MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 14: Ronald Acuña Jr. #21 of Team Venezuela rounds the bases after his home run during the first inning against Team Japan during the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park on March 14, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Tuesday! The Mariners are back in action today against the Colorado Rockies at 1:10 PM, with the starting pitcher yet to be announced.
In some non-baseball news, it’s time for March Madness! One of my personal favorite times of the year. If you think you have what it takes to beat both staff writers and commenters, or if you’re just in it for the love of the game, sign up for our Lookout Landing March Madness bracket pool. Updates of bracket standings will be posted in the Moose Tracks as the tournament goes on, and who knows, there might even be some fun prizes involved for the winner. Brackets officially lock on Thursday morning, good luck to all!
Lookout Landing is collecting your preseason predictions to include in our annual predicitions article. Fill out the form here.
In the World Baseball Classic…
An electric seventh-inning rally from Venezuela started by Ronald Acuña Jr. propelled them to a 4-2 win over Italy in the WBC semifinals. They will matchup against Team USA in an exciting final tonight at 5 PM.
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)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 18: Ranger Suárez #55 of the Boston Red Sox throws during a workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 18, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2025 Boston Red Sox were the third team in the AL East to make the postseason with an 89-73 record. They had the fourth-best record in the American League and lost in the Wild Card round to the Yankees. It was the Red Sox first playoff appearance since 2021 and just their second since they won the World Series in 2018. They had a three-season non-winning streak prior to 2025, and I certainly wasn’t happy to see that streak end.
The 2025 Red Sox were good enough to make the playoffs, but they had plenty of room to improve. Their bullpen was one of the best in baseball, but their starting rotation was middle of the pack. Their offense was top-10 by most measures. They have made a lot of changes to improve and make up for players they lost, especially in the starting rotation.
Additions & Subtractions
The 2025 Red Sox starting rotation had a combined fWAR of 11.7, with half of that coming from ace pitcher Garrett Crochet. Their #2 starter was Brayan Bello, who is a fine pitcher but not a number two. So the Red Sox went out and got two more starters to boost their rotation.
First,they traded for Sonny Gray. Gray is 36 years old and starting to show his age. He had a 4.28 ERA in 32 starts with the Cardinals last year, but the Red Sox are obviously hoping Gray has enough in the tank to be a solid contributor. In December, they traded for Johan Oviedo, who comes from the Pirates and slots in at the back of the rotation.
Their biggest move came in January, when they signed Ranger Suárez to a five-year, $130 million contract. This one hurt the Orioles on multiple fronts. Not only did their division rivals sign one of the best pitchers on the market this offseason, but Suárez is a pitcher the Orioles are believed to have pursued. After the signing, Jon Heyman reported that the Orioles offered him $125M. Ouch.
Lucas Giolito had a solid 2025 season with the Red Sox, but is currently still a free agent. That’s strange to me, but he isn’t a Red Sock any longer. With the changes, the Red Sox rotation currently stands as Crochet, Suárez, Gray, Bello, and Oviedo.
The Red Sox didn’t make many changes to the bullpen, though they recently added former Oriole Danny Coulombe. Their bullpen will continue to be headlined by closer Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock. If we’re lucky, this will be the year that the 38-year-old Chapman gets bad and goes away forever.
On offense, the Red Sox look to improve first base with Willson Contreras, acquired from the Cardinals. They had something of a revolving door at first base last year, including Nathaniel Lowe, who left as a free agent and signed with the Reds.
Their biggest offensive loss is Alex Bregman, who left Boston for the Chicago Cubs. In turn, the Red Sox traded for Caleb Durbin, who had a solid rookie season with Milwaukee in 2025.
2025 rookie Marcelo Mayer will slot in at second base. Trevor Story will continue to man shortstop and the outfield will be manned with returning players Jarren Duran, Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela. Anthony could end up being the best hitter on the team.
Projections
PECOTA: 82-80 (4th in AL East)
FanGraphs: 89-73 (3rd in AL East)
That’s a pretty big difference in the two projection systems. The Red Sox made a lot of changes this offseason. Their starting rotation has been overhauled and their offense has several key changes. PECOTA thinks that will lose them seven wins from last year and FanGraphs has them holding steady. It’ s interesting that even with all their changes, these projections don’t expect any improvement.
In recent history, the Red Sox have been contenders or have been terrible. Middle of the road isn’t really a thing for them. Given that, I won’t be surprised no matter what happens with them.
PITTSBURGH, PA - 1982: Pitcher Tim Lollar of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during a Major League Baseball game at Three Rivers Stadium in 1982 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Baseball careers rarely follow a straight line. Some players spend years bouncing not only between the majors and the minors, but between teams and even leagues. Others remain in the game long after their playing days end as coaches, broadcasters, or front office executives. Some players never make it to the big leagues and fade from memory. Others are fortunate enough to reach the majors and then find another adventure that keeps them fulfilled.
Tim Lollar is one of those latter fortunate fellas. The former Yankees southpaw celebrates his 70th birthday today.
William Timothy Lollar Born: March 17, 1956 (Poplar Bluff, MO) Yankees tenure: 1980
Tim Lollar was a Show-Me State standout athlete at Farmington High School in the 1970s, excelling in baseball, football, basketball, and golf. After graduating, Lollar accepted a baseball scholarship to Mineral Area College in nearby Park Hills, where he played for two seasons before transferring to the University of Arkansas.
