The St. Louis Cardinals and Oliver Marmol have agreed to a two-year contract extension, the club announced Sunday, March 1, affording the manager a measure of security as the club plunges deeper into a rebuild.
Marmol, 39, is entering his fifth season as Cardinals manager, a stint that began with a 2022 NL Central title and appearance in the wild-card series, yet took a downturn with win totals ranging from 71 to 83 wins and no playoff berths in the three subsequent seasons.
Yet as the club prepared to move on from longtime baseball operations president John Mozeliak, Marmol kept a steady hand and endured through the transition to new baseball chief Chaim Bloom. And the extension would certainly quell whispers that two-time World Series champion Yadier Molina might be a manager-in-waiting.
Molina was hired in January as a special assistant to Bloom, tasked with working with the Cardinals' catchers, and is the manager for Puerto Rico's World Baseball Classic squad.
Marmol's extension runs through the 2028 season and includes a club option for 2029. And with Gold Glove shortstop Masyn Winn soon to join forces with top prospect JJ Wetherholt in the middle of hte Cardinals infield, along with other rising talent in the organization, Marmol feels he's just hitting his stride, rather than getting stale.
"I feel like I'm built exactly for this moment in Cardinal history," he told reporters in Jupiter, with several players and family members filling the press conference room at their spring-training facility.
Marmol's tenure as manager long precedes Bloom's time in the organization - the former Red Sox baseball operations chief was hired in January 2024 - yet Bloom did not feel hesitant ensuring Marmol would further mold the young talent Bloom hopes to assemble.
"“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow," says Bloom in a statement released by the team. "I am energized to continue working with him toward the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Feb 26, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Dodgers lineup plans have taken shape over the first few weeks of spring training, with the welcome task of figuring out where to insert newcomer Kyle Tucker into an increasingly stacked lineup.
Freddie Freeman, who collected three of his planned 47 plate appearances this spring on Saturday at Camelback Ranch, spoke with Kirsten Watson on SportsNet LA from the dugout after his day was complete, and confirmed that he’ll bat fourth this season after hitting mostly third and some cleanup last season.
“I’ve always loved being in the middle of the lineup, with guys in scoring position,” Freeman said. “I love when there’s guys on base, and I can either move them from first to third or drive them in.”
The plan is for Tucker to hit second after Shohei Ohtani, followed by Mookie Betts and then Freeman. But what does Freeman gain by going from second or third to batting cleanup? Here are the plate appearances with runners on base and in scoring from 2025, by batting order, both league-wide and on the Dodgers.
Order position
MLB on base
LA on base
MLB RISP
LA RISP
1st
257
268
154
138
2nd
311
324
165
171
3rd
330
333
183
185
4th
338
344
201
205
5th
298
315
182
185
6th
287
294
168
169
7th
285
289
162
165
8th
276
279
165
163
9th
263
262
157
145
MLB figures are the average of all 30 teams
Cleanup hitters, unsurprisingly, bat the most often both with runners on base and in scoring position. In 2025, the average MLB team saw its fourth hitter bat eight more times with runners on than No. 3 hitters, and 18 more times with a runner in scoring position.
Freeman started 96 times batting third last season and 47 times hitting fourth, plus two starts batting second. He did lead the Dodgers with 291 plate appearances with runners on base, one more than Mookie Betts, who hit mostly second with a smattering of first. Freeman’s 161 plate appearances with runners in scoring position, two more than Andy Pages, who saw three quarters of his starts batting fifth, sixth, or seventh.
So Freeman should get plenty of chances to do damage with runners on base this season, and brings us to today’s question: How many RBI will Freeman have in 2026?
But there’s one other thing I want to note, and it pertains to the top of the order. Ohtani is the best hitter in the National League, and a common question I see is why is he batting first rather than a bit lower in the order so his many hits and extra-base hits can drive more runners in. Ohtani and the Dodgers prefer to bat him first, which maximizes his total plate appearances, the main argument being that he does plenty of damage all by himself.
Perhaps the biggest impact of adding Tucker will be not in the top of the lineup but at the bottom. After all, with Freeman hitting fourth, the Dodgers will have plenty of lineups with Teoscar Hernández, Max Muncy, Andy Pages, and Tommy Edman hitting sixth or lower.
Dodgers seventh-through-ninth batters last year collectively batted .228/.294/.369, ranking 20th in on-base percentage in MLB. With better hitters batting lower in the order in 2026, that will likely mean more runners on base when Ohtani comes to the plate. Even if that leads to more intentional walks for Ohtani, the Dodgers have Tucker right behind him. That’s plenty of chances to do damage.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 25: Alek Jacob #37 of the San Diego Padres warms up during the third inning of a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Peoria Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jackson Merrill and Nick Schnell each hit two-run home runs to help the San Diego Padres get a 7-1 win over the Seattle Mariners at the Peoria Sports Complex on Saturday. The Padres avenged the loss to the Mariners in the Cactus League opener. JP Sears had a strong bounce back performance, lasting three innings, allowing one run with one walk and one strikeout. The San Diego bullpen was dominant and allowed just one hit over the final six innings of the game. The Padres play the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale, Ariz. today at 12:05 p.m.
Padres News:
Sung-Mun Song is ready and willing to fill whatever need the Padres have for him, which could result in him playing the role of super utility player. Song has had a strong showing with his glove this spring and has recently recorded a couple of hits as he adjusts to MLB pitching.
San Diego pitching coach Ruben Niebla spoke with the media on Saturday and talked about the competitions for the final spot or spots in the rotation and the final spot or spots in the bullpen. There are several talented arms in camp and Niebla and the other decision makers within the organization will have the difficult task of deciding who makes the team and who does not.
Walker Buehler pitched to members of a KBO team at the Padres’ Spring Training facility and had a successful outing, which could mean we will see him on the mound for the Padres in the near future.
The New York Yankees agreed to a deal with free agent Cody Bellinger this offseason and he is already taking time off the field. Bellinger was held out of the Yankees game due to back discomfort.
