The Opener

As Spring Training continues, here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on today:

1. Brewers 40-man move, MRI results on the way:

The Brewers added a veteran arm to their rotation yesterday when they agreed to a one-year deal with southpaw Jose Quintana. That signing will require a corresponding 40-man roster move before it can become official. The Brewers don’t have an obvious candidate for a trip to the 60-day injured list at the moment, though an exact timetable for southpaw DL Hall, who’s dealing with a lat injury, remains uncertain. At the time of the injury, manager Pat Murphy said Hall would be shut down from throwing for several weeks. There’s been no firm update since, but that comment came nearly three weeks ago already. If Hall can resume throwing in the next week or two, he presumably wouldn’t need a two-month absence to begin the regular season.

The Brewers do have another injury situation to monitor, as lefty Aaron Ashby suffered an oblique injury during his start yesterday. He’s undergoing imaging to determine the severity of the issue. Initial tests suggested that Ashby’s injury is unlikely to require a months-long absence, but the Brewers could wait until they have more information about the southpaw’s timetable before designating a player for assignment to open a roster spot for Quintana.

2. Sasaki to make spring debut:

Among the many impact free agents signed this winter, perhaps none will have a spring debut more eagerly anticipated than right-hander Roki Sasaki. The 23-year-old phenom came over to MLB this winter after four dominant seasons with NPB’s Chiba Lotte Marines and eventually signed on with the Dodgers near the end of his posting window. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including MLB.com’s Sonja Chen) last week that Sasaki would make his first appearance today, though he won’t start the game. Rather, Sasaki is expected to follow behind starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto as the Dodgers square off with the Reds. The game, which is scheduled for 6:05pm local time, will see the Reds send top prospect Chase Petty to the mound opposite Yamamoto. Petty, a former first-round pick, came to Cincinnati in the 2022 trade that shipped Sonny Gray to the Twins.

3. MLBTR Chat today:

The first regular season games of the year are just two weeks away, though a handful of of MLBTR’s Top 50 Free Agents remain unsigned and some clubs still have more work to do before the start of the season. Whether you have a trade proposal in the back of your mind or questions about an upcoming camp battle this spring, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be here to answer your questions during a live chat scheduled for 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.

On the heels of a busy morning around the league, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on today:

1. Yankees await imaging results:

The Yankees and their fans are waiting with bated breath for news on a pair of potentially key players for the 2025 club: right-hander Luis Gil and veteran infielder DJ LeMahieu. Gil underwent an MRI on his shoulder over the weekend after feeling what the club described as “tightness” in the area, while LeMahieu underwent imagining of his own after he “tweaked” a calf muscle on the basepaths during his first Spring Training game of the year. LeMahieu appeared to be the favorite to handle third base entering the season for the Yankees, while Gil was all but assured of the final spot in the rotation behind Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt.

If Gil ends up missing time, it appears likely the Yankees would turn to veteran Marcus Stroman to round out the rotation after coming up empty in their efforts to trade him this winter. At third base, a platoon of Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza seems to be the most likely outcome if LeMahieu misses time and no external additions make their way into the conversation.

2. Lawrence on waivers:

Over the weekend, it was reported that right-hander Justin Lawrence was placed on waivers by the Rockies in a somewhat unusual move for this juncture of the calendar. If Lawrence is claimed by a rival club, they’ll assume his $925K salary for 2025 and he’ll depart the Rockies for that organization. If he goes unclaimed, Colorado would have the option to outright him off the 40-man roster but could also simply keep him in the fold in his current role. Lawrence, 30, is an intriguing potential rebound candidate after struggling badly in 2024 but flashing past success at Coors Field despite the difficult conditions for pitching. Given the 48-hour window associated with waivers, a resolution to Lawrence’s placement on waivers should be coming in relatively short order.

