are more personal and perhaps revolve around family or growing up.
I am closer to 50 years old than I’d like to admit, and yet I am too young to remember the Orioles making it to the World Series. I was alive for the most recent two appearances, though in 1979 I wasn’t even a year old. In 1983, I was probably more interested in riding my Big Wheel or He-Man than in watching Cal Ripken make that final catch to capture the title.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t have any big memories of the Baltimore Orioles. Some of my fondest memories include going to the first night game at Camden Yards with my dad and brother. We couldn’t get tickets to Opening Day, but we made the first night game a tradition for many years after.
In 1996, I remember calling Ticketmaster over and over to try to get tickets to my first-ever playoff game, which I attended with my older brother. I saw my favorite player, Brady Anderson, hit a leadoff home run.
And of course, there is 2130. I prefer 2130 over 2131 because I got to be in the stands for that one. I was 16 years old, and my uncle somehow got a bunch of tickets in the Eutaw Street bleachers. He invited a friend and me along with him and his grown-up buddies.
I was in the stands when the 2014 Orioles clinched the division. I celebrated after the game by watching Adam Jones pie Nick Markakis while Zack Britton sprayed champagne into the stands.
It’s hard to narrow it down to one memory. If the Orioles ever win the World Series, I expect that’ll be the easy answer. But if I am picking one, I have to go with game two of the 2014 ALDS. I was in the stands with my father-in-law and watched as Wei-Yin Chen struggled and the Orioles fell behind. When the Tigers scored a run in the 8th to go ahead, 6-3, I remember saying to him that I much preferred the game the day before when the Orioles won big.
Then came the bottom of the eighth. We all remember it. Joba Chamberlain hit Adam Jones. Back-to-back singles by Nelson Cruz and Steve Pearce scored Jones. Joba was pulled for Joakim Soria. J.J. Hardy walked to load the bases. The crowd got louder and louder. Could they do this? Might they possibly do this? We didn’t have long to wait. Pinch-hitter Delmon Young sent the first pitch he saw to left field. Cruz scored. Pearce scored. Hardy, who used to run like he was fighting through Jell-O, rounded third. The throw came in. Cruz motioned “slide! slide! slide!” Hardy slid. SAFE! The Orioles took the lead. Camden Yards shook. I had never felt that way before or since.
I know I’m not alone in that memory. Let me know if you felt the same! Or share your other favorite Orioles memories. Let’s spread some good feelings around as we wait for the 2026 season to begin.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 28: Former Major League Baseball player and executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association Tony Clark looks on prior to Game One of the 2022 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on October 28, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
Clay Holmes threw live batting practice yesterday, and new Mets Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette were impressed by his breaking stuff.
John Harper posited Carson Benge as the Nolan McLean of the 2026 Mets, as he sees him coming up and adapting quickly to become an impact player.
The Mets plan to ease Luis Robert Jr. into spring training in an attempt to prioritize his health over the long season ahead.
Load management this early reveals the Mets’ plan to try to keep him as healthy as possible.
In addition to Robert, the Mets are taking things slow with Brett Baty, Francisco Alvarez, and Jorge Polanco.
MLBPA executive director Tony Clark has resigned from the organization. It was revealed that the reason behind Clark’s resignation was an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law, who had been hired by the union in 2023.
The representatives in the Players Association met yesterday after the shocking Clark news, but they reiterated that the union is strong despite this.
In yesterday’s meeting, they didn’t vote on a new leader for the union, though an internal option has already emerged.
The union will hopefully vote today, as they are expected to have another meeting.
Twins starter Pablo López has a significant tear in his UCL and will likely need Tommy John surgery.
Pete Alonso has found a team and city that loves him in Baltimore.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
Vasilis Drimalitis took a look at Anderson Severino and his attempt to make it back to the big leagues by way of the Mets’ bullpen.
This Date in Mets History
Several former Mets are celebrating birthdays today, including Shawn Estes and John Valentin.