San Jose Sharks forward Ryan Reaves is going to miss hockey whenever he decides to leave the ice and hang up his skates for good.
It's not happening anytime soon, his love of the game keeps him around. It's a privilege to have played as long as he has.
On top of that, as a Black-Canadian player, Reaves takes pride in being a role model to the kids that look like him that aspire to play hockey.
"I think it's an honor to be a Black player in this league and have younger Black players look up to you and kind of look at you and say, 'you know, I could do that, too.' I think that's important to have representation there," Reaves told USA TODAY Sports. "I think when kids don't see them represented, it's harder for them to kind of engage and get into that sport. So, you know, that's just a way for younger kids to kind of get involved."
The game has evolved to where Black players in the NHL have become more common, although the sport remains predominantly white. It's across both genders, too.
Reaves, as the rest of the world, has taken notice.
"I think it shows how quickly the game's growing. You know, women's hockey has taken off over the last 10 years especially," Reaves told USA TODAY Sports. "I think it's really started to grow, and people are starting to take notice of the talent and to see someone like that representing their country and winning a gold medal is even more special.”
The game grows when representation and diversity is showcased on the biggest stage and history is acknowledged. The Sharks recently held an in-game "Black Excellence Celebration" highlighting the Black history in their franchise.
The team was established in 1990, and their logo was designed by a Black man: Northern California-based artist and former Stanford basketball player Terry Smith. He was one of the many recognized.
"It's a cool thing to see how quickly the game's growing, and obviously, obviously, there's room for more growth, but there's room for more growth in a lot of areas of different sports and organizations and job sectors," Reaves said. "I think it's cool to recognize those people have kind of paved the way for everybody.”
Growing the game
Sharks general manager Mike Grier, who played 14 NHL seasons, became the first Black general manager in league history in 2022. He also played for San Jose for three seasons from 2006 to 2009.
Grier and Reaves were recognized with other Sharks alum including Mike McHugh, Dale Craigwell, Derek Joslin, Justin Bailey, Evander Kane, C.J. Suess, Joel Ward, Anthony Duclair, Givani Smith and Sharks Audio Network analyst Jamal Mayers.
Mayers believes the game will continue to grow in the next five to 10 years.
"I think it's heading in the right direction. I think that it's kind of going to mirror society," Mayers told USA TODAY Sports. "I think that, you know, you're going to see more kids of color, you're going to be seeing more Asian kids. You're going to see more non-whites playing hockey, as we continue as a sport to make it more inviting, more inclusive, not only for the players, but for the parents that are in the stands, that are part of it, and it becomes normalized as the numbers go up."
Mayers played 15 seasons in the NHL. The league looked different then compared to now. He played from 1996 to 2013 and, Mayers admitted, it wasn't all good.
"I'd be lying if I sat here and tell you that there weren't things that happened over the course of my career," Mayers said. "I think that I got to a point, like, three or four years into my career, where I let go of feeling the responsibility of showing, proving that I'm a good teammate, I'm a good player, I'm all these things."
He added: "If people were to think that I was a bad teammate or a jerk or whatever, or, you know, it had nothing to do with the color of my skin, I got rid of that and just was able to just sink into just being myself."
Mayers felt the pressures but had a support system and teammates that would stick up for him, he said. His emphasis was on ensuring the environment surrounding the sport is welcoming to Black people and other racial and ethnic backgrounds.
"The reason why I do the work is because maybe there's a kid out there, or parents out there, that are like, I'm not putting my kid in that environment, or maybe the kid is like, I don't need this. I don't want to do it anymore. And we're losing kids from playing the game because they don't feel welcome," Mayers said.
He added: "Hopefully, that families and kids feel like there's a space, place for them in the game. And to me, it's important for the game to grow, to make sure that all kinds of people are accepted and want to be part of it.”
Reaves nearing retirement? Not so fast
Reaves said he takes care of his body so that he can play as long as he can. He takes pride in his last name being paraded on the back of his jersey.
"It means a lot," Reaves said. "When I was growing up, I always wanted to play a sport, whether it was football or hockey. You know, a teacher asked me what I wanted to be, and I said I wanted to be a professional athlete. And she told me to change my answer, because it wasn't realistic. Well, it was realistic to me, and I took a lot of pride in what I've done over my career. See, I wear that, I wear that front crest with more pride, but with the back crest with a lot of pride, too.”
He was traded to San Jose during the offseason and the Winnipeg native said he wakes up with a smile on his face every morning to be playing there.
His career has seen everything but a Stanley Cup championship. His chase for that coveted title is still alive and keeps him motivated to stick around for another couple of years, especially now in San Jose.
"This team, the way it's starting to be built, there's a lot of opportunity in the next couple of years to do that. And you know, I would love to be around for it," Reaves said. "A couple years, I'm hoping, as long as my body holds up, you know, which it's been great this year. Yeah, I would love to play for another year or two, at least."
He added: "This is an exciting time in San Jose, you know, with the players that have come here and the team that we started to build, it's hard not to be excited about this team."
Throughout his career, he's been a physical player and an enforcer for teams. But it's a style that can take a toll on the body. However, Reaves doubled-down that he isn't contemplating retirement.
"Hopefully it's not in the next year or two," he told USA TODAY Sports. "But you know, the fact of the matter is, you know, when you turn 40 and you played like I have your whole career, you know, it comes in at some point. I've been very, very fortunate. But yeah, no, I'd love to hold on for a couple more years."
Reaves is not thinking too far ahead, though, so getting to the 20-year mark is up in the air.
"I don't know if I've thought that far. I think at this point it's, you know, getting through this season, getting a good summer of training again, and then getting through the next one," he said.
He added: "I'm trying not to think too far ahead, because, you know, this year is still very exciting.”
When it comes to mind, body and spirit, Reaves said "everything is right."
The Craig McRae-era Magpies play exhilarating football but their age profile makes you wince while other, younger teams are preparing to spike
The rule changes and AFL adjustments keep coming with the introduction of wildcard round and an extension of the finals series the biggest for many years. But even with 10 clubs playing beyond the home-and-away season for the first time, there will always be teams heading in the wrong direction or simply well off the pace.