3. Tigers reeling after outfield injuries:

It’s been a tough few days for the Tigers, as what once looked like an excess of potential position player options has been picked apart by injuries. Friday saw infielder/outfielder Matt Vierling ruled out for Opening Day due to a rotator cuff strain. Shortly thereafter, center fielder Parker Meadows had his own status for the start of the season thrown into question by a nerve issue in his right arm. Meadows has not been ruled out for Opening Day at this point, and the ailment could prove to be a relatively short-term issue. Even so, Detroit will now have to plan as though their starting right fielder and their starting center fielder will both miss the beginning of the 2025 campaign.

Frustrating as that is for Vierling, Meadows, and the Tigers, it does open up opportunities for other young players. Notably, outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy and slugger Spencer Torkelson could now have the opportunity to force their way back into the lineup as the club’s top right-handed bats who can help step in for Vierling. Malloy could simply replace Vierling in the outfield, or the club could shift Kerry Carpenter to right field, thereby opening the DH spot for either Malloy or Torkelson.

As Spring Training continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world headed into the weekend:

1. Steer to undergo testing:

Reds infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer has been dealing with shoulder discomfort this spring, and Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the club’s plan is to have him re-examined by a team doctor before determining a course of action. That seemingly scuttles plans for him to return to playing catch on Monday, though Wittenmyer adds that the team is “confident” there’s no structural damage in his shoulder and that Steer’s swing is not impacted by the issue.

Steer has been serving as the club’s DH in spring games when he’s played due to the soreness he feels when throwing, but when healthy he’s one of the club’s more versatile players with experience at first, second, and third base as well as in left field. According to Wittenmyer, manager Terry Francona suggested that Steer could see more rest or perhaps receive a cortisone shot in his shoulder to speed up the healing process depending on the outcome of this weekend’s exam.

2. Ohtani to make spring debut:

Shohei Ohtani is set to make his spring debut today at DH, as Dave Roberts told reporters (including the Associated Press) earlier this week. It’s a notable step forward for Ohtani as he’s spent the offseason and early part of the spring not only rehabbing his right elbow ahead of his return to pitching during the first half of the 2025 campaign, but he’s also been rehabbing his left shoulder after undergoing offseason surgery to repair a labrum tear suffered during the World Series. With the Dodgers slated to get an early start to the season in the Tokyo Series in just over two weeks, Ohtani getting into spring lineups is a crucial step to ensuring that he’ll be ready for the two-game set against the Cubs.

3. Alvarez exits:

Atlanta infield prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr. departed yesterday evening’s game due to left wrist discomfort, as the club themselves announced. Alvarez, 22 in April, was not projected to make the club’s Opening Day roster with Orlando Arcia slated to serve as the club’s shortstop, Ozzie Albies entrenched at second, and Austin Riley back at third base after last year’s hand surgery. Even so, an absence from Alvarez that extends into the season would certainly be worrisome for the team given their relative lack of infield depth behind those three starters. Nick Allen projects to be their backup infield on the bench at present, with utility men Luke Williams and Christian Cairo also on the 40-man roster.

As Spring Training continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Pitchers making their team debut today:

It’s still the early days of spring, which means a number of players have not yet gotten into a game so far. As more players start making their first appearances, fans will continue to get their first looks at offseason acquisitions in their new settings. Today, perhaps the most notable among these is right-hander Luis Severino’s first appearance as an Athletic after he signed the largest free agent deal in franchise history back in December. Severino is slated to start the club’s 1:05pm MT game against the Padres, who will be countering with knuckleballer Matt Waldron.

Over in Florida, meanwhile, right-hander Cal Quantrill will make his on-mound debut for the Marlins at 1:05pm ET opposite the Cardinals and Andre Pallante. At that same time, Jack Flaherty will be kicking off his return to the Tigers with his first appearance for the club since being traded to the Dodgers over the summer. Flaherty will face Quinn Priester and the Red Sox. Coincidentally, the Tigers have announced that shortstop Trey Sweeney (who the club acquired from L.A. in exchange for Flaherty over the summer) will be batting leadoff in this afternoon’s game.

