CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber of Austria win team combined at Olympics, Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson fourth.
The Freddy Peralta effect can only go so far for Mets rotation still filled with questions
PORT ST. LUCIE — It’s telling of how precipitously the Mets starting rotation plummeted last year that if the team reached the postseason, three rookies with a combined 17 major league appearances would have been scheduled to start in the wild-card round.
Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong were those pitchers.
The Mets dropped their season finale in Miami, rendering the point moot after losing a tiebreaker to the Reds in the race for the NL’s third and final wild card.
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Try it freeIt left president of baseball operations David Stearns to also focus on the rotation as he was overhauling the lineup this winter.
Mission may have been accomplished with the January trade that brought Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers from the Brewers for Sproat and Jett Williams.
In Peralta, the Mets appear to finally have the true ace they lacked as their season was spiraling last August and September.
Peralta, 29, pitched to a 2.70 ERA in 33 starts for the Brewers last season, in which he logged 176 ²/₃ innings.
Twice an All-Star, he finished fifth in last year’s National League Cy Young Award voting.
But was Peralta’s addition alone enough to transform a rotation that cratered down the stretch last season?
Kodai Senga struggled enough that he agreed to accept a minor league assignment in early September and finished his season with Triple-A Syracuse.
Sean Manaea strained an oblique in spring training and didn’t pitch for the Mets until July, and then hardly resembled the dominant force he was a year earlier.
The left-hander pitched to a 5.64 ERA in 15 appearances, raising questions about the decision to give him a three-year contract worth $75 million before last season.
And then there was David Peterson, selected to the NL All-Star team before pitching to a 6.34 ERA over 12 starts in the second half.
As pitchers and catchers report this week for spring training, there might not be a larger question surrounding the team than whether the Mets have fixed their fatal flaw.
“We like our rotation,” Stearns said. “I think adding Freddy as somewhat of a stabilizing force to help lead our rotation probably gives a little bit of space to some of our younger pitchers and keeps the opportunity to get real bounce-back seasons from guys like Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga — who we are still going to rely upon and still believe are going to give us some real quality innings this year — so we like where our rotation is. I think it’s got a nice combination of youth and established major league veterans.”
There is McLean, who dazzled in his eight starts — all the while maintaining his rookie status as he pitched to a 2.06 ERA over 48 innings.
Sproat’s subtraction perhaps can be offset by Christian Scott’s return from Tommy John surgery, and Tong (who like Scott figures to begin the season at Triple-A Syracuse) completes the talented young trifecta.
Clay Holmes was the one veteran starter on whom the Mets could rely in last season’s second half.
In his transition from reliever to starter, the right-hander pitched to a 3.53 ERA over a career-high 165 ²/₃ innings.
For insurance, the Mets acquired the swingman Myers, who started six games for the Brewers last season.
Peralta alone might be enough to change perceptions, but can he change results?
That will likely depend on the other “aces” in house.
“We have got multiple starters in our rotation who at various points in their career have pitched as a No. 1 starter and certainly Freddy qualifies as that,” Stearns said. “We saw Nolan flash potential as a No. 1 starter last year. We have seen Sean Manaea pitch as an ace. Before I got here Kodai Senga pitched as an ace. We have multiple pitchers in our rotation right now that have pitched as an ace, and I would certainly put Freddy in that category.”
What is your prediction for the Orioles’ 2026 season?
Spring training begins this week, and with it will come a new season’s worth of storylines. Which players are in the best shape of their lives? Are there any secret injuries or surgeries that happened over the off-season? What are they going to do with all those first basemen?
Making predictions about an upcoming season is half the fun of spring training. It’s a time of year when anything can be imagined, and only after the year is over can we know if our guesses were prescient or foolish. If you had predicted the Orioles to win 100 games or go to the World Series last year, it wouldn’t have turned out so well for you in the end. But if you guessed the team would sign one of their big prospects to an extension, you would have looked like a genius!
This offseason, the Orioles have acquired some players, sent a few players packing, and are relying on big seasons from their returning core. Taking all those things into consideration, not to mention the improvements made by other AL East teams, what is one prediction you have about this season?
Do you think one player will be particularly bad or good? How many wins do you expect to see? Will the Orioles have their first pitcher with 200 innings pitched since 2014, or will another one need Tommy John surgery?
No prediction is too big or too small. What do you think will happen?
As for my prediction for 2026…I think Gunnar Henderson will hit over 30 home runs.
Mets Morning News: Happy Spring Training Eve
Meet the Mets
Pitchers and Catchers don’t report to spring training until tomorrow, but some notable Mets were seen checking in to Port St. Lucie yesterday, including Carlos Mendoza, Mark Vientos, Luke Weaver, and Jorge Polanco.
The Mets shared a full list of 29 players whom they have invited to spring training.
Anthony DiComo took a first crack at the Mets’ 26-man Opening Day roster.
Scouts and baseball execs weighed in on where the Mets stand in the NL East race heading into the 2026 season.
Max Goodman examined seven things the Mets need to decide before Opening Day.
Mike Puma explored some of the big storylines for the Mets ahead of spring training.
The Binghamton Rumble Ponies announced that Matt Levine has been elevated to Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations.
Around the National League East
Phillies’ ace Zack Wheeler is not expected to be ready for Opening Day.
The Phillies enter spring training with a lot of questions.
Philadelphia is doing everything they can to try and move Nick Castellanos this week.
Mark Bowman took a pass at predicting the Braves’ Opening Day 26-man roster.
The Marlins signed Chris Paddack, whom they once drafted, to a one-year deal.
Jessica Cametaro took a crack at the Nationals’ 26-man Opening Day roster.
Around Major League Baseball
The ESPN staff wrote about stars, teams, and themes they want to see at spring training.
Jim Bowman gave us eight reasons to get excited about spring training.
It looks like MLB.tv subscribers will also need to be ESPN Unlimited subscribers to purchase the package, meaning MLB.tv will be behind a double paywall this season.
Fangraphs compiled their spring training power rankings, which sees the Mets coming in at number 3 behind the Dodgers and Braves.
The World Baseball Classic will feature a pitch clock but won’t feature the ABS challenge system.
Playing in the WBC will be a ‘whole other level’ for Team USA superstars Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes, and Tarik Skubal
The Red Sox picked up Caleb Durbin in a six-player trade with the Brewers. They also added Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler while sending Kyle Harrison, David Hamilton, and Shane Drohan to the Brewers.
The Pirates signed Marcell Ozuna to a one-year deal worth $12 million.
The White Sox signed Erick Fedde to a one-year deal.
The Rays inked right-hander Nick Martinez to a one-year deal.
The Angels are adding Hunter Strickland on a minor league deal.
The Yankees acquired infielder Max Schuemann in a trade with the Athletics.
After bringing back Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year deal, Bryan Hoch analyzed how Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt could fit on the Yankees’ roster.
Ben Clemens wrote about one more ride for Goldschmidt.
Ketel Marte says he is excited to return to the Diamondbacks after an offseason of uncertainty.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
I previewed Cristian Pache’s 2026 season, as the non-roster spring training invitee looks to earn a spot in the team’s outfield.
Amazin’ Avenue writers shared their thoughts on the players that came in at 25-11 on the Top 25 Prospects list.