In the first of a three-part series on 2026 predictions, here’s how we see the bottom part of the ladder playing out.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have hit an all-time low when it comes to their confidence as a group, and there’s really no hiding it anymore. The club fell to the Ottawa Senators 5-2 at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday. Despite scoring first when Morgan Rielly put the Leafs on the board following an expired power play, the club looked sluggish out of the gate, getting outshot 16-2 in the opening 20 minutes.
The lethargy and lack of desperation in their play that followed was evident. The club couldn’t sugarcoat the poor effort against a Sens team that is also desperate to make a push for the postseason.
If this were a one-off, it wouldn’t be much of a concern for the Leafs. However, in their third consecutive game following the Olympic break, the starts have looked identical. It was understandable against a dominant Tampa Bay Lightning team, and perhaps less so against the Florida Panthers. But in their first home game in over a month, it became evident that the Leafs may be realizing they just don’t have it.
“Just bad, just fairly embarrassing, to be honest with you,” Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews admitted. “It's just not the way. We need to have more pride in our play no matter where we're at, no matter what the situation is. We just have to have more pride in our game, and we didn't have that tonight”.
Maple Leafs star William Nylander, who scored the other Toronto goal, shared that sentiment. He didn’t have any answer as to why his team’s play has looked as poor as it has.
“I don't think anybody is quitting in the locker room. I mean, everybody wants to be in the playoffs,” Nylander said. “I think right now we're just disconnected, not finding our game. It's a lot of pressure to want to find that game within the game, and then I think we get more disconnected. I mean, nobody's quitting.
“Everybody wants to fight for a playoff spot. It's just we've got to figure it out. We’ve had three games here. It's still not impossible, but we've got to play a lot better hockey if we want to be there”.
The Maple Leafs fell to 27-24-9 this season and sit eight points out of a playoff spot with 22 games remaining. While eight points doesn’t seem like a lot, they have to pass six teams ahead of them to land the second wild card position. There’s no evidence right now that they are capable of that.
Toronto currently holds the 11th-worst record in the NHL. Unless they finish in the bottom five of the standings, win a lottery, or acquire a pick from another club before the March 6 deadline, the Leafs won’t have their first-round draft pick this summer, having traded it away conditionally to the Boston Bruins. Currently, they are only nine points ahead of the Calgary Flames, who hold the fifth-worst record.
If you ever needed evidence that Leafs fans are now rooting for that draft scenario rather than the slim playoff chances, look no further than the beginning of the second intermission. Toronto’s ugly play wasn’t met with heavy boos or jerseys thrown on the ice; it was quiet. The fans understand the playoffs are likely not in the cards, even if the players haven’t realized it yet.
This lack of confidence is palpable.
“Certainly. It's very fleeting,” Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe said. “I've been around long enough that no matter how veteran you are, there's times where you don't have that confidence, and this is a tough game to play when you don't have it”.
The pressures are mounting as the trade deadline looms. The signal to management is clear: they must sell. Toronto’s playoff streak of nine consecutive years is sure to come to an end, but management needs to ensure they receive a meaningful return for the future to make something out of this season.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JUNE 3: Nolan Gorman #16 of the St. Louis Cardinals is congratulated by teammate Alec Burleson #41 after Gorman hit a two-run homer during the second inning at Busch Stadium on June 3, 2025 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Le/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are back to the point where we are getting to watch… well sometimes listen… to baseball everyday. Now, all we need is for the ground up north to finish thawing so we can get to these games that count! While the WBC will definitely scratch some of that itch, there is nothing that compares to the Clydesdales and seeing the best uniforms in baseball back on the field.
Every team handles the spring season in a different way, and with the WBC interrupting close to two weeks of camp, position battles have been hot and heavy since the day everyone arrived. The St. Louis Cardinals received some clarity on their infield alignment when they traded Brendan Donovan and set the stage for JJ Wetherholt to make his debut in St. Louis. He is likely to slide into second base, leaving third base wide open for someone to take. On the other side of the field, Alec Burleson will move from the grass to the dirt and handle the majority of starts at first base.
Do the Cardinals’ corners have the power needed to pace the offense?
In last week’s discussion, I covered the catching situation which has actually gotten muddier since Ivan Herrera was cleared to catch in games. Those following me know that I have been pro-Herrera catching a couple times per week and then having Pedro Pages and Jimmy Crooks providing coverage the other days of the week. Rather than rehash that whole story, feel free to take a look at the last Cardinals on My Time where I had Matt from Redbird Rundown and JD from Locked On Cardinals to break it all down. To summarize, if Herrera can remain healthy, the pop he can provide as a catcher and DH would be more valuable to me than just as a DH. That power would also supplement the lineup that is lacking it pretty much everywhere else.
That everywhere else unfortunately takes us to the corner infield, which is traditionally known for power and whatever fielding value can be provided is a bonus. Last season, we did not really get either as Willson Contreras’ 20 homers led the team but that was good for 10th among first basemen and Nolan Arenado added a whopping 12 round trippers of his own with decent enough defense. Both of them have since been traded, but for those that have read my weekly spots know that I tabbed Burleson as the first baseman of the future even prior to the Contreras deal.
While that sounds like high praise, the article actually pointed out that Burly is that player right now out of necessity and lack of high potential first base talent developing in the minor leagues. To go back to the positives, I believe that Burleson is a more than capable major league player and I am looking forward to another full season of his progression with the bat. ZiPS sees Burleson as having a similar, but slightly regressed season with the bat a year after taking home that Silver Slugger award. After hitting .290 with an .801 OPS, Szymborski sees both of those numbers dropping a bit but is projected to hit the 20 homer mark after knocking 18 last season. What is interesting to me in these projections, is that all of the projection systems view Burleson as a butcher in the field, with nearly -10 values across the board. While he has never been seen as an outstanding fielder, he spent the majority of his time in the outfield. The full-time move to first base should provide a major improvement on those defensive metrics, in turn making Burleson an easy threat for a 2.5-3.0 fWAR season, to push within top-15 at the position. Not spectacular, but that makes him one of the best overall players on this iteration of Cardinal teams.