In Fayetteville during the late 1970s, Lollar developed into a dominant left-handed pitcher and among the most accomplished players in Razorbacks history. His success at Arkansas came during an era when the Razorbacks were building a reputation as one of the strongest baseball programs in the country. Under legendary head coach Norm DeBriyn, Arkansas developed a steady pipeline of major-league talent, and Lollar quickly established himself as one of the program’s brightest stars.
During his time in Fayetteville, Lollar showed the kind of versatility that made him particularly appealing to professional scouts. Not only could he dominate on the mound with a powerful left arm, but he also contributed at the plate. His talent earned him All-American honors in 1978, becoming the first player in Razorbacks history to receive the distinction.
Lollar’s well-rounded skill set made him one of the most intriguing players available from the 1978 amateur pool. For a franchise like the Yankees, which was constantly looking to restock its pitching depth during the late 1970s, Lollar represented exactly the kind of high-upside arm worth investing in.
His success on the hill in Fayetteville eventually led to the Yankees selecting him fourth round in the 1978 MLB Draft. At the time, New York was one of baseball’s premier franchises, fresh off back-to-back World Series championships in 1977 and 1978. Breaking into the big leagues with those expectations hanging over the organization was no small task for a young pitcher.
Lollar reached the majors in 1980 and made his debut in pinstripes as part of a Yankees pitching staff trying to help fight off the defending champion Orioles in a loaded American League East. His first career game on June 28, 1980, was part of a wild 11-10 slugfest between New York and Cleveland, and Lollar actually outpitched fellow standour relievers Ron Davis and Goose Gossage, allowing just one run on two his in two innings of work.
Although his time in New York was brief, the rookie left-hander showed flashes of the talent that had made him such a standout in college. Across 14 appearances for the Yankees during the 1980 season, Lollar went 1–0 with a 3.34 ERA (119 ERA+) while making one start and picking up two saves as a reliever. The start coincided with his first career victory, six innings of two-hit, one-run work against the Tigers in Game 162. For a first-year pitcher adjusting to the major leagues — and doing so in the Boogie Down Bronx — it was a respectable beginning to his professional career and enough to help New York take the AL East with 103 wins to Baltimore’s 100.
The Yankees didn’t use Lollar in the postseason, which turned out to be a quick three-and-out ALCS sweep at the hands of the same Royals team that they’d handled three times during the late-1970s playoffs. He pitched in the Puerto Rican Winter League and reported to camp in great shape in 1981. But he never made it to the regular season. The free-wheeling Yanks traded him to the Padres just over a week before Opening Day, on March 31st.
Lollar spent the most significant portion of his career there, pitching four seasons in San Diego from 1981 through 1984, including their first-ever pennant-winning season in ’84 — though his two postseason starts were not ones to remember. His best season was actually ’82, when he went 16-9 with a 3.13 ERA (111 ERA+) and 3.4 rWAR while tossing two shutouts.
In December 1984, Lollar was part of a big trade that sent 1983 AL Cy Young Award winner LaMarr Hoyt to San Diego with Lollar among the names heading back to the White Sox — including their future Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star, and fiery 2005 World Series champion manager, Ozzie Guillén. Lollar would not remain on the South Side nearly as long as Ozzie, as he was dealt again in July, changing his Sox to Red.
Lollar remained in Boston through the 1986 season, and after being left off the playoff roster, he tried to catch on with the Tigers and Cardinals on minor-league deals in 1987. His Triple-A ERA was 5.87 in 19 outings though, so at age 31, that spelled the end. Lollar closed out a seven-year major league career that included 199 appearances, a 47–52 record, and a 4.27 ERA. He also hit eight home runs in 231 at-bats — a notable total for a pitcher even during the era when pitchers still hit.
While he never developed into a frontline ace, Lollar carved out the kind of career many pitchers aspire to — that of a reliable big-league arm capable of filling multiple roles on a pitching staff. His willingness to move between starting and relief duties helped him remain valuable throughout the 1980s as teams increasingly relied on pitching depth.
Yet the most unusual chapter of Lollar’s professional life began after he hung up his baseball cleats and put on a different kind of spikes.
Following his retirement from baseball in 1989, Lollar stepped away from the sport entirely and pursued a completely new career path. Rather than remaining in baseball as a coach or instructor, he turned his focus toward another lifelong passion: golf.
Lollar eventually became a PGA professional, building a second career within the golf industry as both an instructor and club professional. The transition from pitching on major league mounds to working on the golf course may seem unusual, but for Lollar it represented an opportunity to reinvent himself after baseball.
His journey illustrates something many professional athletes eventually discover: life after sports often requires starting over and finding a new competitive outlet. For Lollar, that meant trading the pitching mound for the fairway.
Today, Lollar’s baseball career remains a fascinating footnote in Yankees history — a rookie season in the Bronx that launched nearly a decade in the major leagues, including a stop to become one of the 251 players to play both for the Yankees and Red Sox.
From small-town Missouri to the University of Arkansas, to Yankee Stadium and eventually the PGA, Tim Lollar’s career path proves that sometimes the most interesting journeys are the ones that take a few unexpected turns.