This Date in Mets History
Happy 56th Birthday to Bobby J. Jones, the man who hurled the one-hit shutout in Game 4 of the 2000 NLDS to seal the Mets’ victory and (yes, this is true) my first favorite Met when I started following the team in 1997!
NBA likely to vote on expansion that could bring new teams to Las Vegas and Seattle
We may be one step closer to having two more teams join the NBA.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver first acknowledged the possibility of expansion in a news conference before the 2020-21 season, and then, a few months ago, said he believes he will have a resolution on the idea at some point in 2026. It seems that the time for a resolution is nearing, and that could very likely lead to two new teams joining the NBA.
Think it's going to be an extra-great year for Seattle. I'm hearing NBA Board of Governors likely to vote on expanding by two teams this summer and Las Vegas and Seattle are favored.
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) February 9, 2026
Back in December, Silver said, "I think Seattle and Las Vegas are two incredible cities. Obviously, we had a team in Seattle that had great success. We have a WNBA team here in Las Vegas, the Aces. We've been playing the summer league here for 20 years. We're playing our Cup games here, so we're very familiar with this market. I don't have any doubt that Las Vegas, despite all of the other major league teams that are here now, the other entertainment properties, that this city could support an NBA team."
The issues holding up the vote on expansion were purely financial.
"As I've said before, domestic expansion, as opposed to doing a new league in Europe, is selling equity in this current league," said Silver in that same interview back in December. "If you own 1/30 of this league, now you own 1/32 if you add two teams. So it's a much more difficult economic analysis. In many ways, it requires predicting the future. I think now we're in the process of working with our teams and gauging the level of interest and having a better understanding of what the economics would be on the ground for those particular teams and what a pro forma would look like for them, and then sometime in 2026 we'll make a determination."
It seems the economic questions may have been answered on the league side, with the Dallas News reporting that the NBA Board of Governors is likely to vote this summer to expand by two teams. The idea that Seattle is a favorite for one of those spots was only furthered by news that Seattle Governor Bob Ferguson met with Silver earlier in February.
The governor’s office confirmed afterwards that the meeting was indeed about bringing the Sonics back to Seattle. The governor’s office also mentioned that the meeting was an introductory Zoom call between Ferguson and Silver, and that the two of them had a good conversation. Ferguson confirmed that he would do whatever he could to help bring an NBA team back to Seattle.
If Seattle is chosen, it would be the first time the city has had an NBA team in nearly 20 years. The Sonics were moved to Oklahoma City after the 2007-2008 season and renamed the Oklahoma City Thunder. Seattle’s continued absence from the NBA has led to plenty of protests from fans, demanding a return of an NBA franchise to their city. In addition to their NBA legacy, Seattle is a strong choice for an NBA franchise based on the city's overall strong income, steady population growth, and ready-to-go fanbase. All of that means Seattle feels inevitable to get its team back.
While Las Vegas may not be the obvious choice as the second city, it makes sense as a selection based on the NBA's current relationship. Las Vegas has an existing relationship with the league, hosting the Summer League and NBA Cup games. There is also media appeal to Las Vegas and some momentum building as a sports city, with the MLB also reportedly moving the Athletics there. Those factors could help make up for the fact that Las Vegas has a few other franchises nearby and has some economic volatility as well.
If the NBA does vote to expand, that would leave the league with 32 teams, and, perhaps more importantly, two more teams in the Western Conference (if it is Seattle and Las Vegas). That would mean that at least one team would have to move to the Eastern Conference in order for the league to have 16 teams in each conference. Geographically, the teams that make the most sense would be Memphis, Minnesota, or New Orleans.
Those are the other dominoes that would fall, but the first one needs to be knocked over first with the vote. That could come in just a few months.
Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel highlight NBA Rising Stars Challenge teams
The NBA All-Star Weekend is not only an opportunity for the league to showcase its biggest and brightest stars, but also its future.
The NBA’s Rising Stars Game will feature the league’s young stars, including rookies Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks), Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets) and VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers).
The trio also makes up the top 3 in the NBA's Rookie of the Year race, according to odds on BetMGM.
Flagg (-1000) is considered the favorite, followed by Knueppel (+600) and Edgecombe (+8000).
Flagg has averaged 20.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game in 48 games played this season.
All three rookies were selected in the first round by the game's honorary coaches. NBA alumnus Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter are serving as the honorary coaches for the three respective teams. Austin Rivers will also coach a team made up of G League players.
The four teams will compete in a mini tournament at the Intuit Dome. A winner will be decided in the semifinal games when a team is the first to reach or surpass 40 points. The championship game winner will be decided with the first team to reach or surpass 25 points.
Baron Davis and Quentin Richardson were among the former NBA players to have played in the game.
Richardson was a participant in the game when it was referred to as the NBA Rookie-Sophomore Challenge in 2002. Davis competed in the game a year prior.
Looking ahead at this year’s talent, Davis mentioned Flagg, Edgecombe, Derik Queen and Kyshawn George as players he’s excited to watch.
“All these young kids are so good now,” Davis said. “To watch them play and go at each other will be a different type of vibe and be highly competitive. They all want to be No. 1.”
Richardson believes the game and weekend will serve as a rewarding experience for the younger talent, especially those willing to make the most of it.
“I would say to take part in the weekend,” Richardson said. “I know, as some of the younger players, they will have to make appearances and things like that, but that was one of the things I was happy to do. … Sometimes you go to those events and have a great time and meet people you wouldn’t have met.
“Don’t be the guy who’s just turning things down. That’s what the weekend is about: Having fun, but there’s also a lot of business around that weekend.”
Even in the years following his retirement, Davis has served as an example for the younger generation of players when it comes to staying involved within the NBA off-court community and activities.
Davis served as a host for a competition put on by the NBA Foundation and the LA Clippers.
The All-Star pitch competition brought Los Angeles-based companies focused on driving community impact to pitch innovation solutions to a panel of business leaders, investors and other entrepreneurs.
The competitors are competing for $200,000 in total cash prizes.
“What is super exciting is that there are so many young and great minds, especially in this city of Los Angeles, that are building businesses that can be extremely explosive and that can create a lot of jobs,” Davis said. “What the NBA is doing with the foundation and really pouring into the entrepreneurs is not just with the competition, but it's also the time and the platform they are allowing them to stand on.”
Who will play in the NBA Rising Stars Game?
Team Melo: Cooper Flagg, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Jeremiah Fears, Donovan Clingan, Collin Murray-Boyles
Team T-Mac: Kon Knueppel, Kel’el Ware, Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, Ajay Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Cam Spencer.
Team Vince: VJ Edgecombe, Derik Queen, Kyshawn George, Matas Buzelis, Egor Demin, Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells.
Team Austin: Sean East II, Ron Harper Jr., Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Alijah Martin, Tristen Newton, Yang Hansen, Mac McClung, David Jones Garcia.
NBA Rising Stars Game Schedule
- Game 1: Team Melo vs. Team Austin
- Game 2: Team Vince vs. Team T-Mac
- Rising Stars Championship: (G1 winner vs. G2 winner)
How to watch NBA Rising Stars Game?
- When: Friday, Feb. 13, 6 p.m. PT (9 p.m. ET)
- TV/Stream: Peacock
- Where: Intuit Dome (Inglewood, California) | Tickets
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA Rising Stars Challenge rosters set for NBA All-Star Weekend
2026 AL East preview: Examining Orioles, Red Sox, Rays, Blue Jays with spring training on tap
The Post previews the AL East with MLB spring training set to begin:
Baltimore Orioles
2025
75-87
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Try it freeManager
Craig Albernaz (first season)
Spring training site
Sarasota, Fla.
