After an early morning free agent signing and a notable injury development, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Spring Breakout begins today:
MLB’s Spring Breakout prospect showcase begins today after debuting during Spring Training last year. 16 games are set to be played as part of the showcase, with all 30 clubs participating. Only two of those games are scheduled for today, however: a Grapefruit League match between the Red Sox and the Rays scheduled for 7:05pm ET, and a Cactus League game between the Dodgers and Cubs scheduled for 6:05pm PT.
The two AL clubs will square off in a star-studded game that figures to feature six top-100 prospects, including top-ten talents Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Carson Williams. Meanwhile, the NL clubs six top-100 talents of their own. Among the prospects suiting up for L.A. are left-hander Jackson Ferris and outfielder Zyhir Hope, both of whom were drafted by the Cubs back in 2023 but shipped to the Dodgers prior to the 2024 season as the return for first baseman Michael Busch.
2. Teams nearing decision time on Rule 5 draft picks:
Yesterday saw the Reds return their selection in this offseason’s Rule 5 Draft, infielder Cooper Bowman, back to the Athletics. The move made Bowman, 25, the first of this winter’s 15 Rule 5 selections to be sent back to his original team. It’s likely several more players will follow in Bowman’s footsteps over the coming weeks, as Rule 5 picks must be carried on their new club’s active roster for the entire season and cannot be optioned to the minor leagues. With clubs now starting to finalize their Opening Day rosters, it’s likely that at least some of the remaining 14 Rule 5 draftees will fail to break camp with their new clubs and return to their original organization.
One player who appears poised to avoid that fate, at least for the time being, is infielder Gage Workman. Workman was plucked from the Tigers by the Cubs in this offseason’s Rule 5 draft and was included on Chicago’s travel roster for the upcoming Tokyo Series, which suggests that the club plans to keep Workman in the fold at least for the time being. The White Sox, Marlins, Angels, Athletics, Nationals, Blue Jays, Rays, Twins, Braves, Padres, and Brewers all have Rule 5 draftees currently in camp, with Tampa and Atlanta each holding onto two draftees.
3. Rangers facing rotation questions:
The Rangers suffered a scare in the rotation earlier this week, as both right-hander Tyler Mahle and left-hander Cody Bradford were sent for MRI exams due to potential arm injuries. Both MRIs came back clean, but with the hurlers facing soreness in their forearm and elbow respectively and just two weeks left before the regular season begins, it’s fair to wonder if both hurlers will be back to pitching and built up enough to start the season in the club’s rotation. If either pitcher suffers a setback or the Rangers simply decide to take things slowly with even one of the two veterans, that would open the door for a youngster like Jack Leiter or Kumar Rocker to break camp with the team in the rotation.
Leiter has looked very solid with his new changeup, but he still has to fix his command before he can be Major-League ready. Rocker looked lost in both of his starts. Hope that these two can be ready in time.
I have much more faith in Rocker to get it together. Leiter would already be in the bullpen if his last name wasn’t Leiter.
I guess he should thank Uncle Felix for that.
He’s talking about Al or maybe Mark. Look at the last name…Bells should be ringing!!!
Some people have no sense of humor that we are aware of.
Played against Mark in the minors actually. I remember taking him deep once.
First of all who is “we”?? I think you meant “I”. I never saw the post for the vote,nor did I see any follow ups
proclaiming you the funniest person on MLBTR. Sorry if I didn’t find that funny. Cool, A homer off Mark Leiter if you have a year and a team Baseball Reference can figure that out for you.
Shout out to Workman for making the Cubs roster for the Tokyo Series. He’s proven himself at the very least of being more than capable out of spring training. Some might say ST games don’t matter, but I’m sure players like Workman will say differently. Kid made it through the first round of interviews for the job. Rooting for you here, kid.
His middle name is Tater. George Scott would be proud.
Barstool: As someone who doesn’t follow the cubs, how has Workman done this spring? Who is he competing with and for which job?
Batting .470 with .770 SLG. It’s major league roster or bust as he is Rule 5. Don’t think he’ll make it back to the Tigers as he would probably get claimed. Strikes out too much and can’t hit lefties, but he does everything else well including playing shortstop. Could be a White Sox infielder if the Cubs release him.
If the Cubs want to return him Detroit can either take him back and give Chicago half their money back or refuse him and if that happened he could be released. However, Detroit would be happy to get him back with a 50,000 profit. Detroit could do several things with him. Put him on the 40 or 26 man rosters. Send him to Toledo or trade him. Personal I think he might go right on the 26 man roster.
The Tigers need a 3B who can field, so they choose not to protect Workman. Still trying to understand the logic, as he has reduced the k’s every year.
@avenger65 see above. Well said @bucket and @wellsaid
Michael Busch trade is going to be an all-timer. Busch will be an adequate first basemen while Ferris will be a future #2 and Hope is a future Andruw Jones type CF. Massive fleecing by the Dodgers that does not get enough credit.
Potentially, sure. But contain your excitement until it actually happens. As it stands, the Cubs have a solid major league 1B, and the Dodgers have nothing in the majors to show for it. Remember, Moncada was the #1 prospect in the sport. It only means something if the potential develops.
The dodgers traded a blocked older 1B prospect for 2 guys that at minimum have significantly more trade value.
They won the deal. They’ll be using those 2 as chips or we’ll see them in LA.