Happy birthday, William Timothy Lollar — and Woo Pig!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: T.J. Rumfield #64 of the Colorado Rockies fields a ground ball out against Team United States during the third inning of the MLB exhibition game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 04, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the last 13 years, the Colorado Rockies have played a comical game of musical chairs at first base. Since Hall of Famer Todd Helton retired in 2013, 38 players made a start at first base. Much like the quarterback carousel for the Denver Broncos, the team has struggled to find a permanent or even long-term solution at the cold corner.
2025 proved no different.
Michael Toglia entered last season as the de facto starter at first after a breakout 2024 campaign. However, his severe regression led to him losing his starting position and being sent to Triple-A in the middle of the season, and he was eventually non-tendered in the offseason. Warming Bernabel had replaced him during the season, but his hot start went ice cold, and he was also released during the offseason.
Plenty of speculation revolved around what the Rockies would do at first base, and new President of Baseball Operations, Paul DePodesta, even signaled that they were talking to free agents. However, as spring training began, the Rockies left first base fairly unsettled, creating one of the more notable battles in spring training, and throwing off the normal format for this entry in our State of the Position series.
The experienced contenders
This category of players in camp includes those who have already stepped on a major league field.
After the releases of Toglia and Bernabel, the incumbent spot entering the offseason fell to Blaine Crim, who was claimed on waivers by the Rockies near the end of the 2025 season. The 28-year-old impressed in his brief 15 games to close out the season, slashing .241/.295/.556 with five home runs and 12 RBI in 61 plate appearances. However, strikeouts proved troublesome in the small sample size, as he recorded 22 strikeouts against just five walks. Still, manager Warren Schaeffer liked what he saw, and Crim appeared to have a simple path to filling in at first base as a stopgap until someone else was ready. However, an oblique strain early in spring training has sidelined him for a few weeks now, and it’s looking increasingly likely that he may lose his spot. He recently resumed taking batting practice and will have to hit the gas if he can make it into games before camp breaks.
Before the Rockies even had a new head of the front office, the team claimed Troy Johntson off of waivers once the offseason officially started, a move we can only say was made by “The Council.” Much like Crim, Johnston is also 28 and just made his debut last season after a successful minor league career. He got a little more run with the Miami Marlins, slashing .277/.331/.420 with four home runs and 13 RBI over 44 games. In 121 plate appearances, he drew just eight walks, but also struck out 26 times. Thus far in spring training with the Rockies, the left-handed-hitting Johnston is slashing .325/.404/.425 with two doubles and a triple while drawing five walks against six strikeouts in 47 plate appearances. While more attention is being directed toward a pair of prospects in camp, Johnston has quietly gone about his business and presents an intriguing option for the Rockies, especially since he can also play both corner outfield positions.
Finally, the Rockies acquired left-handed-hitting Edouard Julien in a trade with the Minnesota Twins. While second base has always been his main position, Julien picked up first base out of necessity for the Twins and himself. Since his stellar rookie season in 2023, Julien has struggled to find an offensive rhythm at the big league level and now finds himself out of minor league options and hoping for a fresh start in Colorado. He hasn’t done much with the bat thus far in five games with the Rockies, batting .133/.235/.133 with five strikeouts and two walks in 16 plate appearances. He also went 3-for-19 in five games with Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, but did draw four walks against eight strikeouts. He was viewed as the starting first baseman when he was acquired, but as camp has unfolded, it’s unclear what his role on this team could actually be.
The talk of Rockies camp in spring training has revolved around the performances of two young prospects looking to break through in 2026.
One of the more surprising moves was when the Rockies traded reliever Angel Chivilli to the New York Yankees for first baseman T.J. Rumfield. Blocked by Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt in New York, Rumfield has put together a compelling case to be the Rockies’ starting first baseman come Opening Day. Displaying elite contact, plate discipline, glove work, and a knack for power, Rumfield has checked plenty of boxes in spring training. In 16 games, he is slashing .333/.432/.667 with four home runs and 10 RBI. Additionally, in 44 plate appearances, he has five walks while striking out just one time. Yes, Rumfield has struck out fewer times in 16 games than Luis Arráez has in five games in the WBC (2). With nothing much left to prove in the minors, Rumfield has not given the Rockies much of a reason to deny him a spot.
Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) has also impressed in his first big league camp with the Rockies. The third overall pick of the 2024 draft has had a difficult start to his professional career after injuries hampered him. However, once he returned in 2025, Condon slowly began to find his rhythm at the plate that continued into a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League. In 18 games of Cactus League action, Condon is batting .371/.439/.714 with three home runs and nine RBI while also striking out eight times to four walks. It was said he would have every opportunity to win a job, and while it may be in his best interest to get more seasoning in Triple-A, Condon has risen to the challenge. He has also embraced the directive to develop defensively at first base while also honing his skills in the outfield. There is no doubt he will make his debut in 2026 if everything goes according to plan, it’s just a matter of when.
The Rockies were interested in bringing in an experienced bat to play first base and that may still be the case in some format. Particularly, a right-handed hitting veteran could be used to complement and mentor someone like T.J. Rumfield in a part-time role. A move of some kind can’t be ruled out before the end of spring training. Additionally, the idea of Tyler Freeman picking up a first base glove has been floated around to expand his versatility. Should that happen, it would be akin to Orlando Arcia starting at first base last season — it’s weird, but it would be fine if needed.