Key additions
The Orioles took a big swing when they signed Pete Alonso away from the Mets — who didn’t seem all that interested in bringing back the franchise home run leader. Ryan Helsley, a disaster with the Mets after a midseason trade, also signed with Baltimore to be its closer. And the Orioles added Andrew Kittredge to the bullpen, as well as Shane Baz to the rotation and Taylor Ward and Leody Taveras to the outfield.
Key losses
To acquire Ward from the Angels, the Orioles traded Grayson Rodriguez, their first-round pick from 2018 who showed plenty of promise — especially in 2024, but he didn’t pitch last season due to a variety of injuries and was shut down after elbow surgery. Former Yankees catcher Gary Sánchez is still a free agent, as is right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano, who made 30 starts for them as a 35-year-old rookie.
Storylines to watch
Even after an eventful offseason, the Orioles could still use another veteran starter and had been linked to Framber Valdez before he signed with the Tigers. As spring training approaches, plenty of options remain available. Much of the spotlight will be on Alonso and his five-year, $155 million contract. His presence in the lineup is sure to help Baltimore’s young offensive core, including Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday and Adley Rutschman as they look to bounce back from 2025’s disappointment.
Boston Red Sox
2025
89-73
Manager
Alex Cora (eighth season)
Spring training site
Fort Myers, Fla.
Key additions
When Alex Bregman bolted Boston for the Cubs, the Red Sox addressed their starting pitching by signing Ranger Suárez, adding the left-hander to a rotation that also features newcomer Sonny Gray. He was acquired from the Cardinals, who also shipped catcher/1B Willson Contreras to Boston. The Red Sox also traded for Pittsburgh right-hander Johan Oviedo and signed utility infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa before acquiring Milwaukee third baseman — and former Yankees prospect — Caleb Durbin.
Key losses
Boston’s offseason took a turn when Bregman signed with the Cubs after the Red Sox were confident in bringing him back following his opt-out. Rob Refsnyder, Steven Matz and Dustin May left as free agents, while Jordan Hicks was traded to the White Sox. Lucas Giolito remains a free agent.
Storylines to watch
With Bregman gone, how will Boston’s offense respond? Adding Suárez to a rotation that already included Garrett Crochet will bolster their pitching — as will Gray, if he can handle the pressure of pitching in Boston, something he didn’t do with the Yankees. And their new young core in the lineup — including Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell and Triston Casas (injured for much of last season) — as well as Durbin — will be counted on even more.
Tampa Bay Rays
2025
77-85
Manager
Kevin Cash (12th season)
Spring training site
Port Charlotte, Fla.
Key additions
The notoriously penny-pinching Rays didn’t sign any big-name free agents, although veterans Nick Martinez and Steven Matz give the pitching staff some depth. They also hope experienced outfielders Cedric Mullins and Jake Fraley can bounce back. They were busy on the trade market, bringing in infielders Gavin Lux and young third baseman Ben Williamson, as well as outfielder Jacob Melton.
Key losses
A team already weak in major league talent saw some solid performers end up elsewhere, as Pete Fairbanks signed with Miami and Shane Baz, Brandon Lowe and Josh Lowe were all included in trades. Jake Mangum and Christopher Morel are also gone.
Storylines to watch
On the bright side, the Rays will at least have a real home this season returning to Tropicana Field after it was damaged by a hurricane and playing last season at the Yankees spring training home in Tampa, Steinbrenner Field. And as Tampa Bay again looks to the future, they will keep an eye on top prospect Carson Williams, who debuted with them last season at shortstop.
Toronto Blue Jays
2025
94-68
Manager John Schneider (fifth season)
Spring training site
Dunedin, Fla.
Key additions
The Blue Jays struck early in handing Dylan Cease a seven-year, $210 million contract. Cody Ponce hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2021, but excelled in Korea last season and the pair will be important parts of the rotation. The defending AL champs also took a chance on signing third baseman Kazuma Okamoto from Japan to a four-year, $60 million deal and signed righty Tyler Rogers for the bullpen.
Key losses
Bo Bichette left for the Mets, leaving a hole in the infield and the lineup. Right-hander Seranthony Domínguez signed with the White Sox and key starters Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt remain unsigned, as does INF Ty France. Isiah Kiner-Falefa signed with Boston.
Storylines to watch
After giving Vladimir Guerrero Jr. a long-term contract last season to stay in Toronto, the Blue Jays continued to spend after getting back to the World Series and nearly beating the mighty Dodgers. Can Trey Yesavage build on his success from last season, when he was a key to the Blue Jays’ postseason success after making his MLB debut in September?
Dodgers 2026 non-roster invitees to spring training
Among the Dodgers non-roster players invited to big league camp in spring training is a mix of veterans on minor league deals plus top prospects Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Jackson Ferris, and others.
Last season, nine of the 27 non-roster invitees in big league camp eventually played for the Dodgers during the regular season, including Roki Sasaki, Dalton Rushing, and Justin Dean, who also played in the postseason.
Among the 32 initial non-roster invitees to Dodgers camp are 17 pitchers, five catchers, and 10 other position players. Here’s a little more on each player. We’ll update this list throughout spring training as other players are signed and roster cuts are made.
Pitchers
RHP — Chris Campos (No. 62)
2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors)
2025 highest level: Double-A
2026 age: 25
How acquired: 2022 draft, 7th round
Campos in a full year at Double-A Tulsa in 2025 had a 4.19 ERA with 111 strikeouts and 32 walks in 126 2/3 innings. He got engaged in December.
RHP — Patrick Copen (85)
2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors)
2025 highest level: Double-A
2026 age: 24
How acquired: 2023 draft, 7th round
Cut date: March 2
After taking a line drive off his face and losing vision in his right eye to end his 2024 season, the tall right-hander had a very nice bounce-back season in 2025, posting a 3.59 ERA in 26 starts and 117 2/3 innings between Great Lakes and Tulsa, and led all Dodgers minor league pitchers with 152 strikeouts.
RHP — Carlos Durán (82)
2025 spring training: Dodgers (NRI)
2025 highest level: MLB
2026 age: 24
How acquired: minor league deal, December 12, 2025
Cut date: March 8
Originally signed by the Dodgers out of the Dominican Republic in 2018, Durán last April was traded to the A’s for outfielder Esteury Ruiz. The right-hander made his major league debut with the A’s in May, but allowed three runs and recorded one out in his only major league appearance to date. Sent outright off the A’s 40-man roster in June, Durán had a 5.74 ERA in 62 2/3 Triple-A innings with nearly as many walks (55) as strikeouts (67) before reaching minor league free agency at the conclusion of the season.
LHP — Jackson Ferris (93)
2025 spring training: Dodgers (NRI)
2025 highest level: Double-A
2026 age: 22
How acquired: trade with Cubs, January 11, 2024
Cut date: March 8
Named to several top-100 prospect lists prior to the 2025 season, after winning the Branch Rickey Award as the Dodgers minor league pitcher of the year in 2024, Ferris took a bit of a step back in his full season in Tulsa, with a 3.86 ERA in 126 innings, with a slightly lower strikeout rate (24.2 percent after 27.4 percent) and slightly higher walk rate (10.8 percent to 11.8 percent) than the season before. But he improved down the stretch for Tulsa in 2025 — after a 6.58 ERA and 4.45 FIP in his first 12 outings, Ferris had a 2.19 ERA the rest of the way, with only three home runs allowed over his final 14 starts.