2. Pitchers battling for rotation spots:

Aside from the offseason acquisitions fans will be able to see pitch for their club for the first time today, a number of back-of-the-rotation pieces around the league are looking to make their case for an Opening Day rotation spot with their club. That group includes Waldron and Priester, both of whom are on the periphery of the fifth starter conversation in San Diego and Boston respectively.

Beyond those two aforementioned names, Landon Knack of the Dodgers (1:10pm MT vs Colorado), Jordan Wicks of the Cubs (1:05pm MT vs Anaheim), Matt Manning of the Tigers (1:05pm ET vs Tampa), Graham Ashcraft of the Reds (1:05pm MT vs Arizona), and Bryce Elder of the Braves (6:05pm ET vs Washington) are all scheduled to start games today as they look to muscle their way ahead of the competition for a vacant fifth starter job. None of these players are currently considered to be a favorite, with Waldron having perhaps the cleanest path to an Opening Day rotation job of the group, but a strong performance this spring could help these hurlers get noticed as they jockey for positioning on their club’s rotation depth chart.

3. Reds in the market for pitching depth:

The Reds have had a fairly busy offseason, which they kicked off by bringing in future Hall of Fame manager Terry Francona. They’ve swung trades for Jose Trevino, Brady Singer, Taylor Rogers, and Gavin Lux since then while also bringing back Nick Martinez on the Qualifying Offer and signing Austin Hays to patrol the outfield. It’s possible they aren’t done yet, however, as reporting yesterday suggested that the club hopes to add another depth option to its rotation mix.

That’s understandable given the slow starts to the spring for lefty Andrew Abbott and prospect Rhett Lowder, particularly given the fact that non-roster veteran Wade Miley won’t be ready until May as he rehabs Tommy John surgery. Jose Quintana, Kyle Gibson, and Spencer Turnbull are all pitchers that seem likely to score big league deals even at this late stage of the offseason, while potential candidates for non-roster deals include Alex Wood, and Marco Gonzales.

As Spring Training continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Nationals 40-man move incoming:

The Nationals reportedly agreed to a new deal with right-hander Kyle Finnegan yesterday after non-tendering him back in November. However, the one-year, $6MM pact is not yet official. In order for the deal to become official, the Nationals will have to create a space on their 40-man roster for Finnegan. The Nats have already put both Josiah Gray and Mason Thompson on the 60-day injured list this spring, and have no other obvious candidates to miss the first two months of the season. Given that, they’ll likely need to designate a player for assignment or work out some sort of minor trade in order to clear a roster spot for Finnegan. That transaction is likely to come in the near future, as the club will surely want to get Finnegan into camp as soon as possible.

2. Blanco undergoes MRI:

Royals outfielder Dairon Blanco was scratched from the club’s spring lineup earlier this week due to soreness in his right Achilles tendon. According to MLB.com’s Anne Rogers, initial x-rays came back showing nothing of particular concern, but Kansas City still sent Blanco for an MRI exam yesterday. Those results figure to be available as soon as today, at which point a timeline for Blanco’s return to baseball activities can be established. The soon to be 32-year-old slashed .258/.308/.392 in 88 games for the Royals last year and currently appears likely to serve as Kyle Isbel’s platoon partner in center field for Kansas City this season. Should Blanco miss significant time, Joey Wiemer or Drew Waters could be tapped to step into that role instead.

3. Effross to undergo testing:

Yankees right-hander Scott Effross has struggled to stay on the field since being acquired from the Cubs at the 2022 trade deadline for righty Hayden Wesneski (who later went on to be part of the Kyle Tucker trade this offseason). Effross, 31, has appeared in just 16 games since first donning a Yankees uniform. Tommy John surgery shut him down in 2022, and back surgery kept him out for the majority of the 2024 campaign. The righty has managed just 74 2/3 innings of work in the majors but has been excellent when healthy, with a 2.89 ERA and 2.86 FIP for his career.