The farm candidates
First base continues to be one of the thinner positions in the organization.
Zach Kokoska projects to start the year in Triple-A after spending the last two years in Double-A Hartford. The left-handed-hitting product from Kansas State University has a knack for the long ball since being drafted in 2021, but has struggled with strikeouts in 181 games in Hartford while slashing .204/.297/.428. Perhaps the accession to Albuquerque will help him elevate the average and take advantage of his home run capabilities.
Aidan Longwell remains one of the more legit first base prospects in teh organization. He turned in a strong campaign with High-A Spokane in 2025, belting 15 home runs and driving in 80 runs while slashing .274/.345/.465 in 121 games. Longwell is an overlooked prospect who has been consistently good since being drafted in 2023. He’s likely to start the year in Double-A.
Beyond that, the lower levels of the minors don’t have many dedicated options at first base, despite a number of players being able to fill the position. However, perhaps the most intriguing player to keep an eye on is Tanner Thach, whom the Rockies drafted in the eighth round last summer. He briefly made his professional debut in an 18-game stint with the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies, where he slashed .279/.375/.397 with two home runs and 15 RBI. After a quality collegiate career at UNC Wilmington, Thach will now get a chance to show what he can do in his first full season.
Closing thoughts
The Rockies hoped to raise the floor of competition at several positions in spring training, and that’s what has happened at first base. It seemed like a foregone conclusion early that Crim and Johnston would hold the fort until Condon was ready, but the addition of Rumfield has made it an even more compelling race.
Despite the uncertainty of the position, first base has an air of excitement around it because of the options in camp. The Rockies wouldn’t necessarily be faulted for picking any of the currently healthy options to make the Opening Day roster, and that’s a good problem to have. They also need someone to solidify the position, kind of like C.J. Cron did from 2021 to 2023, until the permanent answer presents itself.
Otherwise, we’ll be repeating this conversation next year.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 14: Salvador Perez #13, Eugenio Suárez #7 and Eduardo Rodriguez #52 of Team Venezuela celebrate with teammates after winning the 2026 World Baseball Classic Quarterfinals game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team Japan at loanDepot park on Saturday, March 14, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The last Arizona Diamondbacks player left standing in the World Baseball Classic will be in the spotlight during the championship game, as Eduardo Rodriguez will start on the mound for Venezuela against the United States on Tuesday.
“[He was] so good that we had to send him back out there for another inning of work,” said Lovullo. “We felt like the pitch count was fine, the workload was very manageable, and he just did exactly what he did in that final inning for the first four.”
But most importantly of all, Pfaadt’s sweeper was, once again, a weapon. He threw the pitch 10 times, got nine swings, and collected four whiffs. Three of his six strikeouts came on that sweeper.
“A fantastic day for him, filled up the zone, ton of execution, a lot of swing-and-miss,” Lovullo continued. “Secondary stuff was good. So we’re very pleased with where he’s at.”
The next month is going to be perhaps the most difficult of Arizona Diamondbacks ace Corbin Burnes’ recovery from Tommy John surgery.
On Monday, Burnes went through his second bullpen session since having surgery last summer, throwing to a catcher set up a few feet closer than usual to manage his intensity.
Burnes said he typically throws three or four bullpens and then it’s time to get in a game each spring. This time, he’s going to have to trust the process and stick with bullpen work while his team begins the regular season without him.
Urías appeared in 96 games in 2025 with the Athletics, batting .230 with eight home runs, 25 RBIs and a .653 OPS. The 28-year-old has built a reputation for his defensive versatility across the infield throughout his MLB career.
That flexibility could prove valuable as Arizona looks for someone to fill a role similar to Blaze Alexander’s style of play. Alexander was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for pitching depth, leaving a question about who could emerge as the club’s next utility player.
Outside, it was one of those relentless South Florida rains. But still, the hundreds of Venezuelan baseball fans who remained long after the last pitch of the World Baseball Classic semifinals had been thrown were in ecstasy. Thoroughly soaked but swept up in the moment, they sang, danced, chanted and cheered. And in the distance, you could hear drums beating, mouths whistling and car horns blaring.
You don’t truly know how much the World Baseball Classic means until you see what it means. And here, in the downpour outside loanDepot park, as Monday night gave way to Tuesday morning — the day Venezuela would meet Team USA in the finale of this terrific tournament — it was evident that it meant a lot.
Manager Dave Roberts told reporters at spring training Monday that Yamamoto will start the March 26 opener at home against Arizona.
Yamamoto was the first and last pitcher used by the Dodgers last season, when he got the final eight outs in their 11-inning World Series Game 7 clincher at Toronto. He also won both of his World Series starts, a complete game in Game 2 and then threw 96 pitches over six innings in Game 6, a night before throwing 34 pitches to close out the series.
Games played in the Pacific Coast League will use the ABS Challenge system and follow the same rules that have been adopted at the Major League level for the 2026 season (i.e., each team will start the game with two challenges, successful challenges will be retained, teams will receive an extra challenge if they have no challenges remaining in extra innings, etc.). Consistent with past seasons, MLB will monitor gameplay to determine if there is a desire to test changes at a later point in the season. Beginning on May 5, 2026, the batter, pitcher, or catcher may also appeal the umpire’s decision regarding whether the batter swung at a pitch (“Check-Swing Challenge”). A swing will be considered to have occurred if the maximum angle between the bat head and the bat handle exceeds 45 degrees. This rule was tested in the Florida State League and Arizona Fall League in 2025. In the FSL, the strikeout rate was over 3% lower when Check-Swing Challenge was used, having a positive impact on balls in play and encouraging more extensive testing at higher levels. Under this format, each team will continue to start the game with 2 challenges. Challenges may be used on either ball/strike calls or swing/no-swing calls, but not both on the same pitch.