Moving across the diamond, the Cardinals ranked 25th in the league for third base performance last year. Heading into 2026, ZiPS is down down dowwwwwn on the St. Louis hot corner as Nolan Gorman is the expected starter, but projects for just a 1.5 fWAR, good for 32nd in baseball. I am on the other side of these projections and it could be blind faith, but I am excited and hopeful for Gorman to get an unencumbered everyday look back at his natural position. While he is approaching 1600 plate appearances, looking further into how he received those opportunities. In his rookie campaign, he knocked 14 homers in just over 300 appearances, with 66 of his 88 games played coming at second base, a new position, with zero games at third. Then, in 2023, he bounced between second and third and put together his best full season, hitting 27 homers with an .805 OPS. He also had his lowest strikeout rate (still a too high 32%) and highest walk rate (a great 11%)
That performance pushed me firmly into the Stormin’ Gorman fan club, of which I am still a member today. The 2024 season was marked as “weird” for basically the entire lineup, and I admit that 2025 was disappointing for me as a club member. Part of that disappointment came from the fact his runway (sorry) was cut short thanks to Nolan Arenado sticking around and second base being taken by Brendan Donovan after elbow surgery limited his time in the outfield. This year, though, for a lineup that is sincerely lacking power, Gorman’s performance could mean a lot for the Cardinals and his future. The lefty infielder will be arbitration eligible for the first time after the 2026 season and if he can play decent defense at third and approach the 30 homer threshold, the conversation could turn from trade chatter to extension talks. Gorman will turn 26 in May, and I have continuously mentioned him as a “more athletic Kyle Schwarber”, with lefty pop from multiple infield positions raising my intrigue in keeping him around.
While first base is pretty much set that Burleson will be there 5-6 days per week, third could end up cycling through a list of guys, but I truly hope the team settles on giving one guy (Gorm) the everyday job with a day or two off a week as the DH. That cycle could include a plethora of guys like Wetherholt, Jose Fermin, Thomas Saggese, and Ramon Urias. While versatility is going to be important for the roster this year, I would prefer Wetherholt to stick at one position and use the others as the Donovan-lite option. Removing Wetherholt, out of the trio, I am most looking forward to see how Saggese is utilized this season. He has shown the hitting potential in the minors, but his opportunity thus far at the big league level has also been inconsistent. This spring, Saggese has moved around the diamond and has been receiving time in the outfield. Since the Cardinals did not fill their righty outfield bat hole this offseason, Saggese’s best opportunity could be to seize that spot left vacated by Lars Nootbaar and attempt to turn that into an everyday role, at least to start the season.
Personally, I feel that the corner infield could have the widest range of outcomes this season. The outfield has questions as well, but I will dive into those in a couple weeks. Burleson has the potential grow beyond a solid major league contributor, but it is also possible he is approaching his ceiling as a player. If the Cardinals truly commit to Gorman at third, the hope is that the organization gets an answer on his future either way. Behind those two, we may see guys fighting for the opportunity to seize an opening if either of those two miss extensive time or struggle enough to warrant removal from the starting lineup.
SELF PROMO OF THE WEEK
Massive news out of Redbird Rundown. We have decided to create a Patreon page as a way to make a hub for Cardinals fans to watch, listen, read, and chat. All of our new episodes will be posted there for free, but to access chats and our archives, a FREE account is going to be required. At 6pm tonight, we will announce the move and instructions on our episode, but we hope little to nothing will change for you all. Please please reach out with questions and feedback as we want to make it seamless, yet effective. This is a learning experience for us, so let us know your thoughts!
Outside of that news, tonight’s episode will feature the one and only Kareem Haq! To jump into Kareem’s expertise, the four of us drafted Cardinals prospects based on whatever we felt most important. Make sure to tune in for this one!
Random Cardinal of the Week finished Black History Month by diving into one of the most influential position groups of all time: the 1982 outfield. A really fun one this week!
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 25: Geraldo Perdomo #2 of the Arizona Diamondbacks is seen on the field during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The shortstop prospect generating early buzz at Diamondbacks camp
Just 22, he is impressing coaches, teammates and club officials with his play, work ethic and aptitude. And he is reminding onlookers of just how high his ceiling could be.
“He’s the next Carlos Correa,” Diamondbacks infielder Ildemaro Vargas said, speaking through interpreter Alex Arpiza.
Torey Lovullo Gave Optimistic Statement on Corbin Carroll’s Return
“I would not be surprised if Corbin (Carroll) is ready by Opening Day. That’s my gut feel,” Lovullo told reporters on Saturday (Via Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports 98.7).
Diamondbacks’ youngsters to get opportunities as stars leave for World Baseball Classic
“I think it’s a great opportunity for them,” general manager Mike Hazen said at Spring Training Media Day. “A lot of the younger kids don’t get a chance to start games against the veteran big-league starters. … By the time they get in the game, it’s a minor-league game basically by the sixth inning. … Some of our top prospects will get a lot of playing time.”
Jonathan Loaisiga is healthy with goals to earn leverage role with Diamondbacks “I heard really good things across the board,” Loaisiga said last week via Spanish interpreter. “Everything from the weather, the climate really suit me well. I heard good things about the coaching staff, the medical staff. I think it’ll be a good fit for me. It’s a young team, talented team, and hope I can help them out. I had a lot of minor league offers and actually one major league offer, but I wasn’t quite happy with the city itself,” he added https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/jonathan-loaisiga-fit/3612913/
Time to ‘change the script’: Judge determined to lead USA to gold at Classic
“They say it’s like a playoff atmosphere from the very beginning, but guys also said it helped them get ready for the season a lot quicker, too,” Judge said. “It’s heated competition. You’re fighting for your country.”
Apart from Vitamin C, eggs contain every single vitamin.