CANADA - APRIL 15: Ready to go: Blue Jays' John Mayberry keeps his batting sharp with indoor workout yesterday at Exhibition Stadium in preparation for today's opener with Milwaukee Brewers. He's had a fast start this season with four hits; including four homers. (Photo by Boris Spremo/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
It is John Mayberry’s 77th birthday.
Mayberry was drafted in the 1st round (6th pick overall) in the 1967 amateur draft. The number 1 pick that year was Ron Blomberg by the Yankees, so the Astros could have done much worse. Only Ted Simmons and Bobby Grich, also first-round picks, had better careers than John
John was a big, left-handed slugging first baseman. Officially listed at 6’3” and 230 pounds, he was likely heavier by the time he reached the Jays. He made his MLB debut as a September call-up in 1968 at 19, although he went hitless in 9 at-bats. The following September, he got just 4 at-bats and still no hits. After two more seasons as a part-timer, he was traded to the Royals, where he became their everyday first baseman for six seasons.
In his first four seasons as a Royal, Mayberry was a star—twice an All-Star, and runner-up in the 1975 AL MVP voting. He received MVP votes in four of six seasons with the Royals. His best year: 34 home runs, 119 walks, 106 RBI, and a .291/.416/.547 line. But his numbers dropped sharply in his last two years with Kansas City (.232 in 1976, .230 in 1977), and there may have been a reason.
To understand what happened, you need some context about baseball—and society—in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Decades before performance-enhancing drugs dominated sports headlines, non-performance-enhancing drugs were the issue. Cocaine was popular among the wealthy, and its dangers were often downplayed.
Baseball wasn’t the only place where drugs were a problem. Cocaine was the drug of choice for the financially well-off throughout society. Time Magazine had a cover story saying it was the in thing, without suggesting that there could be a downside.
In the 1977 AL Playoffs, with the Royals leading 2-1, manager Whitey Herzog let players skip batting practice before Game 4 for rest. Herzog later recalled: “Mayberry dragged in real late, but I put him on first base anyway, which was my big mistake.” Mayberry had a rough game, and Herzog suspected the cause: “The man couldn’t even talk, and I knew what was wrong….It must have been a hell of a party.” Herzog insisted on moving Mayberry, and the Royals sold him to the Jays.
“Mayberry dragged in real late, but I put him on first base anyway, which was my big mistake”. Mayberry had a bad game, dropping pop-ups and striking out. Herzog asked him what was wrong. “The man couldn’t even talk, and I knew what was wrong….It must have been a hell of a party”. Herzog insisted on moving Mayberry, and the Royals sold him to the Jays.
A few years later, as Cardinals manager, Herzog made a similar move with Keith Hernandez, a talented first baseman whom he traded after concerns about his work ethic—later linked to drug use. Herzog didn’t want Hernandez influencing younger players. Ironically, two young Mets stars later struggled with drugs, though blaming Hernandez would be a stretch
At the time, it was surprising for the Royals to part with Mayberry. As more stories of baseball’s drug problem emerged, it became clear that most teams chose to ignore it. Herzog was one of the few who would act.
Mayberry joined the Blue Jays for their second season, joining a struggling team that finished 59-102. He had some strong seasons with Toronto, though never matching his Kansas City peak. It’s hard to say if his decline was due to drugs, age, or size—he was always big and only got bigger and slower.
In 1979, Mayberry played 137 games, hitting .274/.372/.461 with 21 home runs and 74 RBI. In 1980, he posted a .248/.349/.473 line with 30 HR (6th in the AL) and 82 RBI—productive, if not superstar numbers.
During the 1981 strike season, he played 94 of 106 games, hitting .248/.360/.452 with 17 home runs (7th in the AL). In each full Jays season, his OPS+ was over 100: 108, 124, 119, and 128.
In 1982, Mayberry played just 17 games, mostly at DH, as Willie Upshaw took over first base. He hit .273/.405/.455 before being traded on May 5th to the Yankees for Dave Revering, Tom Dodd, and Jeff Reynolds. None made much of an impact for Toronto, but Dodd was later traded back to New York (along with Dale Murray) for Dave Collins, Fred McGriff, Mike Morgan, and cash—a great deal for the Jays.