A Padres club already thin on rotation depth delivered some rough news for fans Monday, as manager Craig Stammen revealed that righty Joe Musgrove is expected to open the season on the injured list (video link via 97.3 The Fan). Musgrove hasn’t thrown in more than a week. Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports that he didn’t recover as well as hoped following an exhibition start against Great Britain’s World Baseball Classic club.
It’s an ominous update, though it’s worth noting that Stammen didn’t suggest there had been a setback of any note. Musgrove hasn’t pitched since the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery that cost him the entirety of the 2025 campaign.
SURPRISE, AZ - FEBRUARY 17: Justin Foscue #56 of the Texas Rangers poses for a photo during the Texas Rangers photo day at Surprise Stadium on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Texas Rangers optioned reliever Marc Church and infielder Justin Foscue to AAA Round Rock, the team announced yesterday.
Church made the Opening Day roster in 2025 but struggled with his command, was sent down, and then spent most of the season dealing with injuries, including a torn teres major muscle* that ended his season. Church was still working his way back from that injury when spring training began, and made his first spring appearance on Sunday against the Dodgers. A player can’t be optioned if they are injured, so Church couldn’t be optioned until he was healthy — otherwise, he’d have to start the season on the major league injured list.
* You may remember this as the same injury that cost Jose Leclerc and Corey Kluber most of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Foscue was slowed by a hamstring strain early in camp, and also returned to action on Sunday. At the start of camp, there was some thought that Foscue could potentially earn a spot on the Opening Day roster in a platoon DH/bench role. The combination of the injury, which sidelined him for a good amount of time, and the addition of Andrew McCutchen ended those hopes.
The Rangers still have 30 of the 40 man roster members in camp. Assuming McCutchen — who is on a minor league deal, and thus not on the 40 man roster currently — makes the team, at least five players on the 40 man roster who are still in camp will not make the Opening Day roster. Among guys who don’t have a roster spot locked up, Jacob Latz and Kumar Rocker are fighting for the fifth starter spot, and Luis Curvelo is still in the mix for a bullpen spot, as is Latz, should he not make the rotation. Alejandro Osuna and Michael Helman are still in camp, though would seem to be headed to AAA unless someone gets hurt. Cody Freeman, who is sidelined with a stress fracture in his back, most likely will start the year on the major league injured list.
The Detroit Red Wings picked up a badly-needed two points on Monday evening, securing a 5-2 victory over the lowly Calgary Flames at Little Caesars Arena.
Future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane scored twice, while the Red Wings also got goals from Emmitt Finnie, Moritz Seider, and Dominik Shine (empty-net).
They also got 25 saves from goaltender John Gibson, who turned in another strong performance for Detroit, who can now turn their attention toward the impending divisional clash against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
"It's nice, enjoy it, and get ready for Thursday; you can't dwell on any games," Gibson said afterward of the win. "It's too close. But it's exciting. You ask anybody, and this is what you want to be playing for; you can't be nervous (about) the pressure. You have to take it head-on and have fun with it."
Gibson had to be sharp early after a turnover in Detroit's own defensive zone led to a direct chance in front of the net from Joel Farabee; he robbed his golden chance with a windmill-style glove save.
John Gibson robs Joel Farabee with the glove. Good start for the Flames early in the 1st.
Gibson has been one of the NHL's best goaltenders since the beginning of January, and his swagger between the pipes has aided the Red Wings.
Head coach Todd McLellan made special note of not only how well Gibson has played, but the communication he provides to the team at the bench during television timeouts.
“I don't know if you could put a number on how big it is, but you can just feel it, Gibby does have that swagger," McLellan said. "When he comes to the bench during the timeouts, and he's in total control and command of the game, and he sees things that the forwards and D need as reminders, he's barking, and they're listening."
“Once that started, his game really started to go. It's still like that, and it's huge. You have to have goaltending at this time of the year.”
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Peoria, AZ - February 22: Luis Campusano #12 of the San Diego Padres catches during a spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on February 22, 2026 in Peoria, AZ. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Walker Buehler is one of a handful of pitchers competing for a spot at the back of the San Diego Padres rotation. He made a strong case for himself with a dominant start against the San Francisco Giants. Buehler threw five scoreless innings and recorded seven strikeouts while allowing three hits and two walks. The San Diego offense did not get anything going against San Francisco starter Tyler Mahle, but no one has this spring. In four Spring Training games, Mahle has earned three wins and has yet to allow a run over 10 innings while allowing just two hits. The Padres offense broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning with three runs against reliever Spencer Bivens. The San Diego bullpen made the three runs hold up, allowing just one run and the Padres walked away with a 3-1 win.
Padres News:
Padres manager Craig Stammen told reporters that Joe Musgrove would likely not be on the Opening Day roster as he works back from Tommy John surgery. Musgrove has not pitched in a game since March 4 against Great Britain. Stammen said this delay was expected. Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball says it is important that Musgrove takes the time now to get right and get healthy because the Padres will need him later in the season if they want to make the playoffs.
