Worldwide Sports News

In our most recent Rangers Reacts Survey, we asked which of the veteran pitchers who the Rangers have brought to spring training on a minor league deal y’all thought was most likely to make the team on Opening Day.

Well, the votes are in, and you went with an old favorite:

Josh Sborz, hero of the 2023 World Series, has dealt with injuries the past two seasons, and was non-tendered back in November after not pitching in the majors in 2025. It would be a great story if he could make it back.

38 year old righthanded reliever Ryan Brasier was the next choice, followed by former first round pick Cal Quantrill, who would appear to be vying with Kumar Rocker and Jacob Latz for the fifth starter job.

I had forgotten that Nabil Crismatt was done for the year due to a torn UCL when I did this poll, or else I wouldn’t have included him. Still, there are a few folks who have faith in him making the greatest injury comeback — or, at least, quickest — of all time.

Third base prospect Jacob Reimer will spend some time in camp this year as a non-roster invitee. Reimer enjoyed a breakout 2025 season where he hit .282/.379/.491 with 17 home runs and 77 RBIs split between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton. His success saw him rise up the prospect rankings, with Amazin’ Avenue rank him seventh in the Mets system. MLB Pipeline has the 22-year-old ranked as the second best prospect in baseball at his position and Baseball Prospectus lists him as 70th in their top 100 prospect rankings.

The big righty won’t break camp with the major league team but Carlos Mendoza wants the top prospects to be around the major leaguers to learn from them and pick their brains as much as possible. As for Reimer he is using the opportunity to work on his bat speed and his defense according to The Athletic. Reimer still sees himself as a third baseman but with his build and athleticism he might be better suited for first base in the future.

Reimer played in 61 games at Double-A in 2025 and found some success after the promotion. He hit .279/.374/.479 with 9 home runs and 38 RBIs with the Rumble Ponies. He will most likely start the season in Double-A but he could continue to rise and see some time in Triple-A this season. He is a long shot to make it to the majors in 2026 but if there are enough injuries, he has an outside chance to get the call. This season it will be interesting to see if he is moved off third base and if the organization views him as their potential first baseman of the future.

Good Morning! The Mariners fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0 in yesterday’s Spring Training action. Logan Gilbert’s first start of the spring showcased his deadly splitter as he worked through two scoreless innings, allowing one hit with two strikeouts and two walks. Gilbert reiterated recently that his goal for every season is 32 starts and 200 innings. How many starts and innings do you predict he will reach in 2026?

In Mariners news…

• At the end of last season, Julio Rodriguez approached Cole Young’s locker and gave him some direct advice for improving his game. Young took those words to heart, and his first step in development was a serious offseason training regimen.
• Lefty reliever Jose A. Ferrer brings much-needed reinforcement to the team’s right-handed heavy bullpen.
• Infielder Brendan Donovan joined Seattle Sports 710 AM’s Brock and Salk yesterday morning to share his excitement for the upcoming season.

Around the league…

• The Chicago Cubs have signed veteran outfielder Michael Conforto to a minor league deal to add some depth behind a strong starting outfield group.
• Led by former Mariners minor league pitching coach Alon Leichman, the Colorado Rockies’ new approach to pitching in 2026 brings unique perspectives and opportunities together. Leichman has paved an incredible career path since working for the Mariners, and if you are interested in learning more about his dedication and background, check out this profile I wrote about him way back in 2020!
• The Miami Marlins’ third base competition has opened up after Graham Pauley was shut down yesterday due to forearm tightness. Pauley was set to compete with fellow 25-year-old Connor Norby for the starting third base spot, but has yet to appear in a Spring Training game.
• To properly implement the new ABS system, MLB is precisely measuring every hitter’s height to determine the correct placement of the strike zone.
• The San Francisco Giants have signed RHP Brent Honeywell Jr. to a minor league deal that does not include an invite to Spring Training.
• Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal plans to only make one start for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, no matter how far the team advances in the tournament.

For all the young players on the Red Sox who have signed long-term deals (Roman Anthony, Brayan Bello, Ceddanne Rafaela) we haven’t heard much reporting about an extension for Wilyer Abreu. As it turns out, the Sox tried to sign him on the eve of his rookie year. But, unlike Bello and Rafaela, both of whom signed that spring, Abreu decided to take it year-to-year and bet on himself. The Sox have not approached him since, but Abreu says “[he] can listen.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

We haven’t seen any reports about a possible extension for Connelly Early either, as the youngster attempts to establish himself in the big leagues. To that end, he spent the winter bulking up to try to maximize his stuff and lengthen his outings. (Sean McAdam, MassLive)

Payton Tolle was given the opposite offseason assignment. As he already has plenty of bulk for a pitcher, he worked on refining what the run-prevention unit is calling a “three-headed monster of hard.” That would be his outstanding four-seam fastball, his developing cut fastball, and a brand-new two-seam fastball. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