It also contains high traces of protein, fat, and minerals. The egg yolk is also one of the few foods that naturally contain Vitamin D.
Wisconsin is the badger state.
This is mainly so because it is used as a reference to the lead miners who would dig tunnels like badgers. These caves were described as badger dens and the miners were referred to as badgers.
The Dutch-Scilly War lasted 335 years and had no battles or deaths. Spanning between 1651–1986, the war was a by-product of the English Civil War and the decision of the Dutch to side with the Parliamentarians over the Royalists. The Royalists had raided a few Dutch shipping vessels in revenge before fleeing to the Isles of Scilly. The Dutch turned up, demanding reparations from the Royalists, and when they didn’t pay up, declared war. But they decided to call it a day and go home pretty sharpish as they realized the Royalists didn’t have a penny to their names. The only thing is they never declared peace with the Isles and just completely forgot they were at war.
The headline of the most recent feed post made me think of this meme
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 15, 2022: Oswaldo Cabrera #95 of the New York Yankees celebrates hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on October 15, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
More than a decade ago, the Yankees signed a 16-year-old Venezuelan shortstop as part of their international free agent class. He was by no means the biggest name in it, nor did he receive the most money from the Yanks in that class.
Half a decade later, he debuted with the Yankees and had an abbreviated, yet electric rookie season. Unfortunately, a sophomore slump hit hard. Since then, he’s never recovered at the plate — worse, a brutal injury cost him most of the 2025 season. Despite all that, Oswaldo Cabrera’s versatility, baseball IQ, and outstanding attitude have made him a surprisingly important player for the Yankees, and I think we’re all looking forward to seeing him back in pinstripes in 2026.
Oswaldo Alberto Cabrera Born: March 1, 1999 (Guarenas, Venezuela) Yankees Tenure: 2022-present
In July 2015, the Yankees signed a then-16-year-old Oswaldo Cabrera for $100,000 as part of that year’s international free agent class. The Yanks had spent a boatload of money the year before (to a horrifically scant return, as it turns out), so they were capped at $300,000 per signing. For fans who’ve followed the Yankees minor-league system, names including Luis Medina, Deivi Garcia, and Andres Chaparro were part of the 2015 IFA class as well.
Young Waldo began the 2016 season at Rookie Ball, and from there embarked on the same journey thousands of prospects before him took: the long, slow climb up the MiLB ladder. By the time the 2018 season approached, Ozzie found himself on the prospect radar, albeit at the back end of the Yankees’ system. FanGraphs ranked him 26th on their list, remarking:
“Cabrera has advanced feel to hit, not much power, and the ability to play both positions up the middle… It’s a utility profile but with good odds given the advanced bat and feel for the game.”
Cabrera continued to toil in the minors, losing valuable development opportunities (as all prospects did) when COVID-19 brought the world to a screeching halt in 2020. Then 2021 happened. Defying the “not much power” assessment, Oswaldo clubbed 29 home runs across Double- and Triple-A and put together a 31-game on-base streak that summer.
His performance did not go unnoticed. Minor League Baseball named him the Double-A Northeast Most Valuable Player and he shot up various pre-season prospect rankings for 2022, with MLB placing him 14th on their rankings and FanGraphs slotting him in at No. 13. Unfortunately for Cabrera, on the cusp of the major leagues, the injury bug reared its head. A shoulder injury cost him approximately two months in early 2022. Upon his return, however, Waldo was unstoppable, putting together a .330 batting average with a 1.040 OPS in 25 games.
With the Yankees scuffling, Cabrera’s time had come. Losers of 11 of their last 13 games during the dog days of August, New York called him up to the Bronx. It took no time for him to make an impact. Two days after his call-up, he was in right field on a Friday night at Yankee Stadium. On the first pitch of the game, he flashed some leather. And some hops. Instant home run robbery.
Cabrera saw most of his playing time in right field. But he was nonetheless almost everywhere, seeing time at first, second, and third base, shortstop, and left field. All the while, he kept showing off defensively and delivering at the plate. By the time the playoffs rolled around, he was firmly ensconced in the Yankee lineup.
In his first taste of playoff baseball, Cabrera struggled, though he did come through for the Yanks in a huge spot. Facing Triston McKenzie in the top of the fifth inning in Game 3 of the ALDS in Cleveland, Cabrera came to the plate in a tied game in a tied series. With Harrison Bader on first base, Waldo launched a two-run home run to right field, looking into the Yankee dugout for good measure before rounding the bases. His knock gave the Yankees the lead, until a brutal bullpen meltdown in the ninth inning cost them the game, though they went on to win the series.
As magical as his debut seemed, Ozzie’s sophomore season was abysmal. He was almost an automatic out when he stepped into the batter’s box, “boasting” a 59 wRC+. I guess if there was one good thing, he checked another position off his to-do list on August 31st, when he saw time in center field for the first time.
Two years later, with the Yanks on the wrong end of a blowout against the Dodgers, he stepped onto a big-league mound for the first time and even recorded an out. All that remains is for him to don the tools of ignorance at some point and get behind the plate.
Cabrera has never rediscovered the form at the plate he showed in ‘22. He’s been particularly hapless against southpaws, with a career .576 OPS when facing portside slingers. Despite his struggles at the dish, his ability to capably defend at multiple positions has made him a valuable player for Aaron Boone and the Yankees.
To the distress of everyone, Waldo suffered a gruesome injury on May 12th that ended his season. He and the Yankees recently received good news, however. Earlier this week, Boone announced Cabrera could see game action as soon as the end of the first week of March. That would be one heck of a late birthday gift for a young man who seems to be genuinely liked by the entire organization. Happy birthday Waldo, and with any luck, we’ll see you back on the field and at the plate in a few days.
References
Badler, Ben. “International Reviews: New York Yankees.” Baseball America. March 28, 2016.
“INF Oswaldo Cabrera Named Double-A Northeast MVP.” MiLB. October 6, 2021.
Joyce, Greg. “Red-hot Oswaldo Cabrera joining Estevan Florial as call-up to reeling Yankees.” New York Post. August 17, 2022.
