Here are three things worth keeping an eye on for MLBTR readers today:
1. Skenes prepares for World Baseball Classic:
Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes is poised to make his first start of Spring Training today at 1:05pm ET. His opponent will be Braves right-hander Bryce Elder, who struggled to a 5.38 ERA in 28 starts for Atlanta last year. Any opportunity to watch one of the league’s most dominant pitchers is noteworthy, but Skenes’s spring debut is especially relevant because it will be his first and final tune-up start before joining Team USA for the World Baseball Classic next month. Skenes is expected to pitch in two WBC games for Team USA, as first reported by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, and additionally figures to get an extra exhibition start in when Team USA faces the Giants and Rockies ahead of the tournament’s official start.
2. Weathers to make Yankees debut:
The Yankees are running back most of their 2025 roster, as they reunited with Trent Grisham, Cody Bellinger, Amed Rosario, and Paul Goldschmidt after each reached free agency this winter. Their most notable external addition was southpaw Ryan Weathers, whom they acquired in a trade with the Marlins last month. The lefty is slated to make his Yankees debut today at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, where they’ll be facing off against the Nationals at 6:35pm ET. Weathers’ opponent will be southpaw Andrew Alvarez, who made the first five starts of his big league career with the Nationals last year and posted a solid 2.31 ERA in those outings. Spring Training is especially important for Weathers this year given that he was limited to only eight starts last year thanks to flexor and lat strains.
3. Offseason in Review series is underway:
Every spring, MLB Trade Rumors does a series looking back at each of the league’s 30 teams and what they’ve accomplished during the offseason. Yesterday saw MLBTR kick off the 2026 edition of that series with a look at the Rockies from Anthony Franco and a look at the Marlins from Steve Adams. Whether you’re a fan of those teams or just looking for a refresher on any moves around the league you might have missed this winter, this series (and the 28 other installments yet to come) has you covered as we head into the 2026 campaign. You can vote in the poll at the end of each team’s review to grade their overall offseason performance.
Offseason review no longer front office exclusive?
@phillyjake
Relax, it was for Rockies and Marlins. You don’t need a subscription to understand their offseason.
A rerun of Seinfeld from 30yrs ago will get better ratings than the WBC
Ratings haven’t meant squat in 20 years. Take your flippant hating elsewhere.
Did you just really say ratings haven’t meant squat in 20 years? lol Do you live under a rock? Do you think that they put this on for fun? Anyone with a functioning brain knows that this and all of these international series are done to “grow the game”but yes, ratings don’t mean anything lol
That’s not really fair. Seinfeld is the best.
But the WBC might get beat by a Buffy marathon, too, so you’re not wrong.
@Slider_withcheese
Yeah, they got the best pitcher going against Great Britain and then he doesn’t play again. They can’t insure some top players. What a joke. I probably won’t bother watching either.
I like the episode where Kramer is lost at the intersection of 1st Avenue and 1st Street, and he believes he’s found the Nexus of the Universe!
I am pleased with the offseason for both Chicago teams. Both are moving in the right direction.
@Acoss1331
I was pleasantly surprised by the ChiSox offseason. I look forward to following their season.
The WBC is completely unnecessary right now.
Have it in November in New Zealand. Somewhere far, far, far, far, far away. Thank you.
MLB should be taking notice of what just happened at the Winter Olympics for the NHL and figure out a way to make a similar thing happen for them.
What is this WBC you speak of? 🤣
Would love if team USA got eliminated by Canada, Mexico or Puerto Rico
That Dominican pitching staff is awesome, I could see that happen with them.
Skenes is the most interesting guy to watch pitch. Few are a blend of pure smoke and knowing how to pitch. Usually it is one or the other.