LHP — Luke Fox (89)
2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors)
2025 highest level: Double-A
2026 age: 24
How acquired: 2023 draft, 17th round
Cut date: March 2
Fox split time between High-A Great Lakes and Double-A Tulsa, combining for a 2.85 ERA in 22 games, including 21 starts, with 110 strikeouts and 53 walks in 98 innings.
RHP — Nick Frasso (79)
2025 spring training: Dodgers
2025 highest level: Triple-A
2026 age: 27
How acquired: minor league deal, December 16, 2025
Cut date: March 2
Frasso was acquired from the Blue Jays in the Mitch White trade in August 2022, and spent the last two seasons on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster, though he hasn’t yet pitched in the majors. After shoulder and hip surgeries wiped out his 2024 season, Frasso had a 5.49 ERA in 43 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2025, with 68 strikeouts and 42 walks in 77 innings, before getting non-tendered in November.
RHP — Carson Hobbs (71)
2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors)
2025 highest level: Double-A
2026 age: 24
How acquired: 2023 draft, 11th round
Cut date: March 8
Hobbs pitched in the back end of the bullpen for both Great Lakes and Tulsa, putting up a 2.04 ERA in 42 games, with 63 strikeouts and 21 walks in 53 innings. His 20.9-percent strikeout-minus walk rate was third-best in the Dodgers minors with a minimum of 50 innings.
LHP — Cole Irvin (38)
2025 spring training: Doosan (Korea)
2025 highest level: Korean Baseball Organization
2026 age: 32
How acquired: minor league deal, February 3, 2026
Cut date: March 16
The veteran starter pitched six seasons in the majors for the Phillies, A’s, Orioles, and Twins before heading over to the KBO in 2025. Irvin put up a 4.48 ERA in 28 starts for Doosan last year, with 128 strikeouts and 79 walks in 144 2/3 innings.
LHP — Antoine Kelly (75)
2025 spring training: Rockies (minors)
2025 highest level: Triple-A
2026 age: 26
How acquired: minor league deal, November 14, 2025
A second-round pick of the Brewers in 2019, Kelly has pitched six seasons in the minors in the Brewers, Rangers, and Rockies systems. He had a 5.63 ERA in 34 relief appearances in 2025 for Triple-A Albuquerque, with 41 strikeouts and 27 walks in 38 1/3 innings. On the road last year, away from pitching on the moon, Kelly had a 3.43 ERA, 25 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 21 innings, plus zero home runs and a .345 slugging percentage allowed.
LHP — Garrett McDaniels (57)
2025 spring training: Angels
2025 highest level: MLB (Angels)
2026 age: 26
How acquired: returned from Rule 5 Draft, June 14, 2025
Cut date: March 8
McDaniels struggled in his brief time in the majors in Anaheim, but once he returned to the Dodgers put up a 3.30 ERA in 25 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, with 36 strikeouts and 17 walks in 30 innings.
RHP — Wyatt Mills (58)
2025 spring training: Red Sox (NRI)
2025 highest level: Triple-A
2026 age: 31
How acquired: minor league free agent, August 16, 2025
Cut date: March 8
After pitching parts of two-seasons for the Mariners and Royals, Mills had Tommy John surgery that wiped out his 2023-24 seasons. Last year in Triple-A Worcester, Mills put up a 3.12 ERA in 52 innings, with 49 strikeouts and 30 walks.
RHP — José Rodríguez (97)
2025 spring training: Dodgers (NRI)
2025 highest level: Triple-A
2026 age: 24
How acquired: international free agent, 2019
Cut date: March 2
Signed out of Mexico seven years ago, Rodríguez went unselected in December’s Rule 5 Draft, allowing him to remain with the Dodgers. The right-hander had a 5.50 ERA in 54 innings between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City last season, with a high strikeout rate (34.1 percent) and high walk rate (14.2 percent). Rodríguez was ranked the Dodgers’ No. 29 prospect this preseason by Baseball America, and rated 30th in the system by FanGraphs.
RHP — Jerming Rosario (81)
2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors)
2025 highest level: Double-A
2026 age: 24
How acquired: international free agent, July 2, 2018
Cut date: March 2
Rosario repeated with Double-A Tulsa last season and switched from starting to relief pitching, putting up a 4.67 ERA with 87 strikeouts and 51 walks in 79 innings.
RHP — Ryder Ryan (40)
2025 spring training: Pirates (NRI)
2025 highest level: Triple-A
2026 age: 31
How acquired: minor league free agent, January 28, 2026
Cut date: March 16
The older brother of Dodgers pitcher River Ryan, Ryder pitched in parts of 2023-24 in the majors with the Mariners and Pirates. Last year in the Pirates system, Ryder Ryan had a 4.73 ERA in 42 games, with 61 strikeouts and 38 walks in 72 1/3 innings in Triple-A Indianapolis.
LHP — Adam Serwinowski (73)
2025 spring training: Reds (minors)
2025 highest level: Double-A
2026 age: 22
How acquired: 3-team trade, July 31, 2025
Cut date: March 2
Serwinowski ended his season with one start for Tulsa, after dominating in six starts for High-A Great Lakes, with 44 strikeouts and 14 strikeouts to go with his 1.83 ERA that earned him Midwest League pitcher of the month honors for August.
RHP — Jordan Weems (45)
2025 spring training: Braves (NRI)
2025 highest level: MLB (Astros)
2026 age: 33
How acquired: minor league free agent, February 9, 2026
Cut date: March 8
Weems pitched in the majors in each of the last six seasons, including allowing seven runs in 4 1/3 innings for Houston in 2025. Between Gwinnett and Sugar Land in Triple-A, the right-hander had a 4.44 ERA in 39 games, with 49 strikeouts and 23 walks in 46 2/3 innings.
RHP — Lucas Wepf (90)
2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors)
2025 highest level: Double-A
2026 age: 24
How acquired: non-drafted free agent, 2022
Cut date: March 8
Wepf had a 2.79 ERA in 23 games for Tulsa last season with 36 strikeouts, 16 walks, and no home runs allowed in 29 innings. But his season ended in June, missing the final two and a half months on the injured list.
Catchers
C — Eliézer Alfonzo (64)
Bats both, throws right
2025 spring training: Tigers (NRI)
2025 highest level: Triple-A
2026 age: 26
How acquired: minor league free agent, November 17, 2025
Alfonzo spent the last nine years in the Detroit Tigers’ minor league system. He hit .247/.297/.322 with 14 doubles in 65 games last season, including eight games with Triple-A Toledo in his first time at that level. His father, also named Eliézer Alfonzo, played six seasons in the majors and was a non-roster invitee in Dodgers camp in 2013.
C — Griffin Lockwood-Powell (92)
Bats right, throws right
2025 spring training: Dodgers (NRI)
2025 highest level: Double-A
2026 age: 28
How acquired: non-drafted free agent, 2021
Cut date: March 8
Hit .226/.350/.326 in 81 games last year while repeating in Double-A Tulsa. Started five games at first base and five more at designated hitter in addition to his team-leading 69 starts behind the plate in 2025.