A healthy Effross would be a key part of New York’s bullpen, but unfortunately the injury bug appears to have bitten him again. According to Greg Joyce of the New York Post, Effross left his most recent spring appearance after throwing just one pitch yesterday due to what Aaron Boone described to reporters (including Joyce) as a hamstring issue. Effross is set to undergo testing to determine the severity of the problem, but anything more than a mild strain could rule the righty out for Opening Day.

As Spring Training continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Pitchers making their team debut today:

It’s still the early days of spring, which means a number of players have not yet gotten into a game so far. As more players start making their first appearances, fans will continue to get their first looks at offseason acquisitions in their new settings. At 1:05pm ET this afternoon, Orioles fans will get to see veteran right-hander Charlie Morton make his debut for Baltimore against the Tigers. Just two minutes later, at 1:07pm ET, Blue Jays fans will be able to see future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer suit up for Toronto for the first time. Later in the afternoon, lefty Blake Snell will make his Dodgers debut against the Mariners, which is scheduled for 1:05pm MT for fans in Arizona, or 12:05pm PT for fans in Los Angeles and Seattle.

2. Players lingering on the relief market:

Yesterday saw the top remaining left-handed reliever on the free agent market settle for a minor league deal when southpaw Andrew Chafin signed on for a return to the Tigers. The pickings on the left-handed relief market are becoming increasingly slim, with rehabbing veteran Brooks Raley and swingman Drew Smyly among the best options remaining. The market for right-handed relievers still has a number of intriguing options, however, led by veteran David Robertson. Robertson’s 3.00 ERA and 2.65 FIP in 72 innings of work for the Rangers last year seem likely to earn him a major league deal somewhere even with March rapidly approaching. Kyle Finnegan, Phil Maton, Keynan Middleton, and swingman Jose Urena are among the yet-unsigned righties on the market.

3. MLBTR Chat today:

Spring training is now officially underway, though a handful of of MLBTR’s Top 50 Free Agents remain unsigned and some clubs still have more work to do before the start of the season. Whether you have a trade proposal in the back of your mind or questions about an upcoming camp battle this spring, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be here to answer your questions during a live chat scheduled for 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.

As Spring Training continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Will the Cardinals make a spring trade?

This weekend saw some small signs of movement in the trade market surrounding the Cardinals bubble to the surface. That began with reports of reignited trade talks between St. Louis and Houston regarding Nolan Arenado. While the two teams seem to have touched base again in the wake of Alex Bregman signing in Boston, a trade sending Arenado to Houston is considered to be a “longshot.” Arenado isn’t the only Cardinals player whose name came up as a potential trade candidate this weekend, however; the Cards could be open to late conversations surrounding right-hander Erick Fedde. Trading either Arenado or Fedde before Opening Day would more clearly set the tone for St. Louis’s 2025 campaign after an offseason where the club has signaled they want to focus on the future without many concrete moves backing that up.

2. Madrigal to undergo MRI:

After already losing Frankie Montas to a lat injury, the Mets suffered another potential hit to their depth yesterday when utility infielder Nick Madrigal suffered a dislocated shoulder while fielding a grounder. Madrigal will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the issue, per MLB.com, which could require surgery if the dislocation is particularly severe. Luisangel Acuña, Ronny Mauricio and Brett Baty give the club some infield depth, but Mauricio isn’t even getting into spring games until mid-March after last spring’s ACL tear (per Newsday’s Tim Healey), and Baty isn’t the backup shortstop option that Madrigal or Acuña would be. As such, Acuña seems likeliest to step up, but it bears mentioning that Jose Iglesias remains unsigned if the Mets want to look outside the organization and focus on getting their in-house youngsters regular at-bats in Triple-A.

3. Will the Twins be sold?

News broke Friday that Justin Ishbia, the reported leading candidate to purchase the Minnesota Twins, had pulled out of the bidding to pivot toward acquiring a larger stake in the White Sox — a club in which he already holds a minority stake. It’s since been reported that “everything is on the table” for the Twins and the Pohlad family, including the possibility that the club is taken off the market. More clarity surrounding the future of the franchise is expected within the next month or two, and it figures to be a top story to keep an eye on given the massive potential impact a sale would have not only on the Twins organization but the AL Central as a whole.

