Worldwide Sports News

February is the month when Major League Baseball teams begin to gather at their Spring Training facilities. The San Diego Padres look like a postseason contender on paper, but the front office must settle the first base debate before the opening of full squad workouts in Peoria.

Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller has assembled a talented but incomplete roster that has several holes to fill before Opening Day.

Let’s dissect a couple of options at the first base position:

Castellanos: A proven run-producer

The first name on the Friars’ wishlist could be Nick Castellanos, as the Philadelphia Phillies have been looking to move him off the roster all winter. The decision is primarily due to his declining defensive skills in the outfield and constant bickering with Phillies manager Rob Thomson last season. It is time for a change for both sides. 

Castellanos is a proven run producer, having driven in 100 runs three times in his 13-year major league career. The right-handed slugger has an aggressive, free-swinging approach at the plate. Castellanos focuses on hitting the ball to the gaps for extra-base hits. It can lead to a high strikeout rate (22.3%) and a low on-base percentage (.321). But you cannot argue with his production, as he has hit 399 doubles and 250 home runs heading into the upcoming season.

Nick Castellanos’ wife Jess posted a video on her Instagram story of Nick taking ground balls. Seems like he may have a first basemen’s mitt on. https://t.co/15AMODF1kbpic.twitter.com/U2awtdg6uc

— Luke Arcaini (@ArcainiLuke) January 21, 2026

A recent video surfaced on several social media websites of Castellanos taking grounders at first base, so he seems open to a position change. The sticking point in a potential trade is that Castellanos is owed $20 million in the final year of his contract. If a deal occurs, the Phillies would need to absorb some of this season’s salary. 

Stay tuned.

A reunion with Luis Arraez

If you are looking for an elite contact hitter, then look no further than Luis Arraez. A reunion with him is not out of the realm of possibility. It is hard to imagine a player who won three consecutive batting titles (2022 to 2024) is having trouble securing a contract for the upcoming season.

Preller has been reluctant to sign Arraez because of his stature (5-10), which limits his ability to play first base effectively. Arraez has a tough time catching or putting a glove on an errant high throw. Often, the ball travels down the right field line, as the batter finds himself in scoring position without the pitch leaving the infield. 

You could see an agreement on a one-year deal that benefits both sides. It allows Arraez to re-establish his value before heading back on the free agent market next winter. The Padres gain a fan favorite who can make a significant contribution on a cost-effective deal.

Unfortunately, most major league teams are willing to take a risk on power hitters with defensive limitations rather than top-of-the-order hitters who have a skillset not built to drive in runs.

The Friar Faithful have grown tired of the “wait and see” approach to filling the holes on the roster. It is time for Preller to sign or trade for a first baseman, or we are in for a long summer.

Hopefully, a resolution comes fast.

The White Sox continue shuffling the deck, officially punching Seranthony Domínguez’s two-year, $20 million ticket to the South Side. Domínguez pockets a cool $1 million just for signing, plus a mutual option dangling for 2028. Domínguez, 31, brings a legit late-inning arm to a bullpen that’s been running on fumes, with a career strikeout rate north of 27% and plenty of high-leverage experience.

To clear roster space, Chicago released Bryan Ramos, designating him for assignment. Once viewed as a future infield fixture, Ramos never got his feet under him in the bigs. His exit is just the latest sign that the front office is churning the 40-man roster ahead of camp.

And because Spring Training is nothing without a crowd, they also tossed non-roster invites to 22 hopefuls for major league camp. The Sox announced that seven of those are free agents signed to minor-league contracts: righthander Tyson Miller, lefthander Ryan Borucki, infielders Oliver Dunn, Tim Elko and LaMonte Wade Jr., and outfielders Dustin Harris and Jarred Kelenic.

Elko’s bat brings the thunder, knocking 26 bombs for Charlotte last year, but he looked lost in three big-league call-ups. Wade is a defensive Swiss Army knife who bounced between the Giants and Angels in 2025. Borucki and Miller? Veteran arms that add experienced depth to a pitching staff that will be closely monitored early in camp.