C — Nelson Quiroz (87)
Bats left, throws right
2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors)
2025 highest level: Double-A
2026 age: 24
How acquired: international free agent, April 1, 2019
Cut date: March 2
Quiroz split time between Great Lakes and Tulsa last season, and hit .333/.393/.441 with 13 doubles and a 139 wRC+ in 55 games between both levels.
C — Chuckie Robinson (52)
Bats right, throws right
2025 spring training: Angels
2025 highest level: MLB (Dodgers)
2026 age: 31
How acquired: minor league deal, December 18, 2025
Cut date: March 2
Robinson spent time on the 40-man rosters of the Angels, Dodgers, and Braves in 2025, but only played in the majors in one game, with Los Angeles in September. After ending the season in the minors with Atlanta, the veteran backstop signed a minor league deal with Dodgers in December.
C — Seby Zavala (33)
Bats right, throws right
2025 spring training: Red Sox (NRI)
2025 highest level: Triple-A
2026 age: 32
How acquired: minor league free agent, February 5, 2026
Cut date: March 22
Zavala played parts of five seasons in the majors. Last year he his .165/.274/.340 with eight home runs in 67 games for Triple-A Worcester.
Position players
OF — Josue De Paula (95)
Bats left, throws left
2025 spring training: Dodgers (NRI)
2025 highest level: Double-A
2026 age: 21
How acquired: international free agent, 2022
Cut date: March 8
De Paula is the highest-rated Dodgers prospect by average ranking entering 2026, ranked between 14th and 24th in baseball by Baseball Prospectus, MLB Pipeline, The Athletic, ESPN, and Baseball America. This came after a .250/.391/.400 season with a 132 wRC+ and 32 steals, mostly for Great Lakes before getting promoted to Tulsa for the final week of the season. De Paula also homered in the 2025 MLB Futures Game in Atlanta to win game MVP honors.
OF — Zach Ehrhard (99)
Bats right, throws right
2025 spring training: Red Sox (minors)
2025 highest level: Double-A
2026 age: 23
How acquired: trade with Boston, July 31, 2025
Cut date: March 16
A fourth-round pick of the Red Sox in 2024, Ehrhard came to the Dodgers in the Dustin May trade along with fellow NRI James Tibbs III. Ehrhard hit .282/.391/.466 with a 143 wRC+ and 13 extra-base hits in 35 games with Double-A Tulsa.
2B/3B/SS — Santiago Espinal (21)
Bats right, throws right
2025 spring training: Reds
2025 highest level: MLB
2026 age: 31
How acquired: minor league free agent, February 17, 2026
Selected to roster: March 18
Veteran infielder played in the majors in each of the previous six seasons with the Blue Jays and Reds. Espinal has a career 107 wRC+ against left-handed pitching and has played third base, second base, and shortstop extensively.
IF/OF — Ryan Fitzgerald (46)
Bats left, throws right
2025 spring training: Twins (minors)
2025 highest level: MLB (Twins)
2026 age: 32
How acquired: waiver claim, January 9, 2026
Cut date: March 18
The utility man made his major league debut with the Twins at age 31 last season, splitting his time almost evenly between shortstop, second base, and third base. In his minor league career, Fitzgerald has started at all three outfield spots and all four infield positions. Fitzgerald was designated for assignment when the Dodgers signed Andy Ibáñez on January 13, then a week later after clearing waivers was sent outright to the minors.
OF — Kendall George (0)
Bats left, throws left
2025 spring training: Dodgers (NRI)
2025 highest level: High-A
2026 age: 21
How acquired: 2023 draft, first round
Cut date: March 8
The speedy center fielder stole an eye-popping 100 bases for Great Lakes, just the fourth player in Dodgers organizational history to do so. He got there with a strong second-half kick that improved his seasonal line to .295/.409/.370 with a 131 wRC+.
1B/OF — Matt Gorski (56)
Bats right, throws right
2025 spring training: Pirates (NRI)
2025 highest level: MLB
2026 age: 28
How acquired: minor league free agent, July 23, 2025
Cut date: March 2
Gorski made his major league debut last April with the Pirates, got hurt in Triple-A Indianapolis in May, and was released in July. The Dodgers signed him to a minor league deal last July, but he spent the rest of the season on the injured list and has not yet played in the organization.
1B/2B/LF — Keston Hiura (9)
Bats right, throws right
2025 spring training: Rockies (NRI)
2025 highest level: MLB
2026 age: 29
How acquired: minor league free agent, February 12, 2026
Cut date: March 2
Hiura has played parts of six seasons in the majors with the Brewers, Angels, and Rockies, though only 18 of those games came in the last three seasons. The former UC Irvine Anteater hit .272/.369/.507 with a 107 wRC+ and 21 home runs in 100 games with Triple-A Albquerque in 2025.
OF — Zyhir Hope (94)
Bats left, throws left
2025 spring training: Dodgers (NRI)
2025 highest level: Double-A
2026 age: 21
How acquired: trade with Cubs, January 11, 2024
Cut date: March 16
Hope hit .266/.376/.428 with a 131 wRC+ mostly for Great Lakes, and was promoted with De Paula to Tulsa for the final week of the season. Hope’s average rank of the five national outlets so far is the 37th-best prospect in baseball heading into 2026, topping out at No. 18 at Baseball Prospectus.
SS — Noah Miller (88)
Bats both, throws right
2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors)
2025 highest level: Triple-A
2026 age: 23
How acquired: trade with Twins, February 27, 2024
Cut date: March 16
Acquired for Manuel Margot before the 2024 season, Miller struggled at the plate in his first taste of Triple-A, hitting .238/.269/.344 in 59 games for Oklahoma City. But strong defense his his calling card. Baseball America rated Miller the Dodgers’ 23rd-best prospect in the system and said, “Miller is the Dodgers’ best infield defender and has the skills to lock down any position on the dirt. He is quick, agile and fearless and has a strong, accurate throwing arm as well. Those skills alone should get him to the big leagues and keep him there for a long time.”
OF — Chris Newell (00)
Bats left, throws left
2025 spring training: Dodgers (minors)
2025 highest level: Double-A
2026 age: 25
How acquired: 2022 draft, 13th round
Cut date: March 2
Newell hit .241/.346/.428 with a 118 wRC+ for Tulsa last season with 20 home runs and 24 stolen bases. Coupled with his 25 home runs and 31 steals in 2024, Newell is the only Dodgers minor leaguer with a 20-homer, 20-steal season (let alone two) in the last four years.
IF/OF — Nick Senzel (15)
Bats right, throws right
2025 spring training: Mexican League (independent)
2025 highest level: Triple-A
2026 age: 31
How acquired: minor league free agent, May 1, 2025
Cut date: March 22
Senzel played parts of six seasons in the majors (2019-24) with the Reds, Nationals, and White Sox before joining the Dodgers last season. In 2025 with Oklahoma City, Senzel started games at third base, left field, right field, shortstop, second base, and center field.
OF — Jack Suwinski (43)
Bats left, throws left
2025 spring training: Pirates
2025 highest level: MLB
2026 age: 27
How acquired: claimed off waivers from Pirates, February 21, 2026
Cut date: March 22
After a strong first two years in Pittsburgh, Suwinski struggled with a 59 OPS+ in 2024-25 combined. Suwinski cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A on March 2, knocking him off the Dodgers’ 40-man roster and into non-roster invitee status.