With the news about Musgrove likely starting the season in the IL, the rotation picture for San Diego looks bleak. Michael King, Nick Pivetta and Randy Vasquez are all in the top three spots, but the fourth and fifth spots remain open. Gaslamp Ball asked readers what their level of concern is about the rotation with just a handful of days remaining before Opening Day.
Despite the concerns about starting pitching, Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball believes the Padres will compete with the Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks for second place in the National League West Division. He also does not rule out the possibility that San Diego could knock off the rivals to the north and claim the NL West title.
Manny Randhawa of Padres.com looks at how Musgrove starting on the IL will affect the San Diego rotation and the competition for the final spots.
Randhawa also talked with Stammen about the at-bat that almost was between Fernando Tatis Jr. and Mason Miller. Most baseball fans saw it as an opportunity that would have rivaled Shohei Ohtani versus Mike Trout, but Stammen said he was glad that two of his best players did not have to face off against one another in the 2-1 US win over the Dominican Republic in the semi-final of the WBC tournament.
Jose Miranda has been putting together a solid Spring Training in his first season with the San Diego organization, and he has a chance to make the roster with Sung-Mun Song likely starting the season on the IL thanks to an oblique injury. Miranda has tough competition to make the Padres’ roster, but he is trying to make the most of his new opportunity.
Stammen said weeks ago that Luis Campusano was going to be the secondary catcher for the Padres and that stance has not changed despite a lackluster performance in offense throughout Spring Training.
Baseball News:
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas will miss 80 games in the 2026 season as a result of a failed test for PEDs.
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez looked as though he was going to miss time due to a sore shoulder, but he advised stated he is feeling “much better” and the team is considering him day-to day.
Detroit Tigers top prospect Kevin McGonigle is having a great spring and is doing all he can to show that he should be on the Opening Day roster when the team opens the season against the Padres in San Diego.
Every play is the “Play of the Year.” Every new prospect or rookie is a generational talent. And every great player gets inevitabely put into the discussion of “Greatest of All Time.”
But trust us, it might be tough to top this goal as far as the title of “Goal of the Year.”
It comes to us from the KHL, and the clash between Moscow heavyweights Dynamo Moscow and Spartak Moscow. The game advanced to a shootout, and that is when former Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Semyon Der-Arguchintsev lined up for his attempt.
Der-Arguchintsev breaks towards Spartak goalie Artyom Zagidulin, before slowing the play and getting Zagidulin to drop down to his pads. That’s when Der-Arguchintsev pulls the puck around his back, lifting a shot around his back and into the top shelf for the game-winning goal.
Toronto drafted Der-Arguchintsev in the third round of the 2018 NHL Draft, and the forward worked his way through the team’s developmental system. He spent three seasons with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, scoring 25 goals. He appeared in one game with the Maple Leafs, but did not score a goal.
He opted to return to Russia for the 2023-2024 season, joining Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL.
But this shootout goal is good enough, that it might just get him another look.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 16: Venezuelan fans celebrate the victory 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
MIAMI, FL, March 16 — When I decided to plan a trip to Miami centered around the knockout stage of the World Baseball Classic a few weeks ago, I did so with the expectation that the tournament would see a steady rise in popularity over the next couple of decades. In a world where almost everything is on the verge of falling apart, the WBC presents a refreshing opportunity to invest in something that’s fun and has its best days clearly in the future.
Well, I was wrong. The future is now!
The World Baseball Classic isn’t just a story of slow and steady growth for tomorrow — it’s a love letter sent down from the baseball gods addressed to everybody on planet Earth, and in most places, it already arrived yesterday. (Some folks just haven’t checked their mailbox yet.)
Simply put, there is nothing like the World Baseball Classic. I keep looking for some combination of words I can string together here to try and communicate what I’ve seen and experienced the last four days, and nothing is going to do it justice.
In less than 100 hours, I’ve gone from never being more impressed by a singular fanbase than I am for Team Japan, to never being more impressed by a singular fanbase than I am for the Dominican Republic, to never being more impressed by a singular fanbase than I am for Venezuela. And as silly as this may sound after that last sentence, I’m not somebody who is easily impressed.
Team Japan brought an armada of fans from the other side of the planet. They wore creative costumes and face paint, brought flags, expectations, and a deep knowledge of the game, donned a million Shohei Ohtani jerseys, and flooded Miami with an obsession for baseball I haven’t seen in a city since Boston in 2004. These folks are everywhere!
Ohtani is like a God to them. When he comes to the plate, the entire background state of the stadium changes. Side conversations evaporate, unrelated chanting stops, focus maximizes, and anticipation builds. Everybody in the park knows they might be about to witness something extraordinary on any given pitch, and in the bottom of the first inning Saturday, we did.
In what felt like a direct counterpunch to Ronald Acuna’s solo home run in the top of the first inning, the greatest player in the world instantly answered and set the stage for Japan to eventually jump out to a 5-2 lead.
But oddly enough, it was an Ohtani strikeout with two men on and a chance to extend that three run lead later in the game that ultimately served as the turning point. If Ohtani can be beaten, well then so can team Japan, and that’s exactly what happened later that night, powered largely by Wilyer Abreu’s three run homer:
Willyer Abreu’s most iconic moment of his life so far. This guy is such a stud. Such an underrated hitter.