I was young when Mayberry played for Toronto, but I remember him as a smiling, engaging presence—great in interviews, and eager to help sell baseball to Canada. It couldn’t have been easy, leaving a contender for a cellar-dweller.
At the time of his trade to the Yankees, Mayberry held the Blue Jays’ career records for homers and RBI.
Bill James’ Historical Baseball Abstract once ranked Mayberry as the 49th best first baseman, though he’d drop a few spots now. He later coached for five years in the Jays’ system. His son, John Jr., played 15 games for Toronto in 2014.
Happy birthday, John. Hope it’s a good one.
It’s also Alex Rios’ birthday—he turns 45 today.
Alex played six seasons with the Jays and was a solid contributor. He finished 5th in Rookie of the Year voting in 2004 and made All-Star teams in 2006 and 2007.
Before 2008, the Jays signed Rios to a 7-year, $70 million contract, which looked smart at first: he hit .291/.337/.461. But by August 2009, his numbers had dipped to .261/.317/.427, and Toronto put him on waivers. The White Sox claimed him and, after a few days of negotiation, took on his contract. Rios struggled in Chicago, hitting just .199/.229/.301 in 41 games that year.
He stayed with the White Sox until a 2013 trade to the Rangers, where he was perfectly average: .280/.312/.414 over a year and a half.
In 2015, Rios earned a World Series ring with the Royals, playing right field. He had a great ALCS against Toronto (.368/.368/.526, 1 HR, 3 RBI)—I try not to hold that against him. He struggled in the World Series, though, hitting .133 in 15 at-bats.
2015 was his final MLB season. Over 12 years, Rios hit .277/.321/.434 with 165 home runs and 244 stolen bases.
Happy birthday, Alex.
It is also my niece Nicola’s birthday; happy birthday, Nicola.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 17: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws during a workout at Camelback Ranch on February 17, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Galactic Empire of baseball has assembled at Camelback Ranch. Their first spring game is in just three days. The anticipation and excitement surrounding the start of the 2026 season is brewing.
On Tuesday, both Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani faced live hitters, and the latter’s arm will be preserved during the World Baseball Classic to prepare for the regular season ahead. Instead of fans having to wait nearly three months to see Ohtani on the mound, the expectation is that he will be ready to go at the start of the year.
The Dodgers are willing to put an innings limit for Ohtani to begin the season, notes Sonja Chen of MLB.com, as they gradually increased his limit by one inning for every two starts once he made his return to pitching last year. Ohtani still has hefty goals for what he can do on the mound this season, and his early season workload will ultimately be dependent on his discretion.
The Dodgers won’t operate by the rigid rules they set for much of last year, but it is likely that Ohtani will be limited innings-wise, at least to begin the season… But if the Dodgers have learned anything in the past two years, it’s that they should never count out Ohtani when he has his mind set on achieving something.
“The fact that he is saying that, he seems like he’s on a mission, pitching-wise,” Friedman said. “Whenever we’ve seen him on a mission, good things happen.”
Links
Teoscar Hernández is back in left field for the 2026 season, and he has shown up to camp with a slimmer physique, having lost 12 lbs over the offseason. Hernández reflected on this past offseason, where his name was the subject of trade conversations while his role as right fielder was removed with the signing of Kyle Tucker, and is eager to be a key contributor to a team eyeing its third consecutive championship, notes Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
“My whole career I used to be 204, 205 (pounds), that range. Last year was a little over. But I’m back to normal right now… I’m ready in any way they need me. I just want to be there, be on the field and play every day.”
Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández will begin the 2026 season on the injured list, opening a runway for Hyeseong Kim to earn the starting second base job. Kim spoke about the changes he made to his swing throughout the course of last year and how he’s entering this spring working on feeling more comfortable at the plate, per Jack Vita of the Los Angeles Times.