OF — James Tibbs III (98)
Bats left, throws left
2025 spring training: Giants (minors)
2025 highest level: Double-A
2026 age: 23
How acquired: trade with Boston, July 31, 2025
Cut date: March 16
A first-round pick of the Giants in 2024, Tibbs was traded for Rafael Devers in June, then dealt with Ehrhard for Dustin May in July. With Tulsa, Ehrhard hit .269/.407/.493 with a 155 wRC+ and seven home runs in 36 games after the latter trade. Tibbs was rated the Dodgers’ ninth-best prospect heading into this season by FanGraphs.
Arne Slot has lowered his sights for Liverpool this season
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool's season has been far from perfect. Now coach Arne Slot says the remainder of the campaign will have to be near-faultless if the defending Premier League champion is to secure Champions League qualification.
It says everything about Liverpool's ever-worsening title defense that Slot is focusing on a top-four finish with 13 rounds still to play.
But Sunday's dramatic 2-1 loss to Manchester City was the Merseysiders' eighth defeat in the league this season and left them 17 points adrift of first-place Arsenal.
Liverpool is still in the Champions League and the FA Cup, so there is a lot yet to play for. But in the Premier League, at least, Slot, who won the title in his debut season last year, has had to lower his sights.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday's game at Sunderland, Slot said his team had to be “close to perfection” to secure a place in next season's Champions League.
The top four places qualify for European club soccer's elite competition. England is likely to receive a fifth spot because of the performances of English teams in Europe this season.
Liverpool is sixth — five points behind Manchester United in fourth — and four back from fifth-place Chelsea.
“So to close the gap of four or five points towards the number three, four or five that means you have to win a lot,” Slot said Tuesday. “And that’s not what we’ve done this season a lot, so that’s why that has to be better and we have to come close to perfection.
“If we don’t have Champions League football it has definitely not been an acceptable season.”
Liverpool has won one of its last seven Premier League games and Slot said it was the most challenging season he has had as a coach.
“The players are not used to losing a lot or having a lot of draws. I’m not used to that as well,” he said. "It’s always more of a challenge after you lose a game of football to get them going again than after a win (and) telling them we were not as good as they might think they were.
“So, yes, this season has been more challenging for me as well, but you also take nice things out of it, weird (as) that may sound because I also look at how much improvement we are making.”
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
For Sidney Crosby, Olympic Gold Is About More Than Legacy
MILAN — Sidney Crosby doesn’t need the Olympic Winter Games to define his legacy.
Three Stanley Cups, multiple Hart Trophies, international gold already tucked away — his résumé is secure. And yet, the way he talks about the Olympics still sounds like someone chasing a childhood dream rather than a player who has spent two decades on the world’s biggest stages.
Sidney Crosby has all the feels looking back at the 2016 @penguins team that won the #StanleyCup 🏆
— NHL (@NHL) January 31, 2026
📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/5yxrRLf64p
A Childhood Dream That Never Faded
“I have always wanted to play in the NHL, but watching the Olympians was always a special moment as someone who grew up playing a lot of sports,” Crosby said. “I know how important it is. There is so much to love about it, so anytime you can put on that Canadian jersey, there is so much pride.”
That feeling hasn’t dulled with age. If anything, it has sharpened. Pulling on the Canadian jersey still carries weight, still demands something extra. Crosby doesn’t speak about it lightly. There is pride in the crest, but also responsibility—an understanding of what it represents to players who grew up the same way he did, staring at their televisions and dreaming of just having the chance to compete on that stage, let alone win a gold medal. Today, the screens may be smaller in some cases and the platforms more varied, but the dream flickering behind them remains exactly the same.
The Uncertainty of Missed Olympics
The past two Olympic cycles only reinforced that appreciation. With NHL players prohibited from competing in the Winter Olympics in 2018 and 2022., the uncertainty took a toll. Crosby admitted it was difficult not knowing whether he would ever get another opportunity.
“It was difficult. You try not to get your hopes up too much, but you also had to be ready in case we did go,” he explained. “It was a bit of a rollercoaster. I am really happy we have the opportunity to come back here. It is an amazing experience.”
Now that the opportunity is real again, Crosby — along with a host of his fellow Olympians — feels a sense of relief. There is gratitude in his voice for another chance to lead his country on the Olympic stage. The memory of the game-winning overtime goal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics still lingers, not because of the goal alone, but because of the weight attached to it. The country was watching. The world was watching. The moment demanded something extraordinary.
Those are the games Crosby still craves at 38 years old. The competitiveness that defined him as a teenager hasn’t faded. He still yearns for another trip to the podium — or at the very least, a chance at one. These are the games where the noise is deafening, the stakes unmistakable, and the outcome remembered long after the final horn. That has been the essence of Crosby’s career, whether it was a Stanley Cup victory, the golden goal in Vancouver, or scoring the game-winner in a shootout at the inaugural NHL Winter Classic.
Crosby Thrives Under Pressure
Pressure comes with the territory. It always has. Crosby has lived his entire career under it. Asked to compare a Stanley Cup playoff Game 7 to an Olympic gold medal final, he didn’t hesitate. To him, they are cut from the same cloth — one game, everything on the line, no margin for error.
“They are pretty similar. Think about game seven (in the Stanley Cup) versus going for a gold medal – it is one game, especially playing in Canada (at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games). There were a lot of expectations.
“Both are pressure-packed for different reasons, but those are the games you want to be in.”
When asked whether that golden goal in overtime remains the highlight of his career, he didn’t deflect.
“It is up there, and it would be hard to beat. It was an amazing game and an amazing Olympics.”
One More Opportunity
Now, with the possibility that this could be his final appearance on the Olympic stage, Crosby comes across as more reflective than ever. He speaks with appreciation — not only for the opportunity to still be here, but for the fact that he is still regarded as one of the world’s elite players. He is quick to praise his younger teammates, seeing flashes of his younger self in them: hungry, driven, and eager to test themselves in front of the entire world. He has been in their skates before, and he knows exactly how much a gold medal would mean to them and their families.
"Hopefully (we capture gold)," Crosby added. "I'll see how long I can go. I definitely appreciate the opportunity.
"Just knowing how competitive it is – I see so many guys that want to be part of this team. It means a lot to them."
For Sidney Crosby, the Olympics are not a detour from his NHL legacy. They are a return to its starting point — a reminder of why he fell in love with the game in the first place.
Chicago Cubs news and notes — Hoerner, Shaw, Spring Training
I am not at all unhappy to see Caleb Durbin heading to Boston. The guy is a pain in the ass at the plate. Plus it means that Matt Shaw/Nico Hoerner are even more likely to stay put.
The Super Bowl is over. It’s time for baseball.
“We’re taking the afternoon off”
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- Mike Mazzeo (Sports Business Journal*): MLB teams stay top of mind by investing in fan fests during the winter. “This year, more than 8,200 fans packed the Sheraton Grand Chicago from Jan. 16-18 for Cubs Convention.”
- Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Chicago Cubs spring training preview: Players feel primed to contend after banner offseason. “We’re a better ballclub,” Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd said. “With the moves that were made, I think it’s obvious.”