As Spring Training continues, here are four things to keep an eye on heading into the weekend:

1. Yankees alter facial hair policy:

For more than half a century, the Yankees have adhered to a strict facial hair policy barring their players from sporting beards. The policy dates back to 1973, when late owner George Steinbrenner disapproved of the shaggy hair and facial hair of several players on Opening Day — Thurman Munson, Sparky Lyle and Bobby Murcer among them. Each offseason, there’s an air of almost novelty when a typically bearded player signs with the Yankees and fans wonder how he’ll look reporting to camp clean-shaven. (Or, alternatively, when a longtime Yankee departs and promptly grows a beard, as Gleyber Torres has done in his new Detroit environs.) Many Yankees have still donned mustaches over the years, with examples ranging from Don Mattingly to Jason Giambi to 2024 Yankees like Nestor Cortes and Austin Wells. Newly signed Max Fried arrived in camp with a prominent mustache on display last week.

As of this morning, managing partner Hal Steinbrenner has had a change of heart. He issued the following statement:

“In recent weeks I have spoken to a large number of former and current Yankees — spanning several eras — to elicit their perspectives on our longstanding facial hair and grooming policy, and I appreciate their earnest and varied feedback. These most recent conversations are an extension of ongoing internal dialogue that dates back several years. Ultimately the final decision rests with me, and after great consideration, we will be amending our expectations to allow our players and uniformed personnel to have well-groomed beards moving forward. It is the appropriate time to move beyond the familiar comfort of our former policy.”

It doesn’t appear that the Yankees will embrace a full Brandon Marsh or peak “Captain Caveman” Johnny Damon look anytime soon, but for the first time in a generation, there’ll be some beards sprouting up in camp. Early returns on a quick poll from Yankees beat writer Bryan Hoch suggests that the move is overwhelmingly popular among fans, with roughly 80% of respondents approving of the change.

2. Spring Training games:

The first Spring Training game of the year was held yesterday between the Cubs and the Dodgers, and throughout the weekend the rest of the league will get in on the action as well. Notable starters who have been announced for this weekend’s slate of games include Yankees righty Marcus Stroman and Dodgers righty Tony Gonsolin, both of whom are fighting for a rotation spot this spring. Diamondbacks and Red Sox fans will get their first glimpse of offseason additions Corbin Burnes and Garrett Crochet pitching for their new organizations. Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara will be making his first pitching appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. Fans and clubs will also be getting their first taste of the automatic ball-strike system that MLB is testing this spring, which could be implemented in the majors as soon as next year.

3. Miller in concussion protocol:

Yesterday’s game between the Dodgers and the Cubs featured a scary moment where right-hander Bobby Miller was struck with a 106mph line drive off the bat of Michael Busch. The comebacker struck Miller in the head, though after briefly hitting the ground the 25-year-old managed to walk off the field under his own power. Miller later posted on social media to assure fans that he was doing well after the incident, and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale relayed that the righty remains in MLB’s concussion protocol. Miller, Gonsolin and Dustin May are among the pitchers hoping to win the final rotation spot in Los Angeles this spring, though on-the-field considerations are a very, very distant second to the player’s general well-being in frightening situations such as this.

4. Will Quintana find the right deal?

After the Pirates signed southpaw Andrew Heaney to deepen their rotation mix yesterday, reporting indicated that Pittsburgh actually went to Jose Quintana first in hopes of working out a reunion. The veteran southpaw was reportedly offered a guarantee larger than the $5.25MM Heaney landed from the Pirates, but when Quintana declined the offer, the Bucs pivoted to bring Heaney into the fold. With Heaney off the market, Quintana is now the clear best left-handed starter still available and arguably the best overall starter left on the market. With the majority of teams seemingly satisfied with their starting depth as things stand, however, will he be able to find the deal he’s looking for?