McDaniel, Kiley. “Top 27 Prospects: New York Yankees.” FanGraphs. March 26, 2018.
Miller, Randy. “Yankees injuries: Latest on Cam Schlittler, Anthony Volpe, Oswaldo Cabrera.” NJ.com. February 25, 2026.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 27: Overall View in the second inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Truist Park on September 27, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Braves have 65 players in camp right now. Yesterday Nacho Alvarez has already left for the World Baseball Classic. So that’s effectively your first cut. The Braves have a pair of split-squad games today and an off day Tuesday. So they will play a ton of players today, and typically off days are when the big cuts happen. So who is next to be cut by the Braves? Let’s look at some options here.
Garret Baumann – Has reached only High-A.
Javy Guerra – Played in Japan the last two years. Nacho was cut for the WBC, and Javy will be off soon as well.
Owen Murphy – Has reached only High-A, but has impressed.
Austin Pope – One total MLB appearance. Is he in the 2026 mix or not?
Alex Lodise – Has reached only High-A.
Dominic Smith – Destined for the WBC. Have the Braves gotten a good enough look?
There are more but these are probably your fringiest guys. I don’t know how wide of a net the Braves have for relievers, so they might stick around. But soon the guys in the mix for those last spots are gonna have to duke it out. I’m not aching for any of the Braves to go away now, but the clock is ticking.
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 14: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Fenway Park on September 14, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Playing in the American League East is the worst. It’s an absolute gauntlet every year, with 2026 looking to be no exception. That’s at least in part due to the quality of the starting pitching.
The Red Sox have one of the better groups in the division, if not Major League Baseball. I’ll give Boston the top spot in the division for a variety of reasons, including my own biases. It’s the deepest rotation in the East with a legitimate ace, proven veterans, and promising young arms.
I already went in-depth on the Red Sox rotation options. Now, here’s a look at the other rotations in the division.
Note: The first five names on each list are what Roster Resource provides as the opening day rotation. I added a few more names that I think are worth talking about. If I missed anyone, keep it to yourself because this is very thorough.
New York Yankees
Unfortunately, the only team that can probably challenge the Red Sox for the best rotation in the division is the pinstripe-wearing freaks over in New York. I give us an edge due to the depth, but the Yankees’ depth is undeniable.
Max Fried – Fried throws strikes at a high rate, limits hard contact, and has multiple breaking balls to put hitters away with. He’s not flashy, but he’s incredibly effective.
Cam Schlittler – I was taught not to say anything at all if I don’t have anything nice to say. He should be good to go for opening day, but is dealing with a back injury. I didn’t research the cause of the injury, but I can only assume it was due to shoveling snow in South Boston or a fight over a space saver.
Will Warren – Warren has great stuff, but the command isn’t there yet. If he figures out how to spot a fastball at the top of the zone, he could be dangerous.
Ryan Weathers – If Ryan Weathers played for the Red Sox, I’d be the conductor of the hype train, but he plays for the Yankees, so I’ll quietly admire from afar.
Luis Gil – Gil lost a tick of velocity across the board and saw his numbers fall off as a result. He also doesn’t throw enough strikes for me to be a fan. If his fastball velocity comes back, he could be a nice piece, but if it doesn’t, he doesn’t scare me. Unfortunately, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon will join this rotation at some point and upgrade the group to one of the better in the league.
Gerrit Cole – Cole hasn’t pitched since 2024 due to an elbow injury and is targeting a May or June return to action. Who knows how effective he’ll be after a major elbow injury, but he’s a former Cy Young-winning pitcher who’s reportedly up to 97 mph in simulated games. At his best, he’s up there with Crochet as the best pitcher in the division.
Carlos Rodon – Rodon also had (minor) elbow surgery that’s kept him out of Spring Training action, and will start the season on the injured list. He was great last season, but has a lengthy injury history and saw his fastball lose a tick from 2024 to 2025. If it falls further, he could start to struggle. The pitch already wasn’t great against righties, who could give him issues if he doesn’t have a viable fastball.
Carlos Lagrange – I don’t know a lot about Carlos Lagrange, but I know that he’s being hyped up by people whose opinion I respect. Every time I hear him mentioned, his max velocity is higher. I’m pretty sure he throws 108 mph. If he debuts this season, he’s one to watch.
Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles lack depth, but they have a solid combination of experience and potential. While I’m not sure how it will hold up over 162, there’s plenty to like here. Fangraphs has Baltimore using a six-man rotation, with Cade Povich starting the year in Triple-A. I don’t know if that’s actually how it will shake out, but all of these guys will make an appearance at one point or another.
Trevor Rogers – Rogers has to be so frustrating to face. On paper none of his stuff is that crazy, but he throws everything for strikes and commands the ball so well. If he stays healthy, he’ll be in the thick of the Cy Young race.
Kyle Bradish – I’m not sure what to make of Bradish. Some analysts I really respect like him a lot, and he struck out an absurd 37% of hitters last season. I just don’t know that his arsenal is enough to get lefties out consistently. He spins it well, but I don’t believe in the fastballs. I guess his four-seam is cutter-ish, but I don’t buy it. I’ll come back to this after his first few starts next season.
Chris Bassitt – Bassitt throws like twelve different pitches, and none of them work against lefties. He’s an inning-eating, strike-throwing arm, but another guy I’m not at all afraid of. I copied and pasted those two sentences from last year’s starting pitching preview, and they remain true today.
Shane Baz – The Rays are known for moving on from a pitcher early, but Baz is a head-scratcher. He throws 97 mph with a good curveball and a decent changeup. He’s only had one healthy season, but he’s a clear breakout candidate.
Zach Eflin – If Eflin is healthy, he’ll have an ERA near four and be the perfect inning eater at the back of a rotation thanks to his kitchen-sink approach.
Dean Kremer – Kremer? I hardly know her! He’ll throw 160 innings with a 4.20 ERA, and the Orioles will be happy about it. Good splitter (I hardly know her), not much else to write home about.