- MLB.com*: One intriguing prospect from each team who can make a run at an Opening Day spot. “Cubs: Kevin Alcántara, OF”
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Early look at a potential Cubs Opening Day roster. “Winning the division is the next task.“
- Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Nico Hoerner, creating value, and the many ways to win. “… there are more than just a couple ways to be a valuable hitter at the plate…”
- Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Five Cubs players in the spotlight with spring training about to start. “… the Chicago Cubs will gather at their Arizona complex this week for the start of spring training.“
Food For Thought:
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. We will not wittingly publish A. I. – driven articles or clickbait, and insist on unimpeachable sources.
Kansas City Royals news: Spring Training starts this week
With spring training starting soon, Anne Rogers gives her Opening Day roster prediction.
Outfielders (4): Isaac Collins, Kyle Isbel, Jac Caglianone, Lane Thomas
The Royals will have a ton of outfielders in camp this spring, but it’s pretty clear that Collins will play left and Isbel will play center. Thomas will be on the team, it’ll just depend on the day as to where he’s playing. Caglianone is competing for the job in right field, but likely has the leg up given that he needs to get reps at the Major League level. Other competitors include Kameron Misner, Drew Waters, Dairon Blanco and John Rave.
Now that the NFL season is done, Craig Brown is ready for baseball and talks about WBC rosters.
I had assumed that Lugo would not be on Team Puerto Rico, due to the injury that kept him sidelined for most of the second half of 2025 and the fact that several of their key players had difficulty securing insurance, but you know what they say when you assume…
Also, I did not anticipate Michael Wacha being on Team USA. The presence of 2/5ths of the Royals starting rotation out of camp doesn’t exactly excite me. The same goes to a degree for Cerantola, a reliever who is on the 40-man roster yet is ticketed to open the year returning for an encore in Omaha. Hopefully, team federations have learned from the past how to keep pitchers in this tournament on their preseason routines so those involved can do their duty for country and then get back into action with their club.
MLB writers pick one storyline for each team heading into Spring Training.
Royals: What does the lineup look like around the core?
We know Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez and Maikel Garcia will hit somewhere between 1-4 or 2-5. Where Isaac Collins hits remains to be seen. The rest of the lineup will include some combination of second baseman Jonathan India, catcher/DH Carter Jensen and outfielders Kyle Isbel, Lane Thomas and Jac Caglianone. Nick Loftin, Tyler Tolbert, John Rave, Drew Waters and more are all competing for bench spots. How the Royals maximize their roster for better offense in 2026 will be a focus all spring.
Meg Rowley and Ben Lindbergh preview the Royals on their Effectively Wild podcast with Anne Rogers.
It would appear the Royals can’t afford hot dogs anymore.
The beloved Dollar Dog Night, where guests can enjoy $1 hot dogs at concession stands all around Kauffman Stadium, was hosted every Tuesday home game in 2025. New in 2026, the event is only available for the first Tuesday home game of each month during the regular season.
The promotion is only available for six home games this year: April 21, May 5, June 9, July 21, Aug. 4 and Sept. 1. It’s half of the Dollar Dog Nights offered in 2025, when there were two times fans could indulge on the Ball Park Brand hot dogs each month.
Caleb Moody at Kings of Kauffman talks about the decision to retain India.
The Red Sox traded for Brewers infielder Caleb Durbin.
The Rays are signing Nick Martinez to a 1/$13M deal.
The Pirates are signing Marcell Ozuna to a 1/$12M deal.
In college basketball, KU beat previously-undefeated Arizona 82-78 last night.
Team USA mixed curling, the C(K)oreys, advances to the gold medal match.
US Figure Skater Amber Glenn is in a little hot water for her music choice.
Medals at the Olympics are breaking off their ribbons.
The OKC Thunder are being investigated for sitting 10 players against the Spurs in a nationally televised game. I watched some of this game, and the Thunder’s third-stringers nearly took down Wemby and the Spurs. I’m not sure the Thunder are the problem here.
Off Topic: The ads for the Super Bowl sucked. The AI ones especially, but all of them in general.
Your song of the day is Mammoth with The End.
SF Giants News: Pitchers and catchers report today!
Good morning, baseball fans!!
Today is the day! The most exciting day of the baseball year! The day in which nothing meaningful really happens, but no one cares because PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT TODAY!
That’s right, friends, we’ve made it through the long winter. And the San Francisco Giants pitchers and catchers will be reporting for duty in Scottsdale, AZ today.
We’re gonna get pictures, we’re gonna get interviews, we’re going to get PEAK “best shape of his life” content and I’m ready for it.
So go get your coffee, hit play on the video below, enjoy the vibes and let me know how you plan to celebrate down in the comments!
Tuesday Rockpile: The Colorado Rockies and “optionality”
Remember back in December when I wrote about about “tractability?”
This was a concept discussed in Pedro Moura’s 2022 book How to beat a broken game: The rise of the Dodgers in a league on the brink. The term essentially refers to a player’s willingness to accept instruction.
In this column, I want to look at a second concept Moura discusses, “optionality.”
Here, he explains how Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman approaches decision-making:
Every decision he made was governed by the guiding principle of optionality [emphasis added], a term co-opted from Wall Street, where he had his professional start. The idea is to render no decision absolutely necessary, to preserve as many possible choices as long as possible. It manifests in many ways, most notably in the Dodgers’ relative lack of desperation. Desperate teams make decisions they will regret. Because of Friedman’s patience and ownership’s resources, the Dodgers stand perpetually ready to seize on opportunities created by another team’s desperation.
So, for Friedman’s Dodgers, maintaining flexibility for as long as possible was key. We watched the 2025 Rockies play from a place of desperation — that’s why players were promoted before they were MLB ready — and we saw the results. The Dodgers would have never allowed themselves to get into that position.
But let’s return to the idea of optionality. The poster child for this concept is Mookie Betts. Here’s Moura:
Betts is the human embodiment of optionality, always available to boost the team in one facet or another. He could connect on a home run. He could beat out an infield single. He could unleash an unreasonably accurate throw. He could make a leaping, or diving, catch. He could steal second base, or he could score from first on a single, as he did to finish his final game with the Red Sox. He could demand his teammates establish a new, higher standard of effort, as he did before his first game with the Dodgers.
Look, the Dodgers moved Betts from the outfield to shortstop with very little effort. That’s how versatile he is. He gets hits; he’s athletic; he makes plays; and he does whatever is asked of him. It’s why he’s such a valuable player.
Finally, let me cite one more passage from Moura, this one on Max Muncy:
In 2019, Max Muncy became the fifth major leaguer to appear at least sixty times at both first base and second base. This flexibility, or optionality, is essential to how the Dodgers operate. It frees them to pursue off-season and midseason improvements at more positions than their peers, because somebody can always slide somewhere to accommodate a newcomer. It liberates Roberts to use the best available pinch-hitter in any game situation and not burn another reserve to defend, because, again, somebody on the field can always slide somewhere. And it insulates the team against the impact of injury. No matter where the hurt player played, the team’s best reserve can move from the bench into the lineup, because, of course, somebody—or somebodies—can always slide somewhere.
The ideas in this passage are key to the Rockies’ rebuild. It’s less about having “specialists” — though every team needs a few, say Will Smith at catcher and Freddie Freeman at first — than having highly athletic players who are willing to learn and, to quote a favorite Josh Byrnes phrase, “max out” and play a number of positions with ease.
