With the 2026 season now underway, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:
1. Opening Day Part 3:
Most teams have already had their first game of the season, but a handful of clubs are only just now getting the Opening Day experience. The season begins today for fans of the A’s, Blue Jays, Rockies, Marlins, Royals, and Braves. The game between Kansas City and Atlanta is particularly exciting, given the impressive pitching matchup between a pair of excellent left-handers: Kansas City’s Cole Ragans and Atlanta’s Chris Sale. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15pm local time in Atlanta. Both Ragans and Sale missed time last year to injury, but the former has a 3.52 ERA in his last 45 starts while Sale has been even more impressive with a 2.46 ERA in 50 appearances.
2. Hoerner extension details incoming:
The Cubs and second baseman Nico Hoerner got together on a six-year extension last night. It’s the second six-year extension they’ve signed this week after star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong agreed to a $115MM deal. The financial details of Hoerner’s contract aren’t yet known but should come to light in short order. Hoerner would’ve been among the top free agents in this year’s class had he tested the open market after this season. It does bring about questions about the future of Matt Shaw on the Cubs’ roster, as Hoerner and new third baseman Alex Bregman are now both locked into the Chicago infield for the foreseeable future, leaving Shaw without a position.
3. Starters suiting up for new teams:
A pair of starters will be making their debuts with their new teams Friday. Tigers fans will get their first look at southpaw Framber Valdez, who’ll take on right-hander Michael King and the Padres. King is coming off an injury-marred 2025 season but is one of the most effective arms in the sport when healthy, while Valdez posted a 3.66 ERA with a 3.37 FIP in 192 innings of work last year.
Fans of Valdez’s former club in Houston will be getting their first look at right-hander Mike Burrows, who came to the ‘Stros from the Pirates in the three-team trade that sent Jacob Melton to Tampa Bay and Brandon Lowe to Pittsburgh. Burrows, 26, made 23 appearances (19 starts) for the Pirates last year and posted a 3.94 ERA, 24.1% strikeout rate and 7.7% walk rate in 96 innings. He’s gearing up for his first full big league season and will get started with tonight’s game against Yusei Kikuchi and the Angels.
Actually saw a trade proposed in here that made a lot of sense to me. Shaw for Dominguez could work for both teams. I mean Hoyer obviously is never going to let Alcantara play for the Cubs and Shaw looked pretty rough out in RF although he did make all the plays it wasn’t pretty. Cubs have other prospects to play Utility Infield roles and their OF’s are a ways off. I’ve seen worse things proposed. If Dominguez doesn’t work out they’ve got other guys coming and if he does they can walk away from Suzuki and or Happ next year. The more I think of it the more I like it. Cubs infield is now basically set until 2030 with Busch being controllable until around then anyway.
That would mean letting Happ walk at the end of the year and in your trade scenario, Dominguez can take over LF. His defense isn’t great, but LF is a good place to stash Dominguez as long as Cubs keep him as a left-handed bat with platoon splits. Honestly, I’m okay with Happ going in free agency.
Stop stop stop stop!!! Nico signing does nothing to Shaw until at least October. Shaw is the Cubs depth at all infield positions and if you want to trade him for anyone and make Kingery your backup guy, knock yourself out.
Yep…Shaw was very kindly, rough looking in right yesterday.
It is literally day TWO of THIS season…let’s not even begin thinking beyond that and into next season….which likely may not even happen.
Dominguez STINKS. Nobody wants him.
I’m sure there are other guys that could be found. I just brought up one possibility Shaw’s value is at a premium right now especially if become more versatile but he still needs a lot of work to become an OF. With Nico signing his value to the Cubs is diminished by sitting on the bench most days when he could start for somebody else.
Shaw is a much more valuable asset to the Cubs than Dominguez would ever be. Shaw is rough after playing all of ST in the OF. Dominguez is rough after playing his entire career in the OF. Shaw has all season to work on improving. If it works out, like Lawler in SD, he moves forward in the Cubs OF.
If they’re making Dominguez available there will certainly be teams who would consider acquiring him. He does still have some value.
Looks like the Twins are out of it already we score one run and lose when Joe Ryan gives us as good of a start as you could want.
Thats what you get with Shelton
Anyone else see Alec Bohm is suing his parents?
For having him? Or for him being a lousy third baseman?
I think it’s like financial mismanagement.
“The lawsuit, filed in Philadelphia County on Wednesday, alleges Daniel and Lisa Bohm misappropriated Bohm’s funds while managing limited liability companies (LLCs) on his behalf and misrepresented their stake in these entities. Bohm is seeking $3 million in judgment, per the suit, along with information and documentation about the LLCs’ financial operation that he said he has not been privy to.”
In case it wasn’t painfully obvious I really didn’t care.
Then why comment?