The club also invited 15 additional players from the farm to big league camp, including a pile of righties in Mason Adams, Adisyn Coffey, Tyler Davis, Zach Franklin and Ben Peoples, as well as a handful of southpaws with Shane Murphy, Noah Schultz, Tyler Schweitzer and Hagen Smith. Behind the dish is Michael Turner, while infielders Sam Antonacci, William Bergolla Jr. and Jacob Gonzalez will handle the dirt. Outfielders Dru Baker and Braden Montgomery round out the list.

Schultz and Smith sit at the top of the pitching list, racking up over 180 strikeouts between Double- and Triple-A last year. Montgomery keeps climbing, stacking on-base numbers at every stop. All three prospects Montgomery (No. 36), Schultz (No. 49), Smith (No. 72) landed on MLB.com’s Top 100 for 2026. The Sox aren’t just filling out the roster with cannon fodder. There’s real competition in this mix.

Pitchers and catchers get the ball rolling on February 10, with the full squad piling in five days later on February 15. The first game is against the Chicago Cubs on February 20.

We had a couple of outlets drop their farm system rankings today, so I thought it’d be a good time to see how our readers are feeling about the state of the farm.

Keith Law at The Athletic ranks them 25th, noting that they’ve traded away a lot in win now moves recently and are about to go through a second draft in a row with no second round pick because they’ve signed free agents who had refused qualifying offers.

ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel is more optimistic, putting them 16th. He’s high on JoJo Parker and Johnny King, and seems extremely high on Sam Shaw, putting him 151st on his extended top prospect list.

Personally, I’m somewhere in the middle. I think this is clearly a below average system. That’s especially true if you mentally exclude Trey Yesavage, who’s still technically eligible but is really a major leaguer now. It’s not a bad system at all, though. Parker, Nimmala and King are all top 100 types or close, and the recent success in pitching development gives some hope that the depth will be better than it has recently. They have some role players likely to help in 2026, and some exciting young guys in the lower levels.

What do you think about the state of the farm? Let us know in the comments.

On the latest episode of The Mets Pod, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo are hitting the home stretch of the offseason as spring training is in the air. 

First up, the guys react to the Freddy Peralta introductory news conference and continue the contract extension chatter, share their thoughts on the clubhouse vibes after manager Carlos Mendoza made comments about last season, and look at what may come from the signing of reliever Craig Kimbrel. 

Later, the guys go Down on the Farm to tell the story of this week's social media sensation Jefry Yan, and answer Mailbag questions about a world where the Mets brought back Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz, the idea of Brett Baty playing first base, and who they would chose to fill out their all-time Mets lineup.

Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Texas Rangers have announced the non-roster invitees for this year’s major league spring training camp. Aside from the guys signed to minor league deals this winter, the team has invited nine other players who were already in the organization to the major league camp. They are:

IF Sebastian Walcott — Y’all know who he is

IF Cam Cauley — You probably know who he is, too. Versatile infielder who is likely going to be at AAA this season. Could get a call up if there’s a need for a utility infielder and he’s done enough for the Rangers to think he’s worth adding to the 40 man roster.

OF Trevor Hauver — 27 year old lefthanded hitting corner outfielder who came to Texas from the Yankees as part of the Joey Gallo trade. Slashed .275/.391/.446 for Round Rock last year. Will be a free agent after the season if he’s not added to the 40 man roster. Not a realistic candidate to be in the majors this year, barring extraordinary circumstances.

OF Aaron Zavala — 25 year old lefthanded hitting corner outfielder who was the Rangers’ second round pick in 2021. Slashed .242/.354/.415 between AA and AAA (mostly AAA) last year. Presumably will be in Round Rock this year.

LHP Robby Ahlstrom — 26 year old reliever acquired by the Rangers from the Yankees in the Jose Trevino trade. Split the past two seasons between AA and AAA. Could be a bullpen option if he stops walking so many hitters.