Then on Sunday night, there was the United States against the Dominican Republic, and a full 90 minutes before first pitch, the DR fans were doing this:
They only got louder as the evening progressed, and as a group, they turned a night at the ballpark into a five-hour party with enough electricity to light up the Miami skyline for a week. And of course, all this was happening while perhaps the greatest collection of talent ever assembled on a baseball diamond in a game that mattered faced off in a nerve-wracking 2-1 battle. It just doesn’t get any better than this! (Except it does, because Roman Anthony ended up hitting what turned out to be the game winning home run.)
But despite all of this, the fanbase that’s taught me the most about how to act as a human being is the Venezuelans. From now on, when I think of the word joy, I’m going to think of them.
Their manager Omar Lopez said something to the effect of “we just want to bring some happiness to our country” in this tournament. And, well, they’ve already done that and more, despite still being one win away from the championship.
Until you experience a game with the Venezuelans, you will never believe an atmosphere could be both so tense and so friendly at the same time. It was as if I was back in a ballpark with all the passion of Red Sox vs. Yankees of the early 2000s, but none of the hostility. And of course, this is only more amazing when you consider I experienced this while wearing a U.S hat, the very country that bombed their homeland a mere two months ago.
Whenever anything good happened for their team, they wanted to include me in their celebrations, which included dancing, specialized chants, and a joy you barely see anywhere in the world right now. Here I am, as white as Christmas snow equipped with zero dancing ability, and these folks are grabbing my hand and teaching me how they do it.
Perhaps I’ll have better luck at retaining their chants. My favorite of which is when they yell “Ponche! Ponche!” while swinging their right arm anytime their pitcher gets two strikes on a hitter. It actually comes from the English word strikeout or punch out, but it’s clearly pronounced with a delightful Spanish flair. Perhaps we should try to bring this thing to Fenway whenever Venezuelan native Ranger Suarez is on the mound this summer. It’s so much fun!
You know what else was fun? Watching this Venezuelan team celebrate after punching their ticket to the WBC final.
I have no idea how this tournament manages to keep topping itself every single day, but with the U.S. and Venezuela set to match up for all the marbles tonight, it just might do it again. But regardless of who gets crowned champion, this has already been an enormous win for the sport of baseball on a scale of global proportions, and that’s something we can all celebrate.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Gunnar Henderson #11 and Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of Team United States celebrate after the 2-1 victory against Team Dominican Republic at loanDepot park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Morning everyone!
The WBC finally comes to an end tonight with the finale set up between the USA and Venezuela. While many expected the US national team to be here, this is Venezuela’s first time reaching the final round of the competition. And of course with world events going on right now you can’t help but feel the added sense of importance for players on both squads.
The Americans are set to send Mets right-handed Nolan McLean to the bump this evening for what’ll be his second start of the tournament. His first one didn’t go all that smoothly as he got tagged for three runs in three innings of work. Team Italy seemed to get the jump on the young righty so he’ll be hoping to turn his and his squad’s fortunes around in this winner-take-all matchup. This is likely going to be the biggest game of the 24-year-old’s young career so let’s hope he got a good night’s rest as is ready to take on the impresses Venezuela lineup.
Team Venezuela meanwhile has Diamondbacks lefty Eduardo Rodriguez getting the nod for the final game of the tourney. Like McLean he also got hit hard in his lone start during the WBC, but unlikely McLean Rodriguez is a seasoned veteran. This is going to be for all the marbles now. Let’s see who wants it worse.
And of course we have some A’s baseball to look forward to this afternoon as well when the Athletics take on the Chicago White Sox. Opening Day is fast approaching and it’s nearly time to start getting the roster officially set. The A’s don’t have seemingly as many roster questions as they’ve had in recent years but there’s always tough decisions to be made around this time of year. Let’s hope manager Mark Kotsay makes the right calls early and gets our team started strong for what could be a surprising year for people not familiar with our group of guys.
Venezuela vs. USA. Tomorrow.. The game of baseball has long been intertwined with politics whether we like it or not. The current climate of our world & specifically the relationship between these 2 countries recently ramps that up on an international scale. Goes without saying…
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - MARCH 7: Peyton Pallette #63 of the Cleveland Guardians gets set to throw a pitch during a Spring Training game against the San Diego Padres at Goodyear Ballpark on March 7, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Stephen Vogt said Jose Ramirez’s shoulder is already feeling better and he won’t need imaging on it, so nothing else matters.
Venezuela beat Italy to advance to tonight’s final against the USA. Brayan Rocchio had one at-bat for team Italy, flying out to left.
The Guardians didn’t look good losing to the Cubs yesterday but the important thing is we are closer to Opening Day and Jose is ok. Peyton Pallette looked sensational again in two spotless innings and Tim Herrin had a clean inning as well.
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It’s undeniable, the excitement that the World Baseball Classic brings to baseball fans around the world. Legends are made, fan and player customs become more familiar, and players off of our MLB-centric radar lunge to the fore.
But there are downsides to the tournament, particularly with regard to injuries. Our White Sox, with just five active players involved in the WBC, were snakebitten, as platoon-starting catcher Kyle Teel strained a hamstring that will likely keep him out of the regular season until May.