“The swing changes we made last year, I would say I felt about 70% comfortable with,” Kim said through an interpreter on Monday. “And then, this offseason and spring training, we were able to recognize some of the other stuff that we needed to work on, so I’m working very hard to make those changes again this year.”
Sep 20, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) looks on against the Boston Red Sox in the sixth inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Spring training is underway, and we are finally hearing from Rays players, coaches, and front office personnel for the first time in 2026. Junior Caminero spoke with the media and discussed his role on the team, and that discussion started to touch on a potential extension. Caminero says that’s up to his team and the agent, and his job is to just play baseball, but we debate whether or not we could see a new deal for the star third baseman before Opening Day.
Caminero and several of his Rays teammates will compete in this year’s World Baseball Classic, so we break down how each Ray fits into their respective country’s roster, and who has a chance to do real damage at the tournament.
If you love what we do on Rays Your Voice, consider becoming a Patreon member for as little as $1/month. Also, if you’ve been a podcast listener from the jump, subscribe to our YouTube channel as well! We go live on YouTube for almost every single episode. Make sure to turn on our channel notifications so you can join us when we go live.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 14: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox watches live batting practice during a workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 14, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s pitching preview time, ladies and gentlemen. Over the next several days, I’ll be writing 10,000 words or so about everyone you might see pitching for the Red Sox to start the season. We’ll start with the starters, because if we didn’t start with the starters, they wouldn’t be starters, and that doesn’t make any sense.
I’m grouping the Sox’ starting pitching options into tiers because that’s how my brain works. Don’t think of them as rankings, but rather buckets based on some similarities I see. Stay tuned for more installments on the new guys, the young guns, and the vets battling out at the bottom of the rotation.
Tier One: Pig
It’s Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, and Paul Skenes. They’re the three best starting pitchers in the world. Put them in any order you want; I won’t argue with you. For the Red Sox, Garrett Crochet is in a tier of his own.
2025 in a sentence: Crochet would have won the Cy Young if it weren’t for the other dominant big lefty in the American League.
Crochet’s fastball is in the high 90s with seven feet of extension. He’s got a devastating cutter and a wipeout sweeper. He added a sinker at the end of 2024 that he carried into 2025, and it made him virtually unhittable against lefties. Seriously, he used the pitch 37% of the time, getting 72% strikes overall and 70% groundballs on contact. Ahead in the count, he went to a high four-seam or a sweeper away, putting lefties away with ease. They went 24 for 145 against him, good for a .455 OPS. Against a lefty-heavy lineup, Crochet will cruise every time.
Righties had more success, but only because it’d be hard to have less. Early in counts, he used his fastball and cutter to get ahead. Both pitches returned strikes at a high clip, though the ideal contact rate against each was on the high side. The damage came when he couldn’t get the ball inside. Fastballs and cutters on the inner third of the plate and inside returned ICR rates of 26.5% and 32%, respectively, while those over the middle and arm side returned rates 56% and 50.6%. Nitpicking one of the best pitchers in the sport is silly, and he’s already working to alleviate that issue.
With two strikes against righties, Crochet primarily turns to his four-seam and his sweeper. The four-seam lives upstairs, while he buries the sweeper at the back foot. Both pitches put away hitters at a high rate; he struck out 31.5% of the righties he faced. Still, there’s one element that could take his arsenal to the next level: a changeup. Last season, he threw a changeup 5% of the time to righties, almost entirely in two-strike counts. The 17.9% swinging strike rate was solid, but the pitch was never in the zone and was really only a surprise pitch. He’s tinkering with a new changeup that’s showing some crazy movement, and could help keep hitters off his other pitches.
Right now, almost everything with two-strikes is inside, moving towards a righty. Having a changeup that he can command off the outside edge would be one more thing for righties to think about, which could help him sneak more fastballs by hitters. We’ve seen two changeups (indoors, in a tunnel), and I wonder if it might be too slow, but the lefty seems excited about his new offering. Regardless, if he does what he did last year, no one can complain. If he takes it to a new level, he’ll add a trophy to his mantle.