Cade Povich – I don’t know what to make of Povich. He was hit hard last season, but still managed a 24% strikeout rate without premium velocity. When I look at the numbers, I don’t see a pitcher who is going to repeat that strikeout rate, but he looked totally different in his first Spring Training start. His fastball had more cut, which could help miss barrels, but it’s still only 91. I think there’s a potential inning-eater here, but I don’t see him being much better than Kremer.
Tyler Wells – In 2023, Wells put together a good season supported by a solid four-pitch mix. He hasn’t been healthy since then, so who knows if that still exists.
Tornoto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays come in fourth in my division rankings. Gausman and Cease are as good a one-two punch as anyone in the division, but the rest of the staff has question marks and injuries are already piling up. If they put together a first half like they did last season, they’re prime candidates to make an addition to this group again.
Kevin Gausman – Early last season, I sat in my living room explaining to my roommates that if Gausman wasn’t showing low fastballs, opponents wouldn’t chase his splitter. As I was doing this, he spotted a few low fastballs and went on to strike out ten Red Sox hitters over eight innings. As long as the fastball velocity holds up and he keeps the same approach, he’ll have a 25% strikeout rate and ERA in the mid-threes.
Dylan Cease – I like Dylan Cease, but I’m really glad the Red Sox didn’t pay him. He’s got a great fastball and a great slider, but he hasn’t found the third pitch to throw for strikes to keep the walk rate down. He punches his way out of jams, but when the velocity goes, that contract could look ugly. Maybe the Blue Jays will be the team to find a cutter that works for him. Dylan Cease with Kutter Crawford’s cutter would be pretty unhittable.
Trey Yesavage – Yesavage was one of the main characters of the 2025 postseason, rising through the minor leagues and dominating in the playoffs. His ultra-high release point provides a unique look for opponents, though I wonder if his fastball will be punished as hitters become familiar.
Jose Berrios – Berrios wasn’t happy to get pushed out of the playoff rotation last season, but some injuries helped him find his way back. The stuff doesn’t scare you, but he always seems to find a way to keep the Red Sox’s bats quiet.
Cody Ponce – He’s back in the states after some time in Japan and Korea. I won’t pretend to know what tweaks he made over there that earned him $30 million USD, but the Blue Jays clearly like what they saw.
Shane Bieber – When Shane Bieber opted in to his deal for 2026, I think there was collective surprise that he didn’t want to test free agency. It later came out that he was dealing with forearm fatigue, and his decision made more sense. He was solid at the end of last season, but was hit hard. His slider has always been his best pitch and carried his arsenal, although declining velocity could hurt.
Max Scherzer – Scherzer signed for $3 million to repeat what he did last season. He’ll return at some point this summer and provide innings down the stretch. He was snakebit by the home run last season, but he’s still a competitor at 41 years old. Baseball is better when Max Scherzer and his crazy eyes are in the league, so I’m a fan.
Ricky Tiedemann – Tiedemann was (and still is) a highly ranked prospect, hoping to crack the rotation after Tommy John Surgery. He still could, but he’s fighting elbow soreness again. He’s a potential late-season reinforcement if he can get healthy.
Tampa Bay Rays
I’m going to rank the Rays last because the depth is lacking. The top-end talent is there, and I’m sure there will be someone I’ve never heard of who shows up and is excellent for five innings at a time, but I don’t know who that will be.
Drew Rasmussen – Rasmussen throws a four-seam, sinker, and cutter to keep hitters on their heels. He’s in the zone a ton and throws strikes at a rate near the top of the league. He’ll get you through five innings on 75 pitches and hit the bench because they won’t let him throw more than that. I can’t help but feel like they can get more out of him, but I’ll accept that the Rays know better than me.
Ryan Pepiot – Pepiot has a great fastball and a good changeup. His slider is a clear third offering, but has potential. Refined command could see him jump to the next level.
Shane McClanahan – He hasn’t pitched since 2023. He was electric at his best, but my lasting memory of McClanahan is him assaulting a chair when he walked down the tunnel after a bad postseason outing in Fenway in 2021.
Nick Martinez – The Rays are definitely going to do something weird with Martinez. He’s at 20% changeup usage now, but that’s gonna wind up at 30%, and they’re gonna have him throwing that bullet slider or something. He’s basically just new Zack Littell, I think.
Steven Matz – He’s listed as the Rays’ fifth starter on Roster Resource. Is that confirmed? They’re always up to some freaky stuff over there in Tampa.
Joe Boyle – Boyle throws absolute gas, and doesn’t always know where it’s going. He’s like Mason Miller if Mason Miller were blind. He’ll have days where he’s controlling his fastball, and things go well, and others where it’s a complete disaster.
Ian Seymour – This is the guy you’ve never heard of that will be remarkably frustrating to face. Solid fastball despite mediocre velocity thanks to good location, as well as a good sweeper to throw to lefties and a changeup for righties. He’s in the zone plenty and has an annoying windup that will have many of you asking for Alex Cora to be fired because they can’t hit this weirdo. He’s a deep league fantasy sleeper I’m buying.
Tiers
Here are all 40 names I covered, grouped into tiers. Feel free to yell at me in the comments because I didn’t succumb to peer pressure about Dylan Cease, or because I did succumb to peer pressure about Kyle Bradish. The order inside the tier isn’t a ranking, just the order I moved them from my master list to the tiers I made up, for the record. Thanks for reading.
The Orlando Magic have won the last five home meetings against the Detroit Pistons and are 17–10 SU at Kia Center this season.
Both teams rank bottom 10 in pace over their last 10 games, which means fewer possessions and fewer chances to build a large lead.
Detroit remains elite defensively, but Orlando ranks 12th in defensive efficiency over that same span and has the size to compete inside.
In a slower-paced game, getting five points at home carries real weight, and I am in on the Magic covering the still-inflated spread.
Pistons vs Magic same-game parlay
Desmond Bane is averaging nearly 29 points per game over his last five outings. With Franz Wagener out, expect the versatile-scoring Bane to once again take the offensive lead and clear his prop.