Unclemike, it really wasn’t obvious. I thought you were just making a joke. Which I found funny btw…
Thanks! It was both. LOL And to the guy who asked, Why comment? LOL
In an interview live from his parents’ basement, where he still resides, Bohm was asked what led him to make these allegations against his own parents. While stomping his feet in frustration, Bohm replied “I *** hate this place!”
I ask you, Which is the most useless comment in this thread? LMAO
My last one LOL
You commented a dumb joke like “For having him? Or for him being a lousy third baseman?”
Then when the reason gets revealed to your face, now you “don’t care”
Scary behavior from a chronically-online 60-something year old ‘uncle’ who talks a talk but never walks a walk
It’s only the first week of the season, people! Let’s reserve our collective sass for week 2!
But he’ll take a walk if he doesn’t get his pitch.
Let’s go Astros!
If Shaw hits the Cubs will find a place for him. Worst case he becomes a valuable trade piece.
Don’t rule out the possibility of the Cubs trying to move the last 3 years and $81 million of Dansby Swanson’s contract next winter either
I hear Atlanta will need a SS.
Except for 1 Tiny little fact that none of you people seem to get. Swanson has a full NTC. And his wife plays soccer in Chicago and they now have a child here. You may want to learn what that phrase NTC actually means before you plan something impossible.
Feeling pretty sassy 💁🏻♀️ today huh Uncle Mike
Well first he pans my trade of Shaw for Dominguez. That’s fine, It really wasn’t a first class trade I’m sure there can be better options around. But his answer is to trade a guy with a NTC contract when 1) The Cubs love him, 2) The fans love him, 3) His wife plays here, 4) I’ve heard no rumor that he wants to go 5) No rumor that the Cubs want him gone so which is more likely? Only a fool would keep a starting asset on the bench when he can be flipped for something useful when we’re stuck watching the likes of Conforto and Carlson. But then Hoyer is a fool. Sassy? More like POed.
Seems like a ton of sass on the opener today! A couple good jokes followed by arguing is always a fun morning!
Actually i didn’t “pan” your trade proposal of Shaw for Dominguez. In fact, i never even commented on it. I did not know of Swanson’s NTC but even still that doesn’t warrant such a hostile response, i merely floated a possibility, nothing more. Check your anger buddy, it’s only a Baseball rumor site
It was Stymee, Not you.
Shaw is a much more valuable asset to the Cubs than Dominguez would ever be. Shaw is rough after playing all of ST in the OF. Dominguez is rough after playing his entire career in the OF. Shaw has all season to work on improving. If it works out, like Lawler in SD, he moves forward in the Cubs OF.
He posted this and then the impossible.
Well you replied to my post and I’m the one who floated the idea, Stymee just suggested Atlanta. Either way maybe next time put an @Stymee or something
Yeah I usually do. But sometimes this site doesn’t put things where you post them. I put it in after Stymees post in this section and it put it after yours but you’re right.
Actually it was a reply to Stymee and is where I put it so not sure why the angst but OK fine whatever.
When you reply to anyone on a thread everyone on that thread gets a reply notification. It looks like someone is replying specifically to you but it could really be anyone. And the placement of your comment can be kind of random too. Definitely need to add someone’s name when you are replying specifically to them. Kind of a pain.
Yeah I’ve been on here long enough that when I see a post that has nothing to do with me I start looking around. But sometimes you forget not everybody knows so like I said my bad. A lesson that I seem to learn over and over. Peace!
You either mean Lawler in Arizona or Merrill in SD, but yeah left side of the infield to the OF transition worked for both of them.
See I could have been super sassy right there… but alas… I chose not to 😜
This would be my ideal move. Nothing against Dansby but he’s clearly beginning to decline and the offense is just way too inconsistent.
Nico to SS, Shaw to 2B, Bregman at 3B in ‘27, but I’m sure that won’t happen. I assume Dansby has a NTC as well, can’t recall.
Edit: I see Unc has pointed out he does have a full NTC
No teams playing today will make the playoffs. (Including Toronto)
Do you believe the rest of the AL East got better, or do you think it’s something else?
Dog fight in ALE..think they get the short end of stick. Just a prediction obv.
Playing or opening? Because 7 teams from last years playoffs are playing today including the entire NL West, which has to have at least one playoff team…
Opening. Just going off teams listed in article
In that case you are probably correct. Though the Blue Jays, Royals, and A’s could at least be in the Wild Card hunt throughout the season
Look at all these great young players having great games yesterday. Misiorowski, Anthony, Stewart, McGonigle, Wetherholt, DeLauter, et al. It looks like they’ll all be fine without any more “seasoning” in the minors. This is going to be a fine and productive year for this next wave of prospects.
It’s exciting for fans to get to see the best players, not just the contractually beneficial ones.
I am SO excited for Mike Burrows