LHP Dalton Pence — 23 year old who was the Rangers’ 11th round pick out of UNC in 2024. Had a solid 2025 season, putting up a 2.73 ERA between Hickory and Hub City, with 103 Ks against 27 walks in 82.1 IP. Not a major league option, but someone whose stock has risen.

LHP Josh Trentadue — 24 year old who was the Rangers’ 13th round pick out of College of Southern Idaho in 2023. Split 2025 between high-A and AA, putting up a 1.15 ERA in 54 innings at high-A and a 5.24 ERA in 22 innings at AA. Like Pence, not a major league option, but someone whose stock has gone up.

RHP Eric Loomis — 23 year old reliever who was the team’s 16th round pick out of Missouri State in 2024. Spent time at low-A, high-A and AA in 2025, dominating at the A ball levels and giving up 6 runs in 7.2 innings over 7 appearances at AA. Struck out 84 of 220 batters faced, which is pretty good. Walked 25 and hit 12. Someone who could move quickly if he harnesses his stuff.

RHP Ryan Lobus — 25 year old who was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Mercer in 2023. Put up a 3.48 ERA in 67 innings over 45 appearances for Frisco in 2025, with 82 Ks and 27 walks. Like Loomis, is a bullpen guy who could potentially get a look at some point this season if he performs.

Players signed as free agents over the winter and invited to major league camp are:

RHP Gavin Collyer

RHP Declan Cronin

LHP Austin Gomber

RHP Peyton Gray

RHP Josh Sborz

RHP Trey Supak

C Jose Herrera

C Cooper Johnson

IF Jonah Bride

IF Richie Martin

IF Andrew Velazquez

IF Tyler Wade

The Rangers’ website says that there are 23 NRIs, but I am only counting 21 above, so there must be a couple that aren’t listed on the NRI roster page.

The Seattle Mariners have announced their plan for streaming games for the 2026 season, offering a deal that in essence matches the Root Sports package debuted a season ago. For $99,99 a season (or $19.99 by individual month), fans will be able to subscribe to Mariners.TV and watch thru the MLB App on various devices, including phones, tablets, computers, and presumably smart TVs. The club noted that they WILL still have their games broadcast via traditional cable and satellite, and internet TV providers as has been the case, however they will be announcing the specific channels/providers between now and Opening Day.

Sign up for the new service begins February 10th.

This is, in essence, a continuation of the exact situation from a season ago, where in-market fans can now choose to subscribe specifically to this streaming service (Mariners.TV) for all non-national broadcast games, while MLB.TV will still be required (and fully functional) whenever out-of-market. If you’re watching the M’s from the Midwest, for instance, carry on as usual.

If you’re a traditional cable subscriber/user, this also may simply not be all that impactful to you. The M’s FAQ notes they “expect the channel locations will be located near other sports programming on your [TV] guide.” As such, between now and the start of the season, you’ll need to learn the new channel that will have M’s broadcasts, but it will likely be as simple as that: learn the new channel, write it down or add it to your favorites, accidentally type the old one every now and then like we all do when the calendar switches to January each year. RIP channels 30 and 627 in the households of my youth.

For those (like myself) who’ll be certain subscribers to this streaming service, it seems functionally identical to the Root Sports Stream experience, with the lone caveat that it will run through the MLB App. If you’re a reader of Lookout Landing, I’ll never assume anything, but it seems likely you have the MLB App. You will NOT have to purchase an additional MLB.TV subscription to purchase this bespoke, Mariners-specific version.

I’m no economist, but purely as a consumer, I’m constantly finding myself wanting a specific thing, and realizing it can only be acquired as part of a bundle or package. About $8.50 a month for the most central entertainment product to me and my life, with no other attached junk feels… reasonable? It remains to be seen what impacts the dissolution of ROOT has upon the broadcast itself, but this feels straightforward in a way that it could’ve easily not been.