It’s unlikely that the WBC will be going away any time soon (although you haters do have a voting option below), so when is the best time to hold this world tournament?
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 14: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers reacts after hitting a two-run home run against the San Diego Padres during the third inning of the spring training game at Surprise Stadium on March 14, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning.
Evan Grant offers up a few observations from camp as the Texas Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox in a Cactus League game yesterday.
Kennedi Landry writes about president of baseball operations Chris Young speaking on how the roster is shaping up.
With Opening Day right around the corner, Grant has more from Young’s Q&A, including thoughts on the general vibes of camp.
Jayson Stark writes that more rules changes are coming to the minor leagues, which is often a testing ground for future changes to the big leagues.
Grant writes that the spotlight has been on Corey Seager this spring after the Rangers transitioned away from players that Seager won a World Series with.
Jim Callis checks out the state of the farm for the Rangers in camp, including a couple of youngsters that Texas is trying to develop as two-way players.
Grant notes that, after making it back from spring injuries, Marc Church and Justin Foscue were sent to minor league camp in the latest round of camp cuts yesterday.
Davy Andrews at FanGraphs begins their positional power rankings with a look at catcher where the Rangers project in the bottom third.
Landry writes that Michael Helman is the owner of a brand new Rolex after relinquishing No. 24 to Brandon Nimmo.
Grant writes about Cal Quantrill trying to remain in the mix for a spot on the staff after performing for Team Canada in the WBC.
Shawn McFarland believes Winston Santos could pitch in the big leagues this year which lands him at No. 8 on the DMN’s top 30 list.
Every year, there is one prospect in the Yankees system in whom I am irrationally invested. Sometimes it pays off. For example, I was along for the ride with 2016 Dustin Fowler. Other years, not so much … everyone take a moment please for all the seasons I spent conducting the Luis Medina Hype Train.
This year, for my money, it’s the man they call Elmer. Acquired from Boston in December 2024 along with international bonus money in exchange for catcher Carlos Narváez, Rodríguez climbed all the way from High-A ball to get a cup of coffee at Triple-A by season’s end. His results were enough that he comes into 2026 firmly ensconced in sundry top prospect lists. MLB Pipeline has him at #82, while Baseball Prospectus (#60) and Baseball America (#59) are even higher on the right-hander.
Although he may not appear in the Bronx at all this season, he is right on the doorstep. After a great 2025 and an excellent 2026 spring—including a nails outing at the World Baseball Classic—Rodríguez won’t sneak up on anyone.
A few things jump out about Rodríguez’s performance last season. To begin, it was almost impossible to drive his pitches in the air. He notched a 54.5-percent groundball rate and allowed only three home runs in 150 innings last season. I suspect that latter is unsustainable but it also suggests he isn’t going to just start allowing gopher balls all the time.
Moreover, the “stuff” is there. He sits in the mid-90s with his fastballs, with the ability to heat it up into the upper 90s. Meanwhile, he features four other offerings: a slider, a curveball, a changeup, and a cutter. FanGraphs, who recently slotted Elmer in as the Yankees’ second-best prospect, are believers in the slider and curve, assigning each of the pitches a 50 on the 20-80 scales, with upward future projections on both.
We’ve gotten good looks at Rodríguez already in 2026. He earned the nod as the starter for the first game of spring training against the Orioles. Three shutout innings later, he was back in the dugout with nary a free pass marring his ledger, the walk having been a bit of a bugaboo for Rodríguez in the past. Backstop Austin Wells said after the game: “He mixed it really well, hit the spots when he needed to, and got some big groundballs. He’s got a lot of really good pitches. He’s got the talent. He’s just got to go do it.”
Elmer made one more appearance for the Yankees then headed to the WBC where he pitched for Puerto Rico. Facing Cuba on March 9th, he tossed three scoreless in international best-on-best, whiffing three.
The Yanks recently optioned Rodríguez back to minor-league camp, but that should be no surprise. Even with the injuries to Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt, the Yankee rotation is basically sorted out to start the season, with Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, Luis Gil, and Ryan Yarbrough on the 26-man roster.
But with attrition rates what they are with pitchers, numbers 6-10 in the rotation depth chart increasingly take on outsized importance. With Elmer already on the 40-man roster, he’s likely pretty darned close to Next Man Up if something happens, and Schlittler demonstrated just last year what can happen when opportunity strikes.
As it stands, Elmer will almost certainly start the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre — potentially even starting their season opener on March 27th in Buffalo. And that’s fine. Only 22 years old, Rodríguez has made a grand total of two starts there (including one in the International League playoffs), after just 11 starts at Double-A. That’s not a whole lot of reps above A-ball. With any luck, the Yankees don’t actually need him this season and he’s able to spend the majority of 2026 working on his pitches and refining his mechanics. If there is one point of concern in his scouting report, it is command.
FanGraphs notes “some of the markers in his delivery… hint that he’s going to work regions more than hit spots. Perhaps he’ll grow into a half-grade more command than we’re projecting if he stays healthy and accumulates reps…” Getting the chance to accumulate those reps and see if he can elevate his ceiling sounds just fine to me.
If Elmer debuts this season, here’s hoping it’s solely because he’s been too brilliant to hold down any longer. Otherwise, let’s see what he can do with a full season at Triple-A.
