Here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye out for throughout the day today:
1. WBC scrimmages begin:
The World Baseball Classic is about the begin, but before it does the teams in US-based pools will be facing off against MLB clubs in exhibition games. Team USA’s game against the Giants (scheduled for 1:08pm local time in Arizona) will be broadcast on ESPN, where fans will get to see reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes take on 24-year-old righty Blade Tidwell. Meanwhile, fans in Canada can watch their national team face off against the Blue Jays (scheduled for 1:07pm local time in Florida) on either Sportsnet or MLB Network. MLB Network will also broadcast the first game of the Tigers’ exhibition series against the Dominican Republic’s team in Santo Domingo. That game is scheduled to begin at 6:05pm local time. A full list of WBC exhibitions can be found here courtesy of MLB.com.
2. Marlins legend enters his final season:
Longtime Marlins analyst Tommy Hutton is saying goodbye this year, as the Associated Press reports that he will retire after the 2026 season. Hutton played in the majors for parts of 12 MLB seasons between 1966 and 1981. It wasn’t long after that he began his career in broadcasting, and he covered the Expos (for whom he played in four of his MLB seasons), Yankees, and Blue Jays before eventually settling in with Miami back in 1997. Hutton briefly left the Marlins in 2015 before returning to the organization during the 2018 season, where he’s remained ever since. MLBTR congratulates Hutton on a storied career in baseball that’s spanned more than 60 years and wishes him all the best ahead of his final season before retirement.
3. MLBTR Chat today:
Spring Training is well underway, and the World Baseball Classic is just around the corner. A handful of interesting free agents such as Lucas Giolito and Zack Littell remain available, but most of the heavy lifting for clubs is complete. If you’re wondering where your club stands, how their offseason went, or if there might be any other moves for your club to make before the season begins, you can get MLBTR’s Steve Adams thoughts in a chat that’s scheduled for 1pm CT today. You can click here to ask a question in advance, follow along once it goes live, and read the transcript after it’s complete.
Skenes vs. Tidwell is not fair.
Skenes versus about anyone is not fair. Not too many can match up with him really.
Skubal?
He would be one of the few.
Crochet? Cristopher Sanchez? Healthy Zack Wheeler? Yamamoto?
Congratulations! I think you listed about the only five pitchers in the world that would provide a fair matchup.
A healthy Jacob deGrom and Verlander, Kershaw, and Scherzer in their prime would be formidable too. We’ve seen what Hunter Brown and Bryan Woo can do. Dylan Cease 2022 was good but not good enough.
Bryce Elder almost had a no hitter once!
Sonny Gray, Ben Lively, Colin Rea, Matthew Liberatore, Mick Abel, Lance McCullers, Jacob Misiorowki, Joe Ryan, Freddy Peralta, Cade Horton….All pitchers who pretty much out dueled Skenes last year.
The reality about baseball is any given day an average pitcher can throw like an ace, an ace can have an off day, or an ace can have a brilliant day and still lose… Lew Burdette gave up 12 hits but still beat Harvey Haddix.
Fair matchup or not, everyone here has seen a sure thing pitcher lose against someone they’d consider a lousy starter.
I remember Tommy Hutton as a player. Makes me feel old that he is retiring as a broadcaster.
Actually, Tommy Hutton is retiring after the 2026 season, not the 2025 season. At least that’s what the AP story says.
Whenever I think of Tommy Hutton, I remember Tom Seaver saying how well Hutton hit against him. He always said it in disbelief.
Can’t wait for the WBC. Go team USA!
I just hope everyone comes out of it healthy.
Team Japan lost to Orix Buffalo. Ha Ha! Looks like Japan will be out in the first round.
In 2023, Team USA lost to the SF Giants and then still advanced to the finals. Maybe an exhibition game result doesn’t really mean much…
All the unsigned free agents should be playing in the WBC. Gives them a showcase and keeps other already signed players from risking injury.
That is all.
whz
“All the unsigned free agents should be playing in the WBC. Gives them a showcase and keeps other already signed players from risking injury.”
1) risks them getting injured and not working this season
2) seems like a lot of baseball fans, besides hating the players, also hate other baseball. Maybe they aren’t baseball fans, but MLB fans – the huge billion dollar organization.
The US baseball team would be better with a Hughes or a Tkachuk.