As Spring Training continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Spring Training games begin:

Today marks the first Spring Training game of the year, as the Cubs and Dodgers face off at the latter’s spring home of Camelback Ranch. Chicago and L.A. are getting an earlier start than the rest of the league thanks to their early start to the regular season in Tokyo, which is now less than a month away. The Dodgers are sending right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the mound for the spring opener, while the Cubs will counter with righty Cody Poteet. The Dodgers haven’t revealed who else they intend to pitch in the game beyond Yamamoto, but MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian and Sonja Chen report that non-roster veterans Brad Keller and Brooks Kriske will pitch for Chicago today, as well as youngsters Daniel Palencia and Jack Neely.

2. Extensions coming down the pipe for the A’s?

The Athletics are a team without a permanent home for the time being, but that isn’t stopping them from locking up multi-year talent. After adding Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs to the rotation this offseason, the club extended star DH Brent Rooker with a five-year deal. Now that spring training has begun and the club’s roster is mostly set, the A’s have turned their attention to potentially working out extensions with more pieces of their young core. That reportedly includes outfielder Lawrence Butler, but GM David Forst indicated that the club is talking to other young players as well without naming specific names. Closer Mason Miller, outfielder JJ Bleday, and catcher Shea Langeliers are among the club’s other players who could make some sense as extension targets.

3. Cubs roster move expected:

The Cubs are known to be in agreement with veteran infielder/DH Justin Turner on a contract, and the 40-year-old veteran was reportedly in camp with Chicago yesterday getting his spring work started. That surely means that a formal announcement of Turner’s signing with the team is imminent, but one obstacle remains before the deal can be made official. Chicago’s 40-man roster is full, meaning that the Cubs will need to make room for Turner with a corresponding move in order to officially bring him into the fold. The club has no obvious contenders for a trip to the 60-day injured list, so that will mean either designating a player for assignment or perhaps working out a trade that clears a 40-man roster spot.

As spring training continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Nationals 40-man move incoming:

The Nationals were reportedly nearing a deal with right-hander Lucas Sims earlier this week, and this morning MASNsports.com’s Mark Zuckerman reports that Sims has a locker in the team’s clubhouse. Given that, it seems likely that the club will make Sims’ deal official at some point today. The Nationals will need to make room on the 40-man roster in order to bring Sims into the fold officially. Right-hander Mason Thompson is recovering from Tommy John surgery after undergoing the procedure last March, making him a potential candidate for the 60-day injured list, but it’s also possible he’ll be ready to return early enough in the season that the club doesn’t want to commit to shelving him for the first two months of the season.

2. Extension season underway:

The Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did not reach an extension before Guerrero’s self-imposed deadline yesterday, which took perhaps the winter’s highest-profile extension target off of the table. That same day, the Diamondbacks finalized an extension with shortstop Geraldo Perdomo that extends the team’s window of club control by three seasons. Spring training is the most common time for players and clubs to discuss the possibility of a longer-term deal. Pending free agents like Guerrero, Kyle Tucker, Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto have all seen their names surface in extension rumors. A team like the Red Sox could have extra motivation to try to lock up a trade acquisition (e.g. Garrett Crochet) after parting with significant prospect talent to acquire him. But, Perdomo’s extension serves as a reminder that many long-term deals for players still approaching or just entering arbitration come to fruition without virtually any buzz beforehand. As can be seen in MLBTR’s Contract Tracker, there were 25 spring extensions hammered out from 2022-24: six in 2024, 11 in 2023 and another eight in 2022.

3. MLBTR Chat:

Spring training is now officially underway, though a handful of of MLBTR’s Top 50 Free Agents remain unsigned and some clubs still have more work to do before the start of the season. Whether you have a trade proposal in the back of your mind or questions about an upcoming camp battle this spring, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be here to answer your questions during a live chat scheduled for 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.