Movement profile looks to be somewhere in there. The gap between his fastballs (96ish) and this new splitter (80ish) is insane. I almost wonder if it's too different. https://t.co/sSB3P7D4lOpic.twitter.com/jda9wOIlVJ
As the 2026 Winter Olympics resume, NHL teams have slowly begun to return to practice, with the resumption of play beginning on February 25. When the Vancouver Canucks return to play, some members of the team will be on the hunt for some career milestones.
The player closest to his next career milestone is David Kämpf, who has been in Italy representing Team Czechia at the Olympics during the NHL’s break. The centre is one assist away from reaching 100 throughout his career, with his last helper coming during a two-assist game against the Washington Capitals on January 21.
A fellow Olympian this year, Elias Pettersson also has a couple of milestones to be on the lookout for in the coming games. The forward is currently sitting on 198 NHL goals, putting him only two away from the 200 mark. Once he hits 200, he’ll only need to score two more goals to take sole possession of ninth-most goals scored in franchise history. When he does so, he’ll pass Bo Horvat, who recorded 201 in his time with the Canucks. Pettersson can also enter the top-10 in franchise power play points once he records four more, passing Todd Bertuzzi (163).
Representing Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Kevin Lankinen can also hit a milestone with his next two wins. The goaltender currently sits at 32 regular-season wins as a member of the Canucks, putting him at 16th in franchise history. Once he registers two more, he’ll pass Garth Snow (33) and claim sole possession of 15th.
Drew O’Connor is another player who is nearing a career milestone as the forward currently has 96 career NHL points. Four more will put him at 100 throughout his career. With 13 goals and eight assists through 57 games so far this season, O’Connor looks to be on-pace to hit that milestone in the coming games.
This particular record could be set as soon as tonight. Arshdeep Bains tied Linus Karlsson’s record for most career points in franchise history for the Abbotsford Canucks (148) on Monday after recording two assists. One more point will make Bains the sole leader in this stat, with every point he registers after setting a new record. Abbotsford plays the Ontario Reign tonight at 7:00 pm PT.
The Canucks will resume play at home against the Winnipeg Jets on February 25 at 7:00 pm PT. Before that, their Olympic representatives will continue their quests for medals.
Jan 21, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward David Kampf (64) and forward Drew O'Connor (18) and forward Brock Boeser (6) celebrate O’Connor’s goal against the Washington Capitals in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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NORTH PORT, FL - FEBRUARY 23: A general interior view of CoolToday Park during the Spring Training game between the Detroit Tigers and the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park on February 23, 2020 in North Port, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Braves 5-1. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
While the TV situation for the Atlanta Braves is currently in flux heading into the 2026 season, there are still games to be played and we at least know that 15 of them will be televised by your local Gray TV affiliate.
We’ll keep this updated as more information comes out but for now, here’s the TV and radio schedule for the 2026 Grapefruit League campaign for the Atlanta Braves.
The new face of the franchise, Colson Montgomery, sports the pinstripes on Photo Day as he prepares to lead the youth movement in 2026. | Getty Images
Spring Training in Glendale is officially in full swing, and if you haven’t already muted the “Chris Getz is building a team of 2023 roster castoffs” jokes on X, now might be the time. The biggest buzz at Camelback Ranch isn’t just the desert heat; it’s the arrival of Munetaka Murakami. While most of the roster is easing into their routine, Murakami is ramping up for the World Baseball Classic. The Sox are banking on that high-stakes environment keeping his timing sharp, which is a bold strategy for a guy adjusting to MLB velocity. But hey, seeing him and Colson Montgomery side-by-side in the infield at least gives us something to dream about while we wait for the Cactus League opener against the Cubs this Friday.
On the “project” front, Erick Fedde is back for a second act on a one-year flyer, and the early reports suggest he’s already tinkering with his hand break to fix the mechanical mess that was his 2025. Meanwhile, the front office continues its quest to collect every available depth piece with a recognizable last name, apparently signing DarrenBaker (son of Dusty) to a minor-league deal.