Tolle isn’t the only Red Sox pitcher adding to his repertoire. Brayan Bello reported to camp this spring with a new curveball, though his offseason priority was getting his changeup back on track. (Ian Browne, MLB.com)

While Early and Tolle will be two must-sees this spring, the bigger questions about the team are found on the offensive side of the ball. And there’s no denying that the lineup projections for the team are underwhelming. (Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic)

One thing to keep an eye on this spring is MLB’s new automated ball-strike challenge system. As teams try to figure out the best strategy for how to use their challenges, the Red Sox plan to feel out the system by aggressively challenging calls this spring. (Ian Browne, MLB.com)

Three games into the Cactus League and the A’s have collected twenty-five hits, resulting in only four runs and zero wins. Their run differential currently sits at negative nineteen, better than the Detroit Tigers by a single run. The only team with more losses are the Milwaukee Brewers, and that’s only because they’ve played more games.

There’s no reason to panic just yet, but you can’t help but eye roll. Hovering around mediocrity is the minimum we’d wish for in Spring Training. Nobody wants to go into Opening Day after getting kicked around all spring. Especially a young and impressionable A’s team like this one, who have proven to be easily shaken when faced with adversity.

The battle of the winless clubs takes place today between the A’s and the Brewers. Shall this be the day the tides turn in our favor? I’m choosing to feel optimistic. Watching David S. Ward’s Major League last night helped curb the angsty doubts that start to roll in when the W’s aren’t stacking up. Let’s not forget that that those Cleveland Indians struggled out of the gate in their own Spring Training jaunt. Plus, nothing as embarrassing as Willie Mays Hays attempting to steal second base and coming up five feet short, has yet to happen – – so there’s that.

I guess I’m just hoping the A’s get a little more rowdy this spring. I want Hohokam to be all worked up in a frenzy by the end of March. Every bar in Mesa, Arizona should be full of reverse teetotalers holding court, talking about how the 2026 A’s are going to be a problem. That’s the energy I want. Maybe players should start picking fights with other teams? There hasn’t been a really good Spring Training brawl since that Piazza vs. Mota incident back in 2003. For this reboot, I nominate Michael Kelly to go after Zac Veen. That way the Las Vegas series against the Rockies in June has a little buzz behind it.

Just throwing it out there.

I see it to be particularly crucial that the A’s capitalize on any bit momentum for the next month, as the first six series out of the gate are all against the Blue Jays, Braves, Astros, Yankees, Mets, and Rangers :/

Now I’m not saying that this stretch will determine how the 2026 A’s will fair by season’s end, but if the last two season have taught us anything, it’s that no early first half game should go undervalued. The last thing anyone wants is another season where we’re looking back at April and May as the reason we didn’t get a shot at a playoff bid.

So let’s right the ship! It all starts today against the Milwaukee Brewers.

In Mason Barnett we trust.

A’s Coverage:

• 1st results for Ginn’s new windup? 3 K’s over 2 perfect frames
• Athletics Drop Third Straight Spring Contest, Fall To Giants 6-2
• A’s Make First Cut of Camp
• Circa Las Vegas bringing in A’s legend for baseball opening day festitivies
• Bob Melvin opens up: A Giants firing, an A’s hiring, and what comes next
• Athletics Community Prospect List: Morii Voted As 17th-Best
• Athletics Drop Second Spring Contest, Fall To Guardians 6-0
• A’s Drop Spring Opener To White Sox 11-2
• Meaningless Stats Begin Today!
• Athletics Community Prospect List: Hoglund Lands at #16
• See you later, soda: A’s Perkins ditches sugar for science
• Can The A’s Young Core Turn Defense Into a Strength?
• Pesky Drawback Of “Closer By Committee” (It Never Really Works)
• Can Kurtz get his glove to match his monster bat?
• Zack Gelof: Outfielder?
• “Relievers Are Volatile”… But Why?
• Are The Final Two Rotation Spots Really Up For Grabs?
• Story Lines To Watch As Spring Training Unfolds

MLB News and Interest:

• Tarik Skubal Explains Role on USA’s 2026 WBC Roster
• Angels Players ‘Took Notice’ of Arte Moreno’s Remarks About Winning, Fans, MLBPA Director Says
• Ex-MLB Player Dan Serafini Called a ‘Liar’ and ‘Manipulator’ by Judge as His Bid for New Murder Trial Is Denied
• Guardians reportedly sign first baseman Rhys Hoskins to minor league pact
• Twins’ starter Joe Ryan has lower back inflammation
• Red Sox interested in left-handed bullpen depth
• “He’s gonna be a stud, man”: Harper dishes on MLB’s #1 prospect
• Cardinals sign veteran infielder Ramon Urias to major league deal for 2026
• 2 HR’s in 2 games? Polar Bear knows just how to break the ice with Orioles
• Yankees’ Gerrit Cole reaches 96.9 MPH in 1st session versus hitters
• Freddie Freeman hopes to retire with Dodgers
• Honus Wagner card sells for $5.124 million, third-largest for T206 Wagner card
• Baseball legend Bill Mazeroski passes away at 89
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Day #1 of the Jump Dynasty is in the books!