Cade Cunningham has dished 56 assists in his past five games. The slower pace and the Magic defense will thwart any chance of him dropping 11 or more dimes tonight.
Pistons vs Magic SGP
Magic +5.5
Bane Over 19.5 points
Cunningham Under 10.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: A magical Under
Tonight’s matchup projects as a slow, physical grind. Both defenses have been effective, and with each team ranking in the bottom 10 in pace over the last 10 games, possessions should be limited.
In a half-court battle where clean looks are harder to find, scoring opportunities will be at a premium. That sets up well for the Under to be part of the card.
Pistons vs Magic SGP
Magic +5.5
Bane Over 19.5 points
Cunningham Under 10.5 assists
Under 221.5
Pistons vs Magic odds
Spread: Pistons -6.5 | Magic +5.5
Moneyline: Pistons -240 | Magic +195
Over/Under: Over 220.5 | Under 220.5
Pistons vs Magic betting trend to know
Orlando is 7-3 ATS across their previous 10 meetings with Detroit. Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Magic.
How to watch Pistons vs Magic
Location
Kia Center, Orlando, FL
Date
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Tip-off
6:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Detroit, FDSN Florida
Pistons vs Magic latest injuries
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ROME (AP) — AC Milan needed two late goals to secure a 2-0 win at Cremonese in Serie A on Sunday and bounce back from its second loss of the season.
Strahinja Pavlovic scored in the 90th and Rafael Leão added another five minutes into stoppage time for Milan, which had wasted a series of chances earlier on.
Second-place Milan moved back within 10 points of Italian league leader Inter Milan entering next weekend’s derby.
Milan’s only losses this season came against Cremonese in its opener in August and at home against Parma last weekend.
Pavlovic’s goal came following a corner, and a VAR review that confirmed the ball went in off his shoulder instead of his arm.
Then Leão finished off a counterattack.
Later, fourth-place Roma was hosting sixth-place Juventus in a key matchup for the Champions League places.
The New York Islanders improved to 8-0 In games decided in overtime after their thrilling 4-3 overtime win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.
The Islanders joined the 2020-2021 Vegas Golden Knights as the only teams to score at least eight overtime goals with none allowed.
Now, that stat is impressive for a few reasons.
The Islanders are the only team in the NHL not allow an overtime goal this season.
They've also won six of these eight games on the road.
But what if I told you that the Islanders have lost the opening overtime draw in six of those eight games and in each of their last two overtime wins?
Yes, that is indeed true, and it's a mind-boggling stat because we all know how important garnering posession on that opening draw is. But, whether it's been getting whistles and winning that second draw or forcing turnovers, the Islanders have found a way more often than not to get the puck back on their stick.
The Islanders' trio of Bo Horvat, Mathew Barzal, and Matthew Schaefer is one of the better threesomes that a team can throw out there. However, it hasn't just been them getting the job done, as four different players have come up big.
Bo Horvat x 2
Matthew Schaefer x 2
Jean-Gabriel Pageau x 2
Simon Holmstrom x 2
This season’s overtime periods have been night and day from a year ago, when the Islanders went 5-9 in games decided in the extra frame. The Islanders were notorious for earning that "loser" point.
The Islanders finished the 2024-25 season with 12 OT/SO points, with 35 wins and 35 regulation losses for 82 points in 82 games.
Because they more often earn that second point, the Islanders have just five "loser" points this season, bringing their total to 34 wins and 21 losses for 73 points in 60 games.
They now find themselves tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for second place in the Metropolitan Division, with two more games played.
The Minnesota Timberwolves look to complete a perfect three-game road trip in Denver – but they’ll have to do it against a team seeking a 4-game series sweep against them this season.
Offense won’t be a problem in this one, so my Timberwolves vs. Nuggets prediction and top NBA picks are targeting the Over Sunday, March 1.
Timberwolves vs Nuggets prediction
Timberwolves vs Nuggets best bet: Over 237.5 (-110)
The Denver Nuggets enter this one as the NBA’s highest-scoring team, putting up 120.5 points per game, and they’ll be a little surly after getting dumped by the OKC Thunder in OT last time out.
The Minnesota Timberwolves — the fifth-highest scoring team in the league — haven’t played since dumping the Clippers on Thursday, giving them a few days off to prepare for that mile-high altitude.
These teams have cashed the Over in three of the last four games they’ve played each other.
The Nuggets have hit the Over in four of their last five, while the T-Wolves have topped it in four of six.
Timberwolves vs Nuggets same-game parlay
Anthony Edwards is averaging 33.3 points in four games out of the all-star break, cracking the 30-point plateau three times. He’s also averaging 35 points in two meetings against the Nuggets this year.
Nikola Jokic has been a stat stuffer, and his work on the glass is getting plus odds Sunday. The line is a hefty 13.5 rebounds, a number he’s topped eight times in his last 10 games.
Timberwolves vs Nuggets SGP
Over 237.5 points
Edwards Over 29.5 points
Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: No joking around
Let’s stick with the Nuggets’ big man to round out the SGP. He’s the team leader in assists at 10.5 per game, and he’s doled out at least 11 four of the last seven against Minny, missing the Over by a single assist in two other contests.
Jokic has gone for 29+ points in three of his last four, and has topped this total in six of his last 10 against the T-Wolves.
Timberwolves vs Nuggets SGP
Over 237.5 points
Edwards Over 29.5 points
Jokic Over 13.5 rebounds
Jokic Over 10.5 assists
Jokic Over 28.5 points
Timberwolves vs Nuggets odds
Spread: Timberwolves +3 | Nuggets -3
Moneyline: Timberwolves +125 | Nuggets -150
Over/Under: Over 237.5 | Under 237.5
Timberwolves vs Nuggets betting trend to know
Minnesota is 0-4-0 ATS in its last four games, all as the betting favorite. Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Nuggets.
How to watch Timberwolves vs Nuggets
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Tip-off
3:30 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Timberwolves vs Nuggets latest injuries
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