(I’ll have more to say about “maxing out” in a separate column. I asked Byrnes about it, and his answer was interesting. I also have some ideas about the Rockies’ possible Mookie Betts, but they’re too undercooked to share right now.)
Here’s my working theory as we head into the 2026 season: Whenever you wonder what are president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and general manager Josh Byrnes doing, ask yourself, “What would the Dodgers do?”
That’s probably influencing their thinking.
Okay, hold that thought, and let me return to the spring training and non-roster invitees list we got last week.
Let’s leave pitchers out of this and just talk about position players.
Look at all those utility players. The Rockies have listed seven utility players. (I know: Kris Bryant? I just work with the list I was given.) Tyler Freeman is no longer just an outfielder; they view him as a utility player. And Troy Johnston, generally seen as a first baseman, is also a utility player. Willi Castro was signed because of his versatility.
Here’s perhaps the most interesting point. As Cory Ryan Knowles pointed out last week on the Purple Row board, “The thing I am most intrigued by is that they designated Condon as a utility player. That says to me that the current front office may not be locked in to him being a 1B exclusively going forward.”
Absolutely.
Under the former front office, it was just assumed Charlie Condon (No. 2 mid-season PuRP) would become a first-base specialist in the tradition of Todd Helton.
Not so fast.
DePodesta et al are more interested in seeing what Condon — and a lot of other players — can do.
At Rockies Fest, DePodesta made an off-hand comment that has stayed with me: Fans should expect to see players at spring training playing positions that they perhaps hadn’t expected to see those players playing.
I’ve called this an “inventory” year for the Rockies as the new front office tries to figure out what they have — and I think that’s still true — but part of that inventory involves determining who’s tractable (or teachable) and comfortable with optionality.
A comment on the Purple Row board last week was that the Rockies had replaced their worst players with less-worse players. I agree. But they’ve also been replaced with more athletic and versatile players. It’s like a table reading for the first season of a television drama as the show runner figures out who they have and what they’ll need.
Clearly, not all the non-roster invitees will make the roster, but I expect a number of those players to break camp with the Rockies. Most fans are not going to be excited about an Opening Day roster with Blaine Crim and Troy Johnston platooning at first; Edourard Julien at second; Ezequiel Tovar at short; and Willi Castro at third with, say, Tyler Freeman, Chad Stevens, and Vimael Machín as depth pieces.
But it may happen.
The Rockies are going to delay decision making and give themselves options, both in terms of their roster and in-game decision-making. This approach will also give their prospects time to develop more fully in Albuquerque or Hartford. (How DePodesta will approach Albuquerque is another interesting question.)
And DePodesta et al are going to be implementing a system not just for players but also for the coaching staff. Manager Warren Schaeffer will need to change his approach to in-game management. I’m not worried about that because Schaeffer has shown he’s as eager to learn as any player on the roster, but that’s going to take some practice.
My sense right now is that fans are not going to get the Opening Day roster they think they want.
The payoff will come later in the season.
Who will break camp with Rox? Let’s take an early guess | MLB.com
Thomas Harding breaks out his crystal ball to predict the Rockies’ Opening Day roster.
FanGraphs weekly mailbag: February 7, 2026 | FanGraphs
SDS asked, “Would you please ask Dan to give us a projection for just how much worse that lineup would be than the weakest MLB team’s starting nine?” Dan Szymborski’s answer does not disappointment as he explores how the Colorado Rockies would fare in this scenario.
Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!
What to know as the Dodgers begin Spring Training
The Dodgers open spring training this week, with pitchers and catchers scheduled to report on Thursday, February 12.
Here’s an inside look at where the team stands as camp begins:
Best position battle
If the Dodgers get through spring with a fully healthy roster, most positions should take care of themselves. However, Tommy Edman is uncertain for opening day as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery. So too is Blake Snell, after slow-playing his winter throwing program while treating a lingering shoulder injury.
If Edman starts the year on the IL, it will create at least a temporary opening at second base. Miguel Rojas would figure to get plenty of the at-bats, but there could also be a runway for either Hyeseong Kim or Alex Freeland to carve out an opening day role.
In the rotation, a potential Snell absence could open a spot for one of the Dodgers’ younger arms, such as River Ryan or Gavin Stone, among others, to earn an opening-day spot.
Most intriguing minor leaguer
There has been growing excitement around the organization in Ryan, who debuted as a top prospect in 2024 and posted a 1.33 ERA in four starts before going down with Tommy John surgery. Since then, the right-hander has bulked up by roughly 30 pounds, added life to his upper-90s mph fastball, and impressed club officials in his throwing program this winter.
Whether or not he starts the season in the majors, he’ll almost certainly have a role to play at some point. And if his brief debut a couple years ago was any indication, he could be primed for a breakout campaign.
Story to watch develop
The Dodgers have been open about their need to manage the starting rotation’s workload this year, coming off the heavy burden they shoulder in the 2025 playoffs. It’s why the team is already preaching patience with Snell. And it will be a subplot to follow as other veteran arms ramp up for the year.
Outside of Snell, the Dodgers’ other starters have reported feeling OK so far with the quick turnaround from last season. But as intensity heightens in the spring, so too will the threat of lingering after-effects being felt. By the time they get to opening day, the Dodgers should have a better idea of how their pitching staff rebounded from last October.
Manager’s toughest challenge
The Dodgers will have one of the oldest lineups in the majors this year. And manager Dave Roberts has already acknowledged the need to find his veterans more regular rest.
It won’t be easy. Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, for example, have been loath to off days in recent years. Thus, Roberts will have to find the right balance between keeping his older bats fresh, and keeping them happy and in-rhythm as they continue to age. It will be an ongoing challenge for the 10th-year skipper.
Most intriguing newcomer
It’s been five years since Kenley Jansen left the Dodgers. Since then, they’ve struggled to find a defined, consistent closer, having not had one reliever with a 25-save season.
That should change now, with the arrival of Edwin Díaz and his 253 career saves. The Dodgers invested $69 million in him to anchor the relief corps. And as long as he clicks, a weak Dodgers bullpen from last season should be a strength in their three-peat bid.
Most notable absence
For two decades, Clayton Kershaw has been the face of the Dodgers franchise. For the first time since 2006, he won’t be at camp for spring training.
The Dodgers, of course, have plenty of options to replace the retired left-hander in the rotation. But his clubhouse presence will leave a void, creating a Hall of Fame-sized hole that will be felt this spring.
Don’t be surprised if it becomes an issue
Injuries, and not just to the rotation. Freeman will be 36 this year, Max Muncy 35, Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez both 33, and Will Smith, Shohei Ohtani and Edman all 31. While the Dodgers have battled injuries in recent years, they’ve largely had their entire lineup healthy come the playoffs. Accomplishing that again will only get harder as time goes on.
Pitching absences are already expected. The Dodgers have to hope position player losses don’t become a problem either.
Biggest comeback
Ohtani completed his two-way comeback last year. But now, he will enter a season without any health restrictions for the first time since 2023, when he had arguably his most complete career year.
Ohtani will begin this campaign as the frontrunner for his fifth MVP. He could very well wind up in the Cy Young conversation, too. The Dodgers have already seen historic feats from their $700 million star. Now, they’ll get their first look at a full season of Ohtani playing both ways full-time.