Couldn’t agree more. Would love to see him in a “Yusmeiro Petit with 97” type role.

Juuuuuust a little off :/

A DFA notification by June.

He always looked great in A’s colors…

I am never not thinking about his thumb injury in the 2014 AL Wild Card game.

Let’s just throw him in the there to kick off the season and see what happnes.

Is it just me, or does Jeff McNeil not feel like he’s actually on the A’s yet? I just don’t believe it.

Man, the AL East could be wild this year. Outside of the Rays, it isn’t hard to see any team winning it. And let’s face it: it’s never a good idea to overlook the Rays.

So how do you see the strongest division in baseball shaking out? I change my mind on this nearly every day. Today, it’s hard for me to overlook the high-end talent at the top of the Yankees roster. I’m convinced that the Orioles will have a bounce-back season and I liked their offseason moves, but I’m thoroughly unconvinced of their pitching depth. The Blue Jays will regress, I think, but they have enough talent to stay in contention all year.

As of today, I’ll go with:

1. Yankees
2. Orioles
3. Red Sox
4. Blue Jays
5. Rays

Ask me again this afternoon and I may have changed my mind.

The San Diego Padres had a banner day on the baseball field on Monday. They came back from a 5-1 deficit with a six-run bottom of the eighth inning. That was great, but not necessarily the big story. That honor went to a perfect usage of the new ABS challenge system. Catcher Freddy Fermin had three calls overturned from balls to strikes with the system. Two calls were at the bottom of the strike zone, and one was at the top. Ethan Salas followed suit when he replaced Fermin and had one call overturned. Jose Miranda completed the challenges when he got a called strike overturned to a ball resulting in a walk in the six-run eighth. The system seemed to held the home plate umpire accountable for his calls and worked just as was described by Major League Baseball.

Padres News:

• Randy Vasquez looked sharp in his first action of Spring Training against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. He allowed one hit and walked one in two scoreless innings. Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball thinks that could be a preview of a big season from Vasquez as he looks to solidify his position in the rotation and on the San Diego roster.
• Joe Musgrove returning after a lost season after Tommy John surgery. Luis Campusano looking to prove he can compete at the major league level. Nick Castellanos changing positions while trying to show he has more in the tank after being released by the Philadelphia Phillies. These are just a few of the players AJ Cassavell of Padres.com says are the most important to watch this spring.
• Garrett Hawkins impressed at the lower levels of the Padres system and now has his sights set on making the big-league roster with San Diego. The roster spots available for position players is tight as well due what appears to be a surprising amount of depth according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
• JP Sears struggled in his first spring outing and did not get through the first inning and Miguel Andujar hit his first home run in a Padres uniform in an eventful day on and around the diamond in Peoria, Ariz., which included an early morning meeting to discuss MLBPA business.
• Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune gives a progress report for the Padres to discuss the financials of the team as well as the importance of additions to the roster.
• The Padres designated outfielder Tirso Ornelas for assignment on Feb. 17, and he cleared waivers today which meant a return to the San Diego organization. He is back in camp with the Padres.

Baseball News:

• Free agent outfielder Michael Conforto and the Chicago Cubs agreed on a minor league deal.
• It has been announced that Detroit Tigers ace, Tarik Skubal, will make just one start for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
• Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto, who signed with the Toronto Blue Jays, recorded his first home run and RBI of the spring.
• It is almost time for fantasy baseball drafts and Corbin Young of Yahoo.com provides some insight on 2026 trends you need to know before your draft.

Good morning.

Shawn McFarland writes about the Texas Rangers winning their Cactus League game yesterday and hitting their first home run of the spring.

McFarland writes about yesterday’s starter Jack Leiter and how the Rangers hope more efficient innings will be the next step in further unlocking his full potential.

Kennedi Landry writes about Evan Carter and his quest to stay healthy and change the narrative about his availability.

Evan Grant writes that Wyatt Langford appears to be on the cusp of superstardom so the clock is ticking for the Rangers to lock him up long term.

Jeff Wilson takes an initial stab at predicting the roster that we could see the Rangers roll with come Opening Day in March.

With clubhouse culture a big topic this spring, Grant provides an anecdote about Corey Seager playing for laughs by imitating Brandon Nimmo during yesterday’s game.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Buster Olney ranks Seager as the game’s fifth best shortstop heading into the upcoming season.

CBS Sports’ Matt Snyder has the rotation for the Rangers as the fourth best in the game heading into the 2026 campaign.

Grant notes that the Rangers added to their international signing class via a loophole that allowed them to sign Breyner Figuereo, brother of Gleider Figuereo.

And, McFarland writes about outfield farmhand Braylin Morel as the 29th best prospect on the DMN top 30 prospects list.

Have a nice day!