Darren Baker, the son of future Hall of Fame manager Dusty Baker, is working out on the back fields of the Chicago White Sox. He officially signed a minor league contract after being with the Washington Nationals and likely will open the season at Triple-A Charlotte.
Whether any of this translates to more than 60 wins is a conversation for another day. For now, the pinstripes looked crisp at yesterday’s Photo Day, and the optimism is palpable.
Yes, it’s early, and we all know the drill. It’s mid-February, the sun is hitting the back fields at Camelback Ranch, and hope is really the only thing we have in abundance before the actual games start exposing the flaws. But with the LuisRobert Jr. era officially over (still feels weird seeing him in Mets blue), the 2026 iteration of the White Sox is definitely leaning hard into the “Youth” movement, which does bring some excitement. And one thing is for certain, manager Will Venable has a lot of pieces to move around, with the general consensus being that the kids are finally getting the keys to the South Side. Between the high-OBP profile of Chase Meidroth, the sheer “juice” Murakami and Montgomery bring to the middle of the order, and the All-Star caliber catching duo of Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero, the 2026 lineup might actually — dare I say — force a pitcher to break a sweat in the fourth inning.
So, grab your sunscreen and settle in. If Murakami’s power is as real as the desert heat and the kids can maintain that second-half swagger from a year ago, we might actually find ourselves enjoying South Side baseball again before the 162-game marathon is through.
From left, Detroit Tigers starting pitchers Framber Valdez, Jack Flaherty, Justin Verlander, Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize pose for a photo during Verlander’s introductory press conference at the 34 Club of Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida, on Feb. 12, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
World Series or bust y’all! Ok, this is baseball. It’s a rare team that can actually expect to win a World Series title in a given year. Even the highest projected odds for the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers to win the World Series again this year are only 27.3 percent, and by baseball standards those are incredibly good odds. Only the Mariners, Mets, and for some reason, the Braves, even have odds a little over seven percent to win the World Series.
Of course, fan isn’t short for “reasonable observer” and there’s no reason not to let your hopes fly as high as possible, as long as you can deal with the likelihood of them getting dashed on the rocks as usual. In the past two weeks, the Tigers have added roughly 3 wins to their projections, depending which system you ask, by replacing Reese Olson with Framber Valdez and then bulking up the rotation with Justin Verlander. The effect of that influx of talent and depth should improve the bullpen as well and keeps replacement level pitchers from having to cover innings.
For myself, it’s time the Tigers won the AL Central for one, and it would be a failure of the season if they don’t. Beyond that, they’ve been deep in the ALDS each of the past two seasons. If they could finally win through, I’d ultimately be pretty happy with the season, even assuming that a crushing defeat lies ahead in the ALCS or World Series. If they could even get to the World Series it would be a huge success after a 14 year absence.
How about you? It’s tough knowing this is their likely last shot with Tarik Skubal leading the way. Players have to take a World Series or bust approach publicly, and fans certainly can live or die with their club wanting to win it all. But, what would constitute a successful 2026 season in your mind?
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 7: Tony Clark, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association talks to the media prior to the spring training game between the New York Mets and the New York Yankees at First Date Field on March 7, 2018 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Evan Drellich argues that commissioner Rob Manfred’s biggest problem in the upcoming labor talks may not be with the players but rather with the owners over the control of TV rights. (The Athletic sub. req.) Tom Ricketts is featured as an enemy of Manfred’s plans.
Michael Baumann notest that between the Padres’ signing of Buehler, Griffin Canning and Germán Marquez this past three-day weekend, Preller is casting a wide net in order to find a 4th starter. He also writes about the Padres signing of Nick Castellanos over the weekend.
We are just two weeks away from the kickoff of the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Tokyo. Michael Clair has one key player for all 20 teams.
New Giants manager Tony Vitello said the team will consider calling pitches from the dugout, like NCAA teams do. (The Athletic sub. req.) The Rockies have said they will “experiment” with calling pitches from the dugout this year and the Marlins did for a few games last year.
