The Opener

As the start of the regular season gets closer, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Scherzer dealing with thumb soreness:

Veteran right-hander Max Scherzer is dealing with a bout of soreness in his right thumb, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Manager John Schneider called the Blue Jays’ decision to scratch Scherzer from his upcoming start tomorrow is the club “just being extra careful.” Scherzer missed time in 2024 with a litany of injuries, one of which was a nerve issue in his right arm that spanned his thumb to his triceps. If this latest thumb/nerve issue proves to be more serious, Toronto could call upon right-hander Yariel Rodriguez to step into the rotation from the bullpen or carry Jake Bloss, who is currently ticketed for Triple-A, on the big league roster to open the season.

2. Red Sox, Giolito await MRI results:

The Red Sox rotation has been tried by injuries this spring, with Kutter Crawford and Brayan Bello both already poised to start the season on the injured list. It’s possible another starting pitching option will join them, as right-hander Lucas Giolito is scheduled for an MRI after leaving yesterday’s game due to hamstring tightness. If the issue is severe enough to keep Giolito off the Opening Day roster, the Red Sox have a number of viable depth options to help cover for the absence. Quinn Priester might already be lined up to take Bello’s spot already, but other options on the 40-man roster incclude Richard Fitts, Cooper Criswell, and Josh Winckowski.

3. How will the Tigers fill out their outfield?

The Tigers were expected to welcome outfielder Wenceel Perez back into the lineup today after he was sidelined by a back issue last week, but Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports that Perez is absent from today’s Grapefruit League lineup and is not expected to play. With Matt Vierling and potentially Parker Meadows both slated to start the season on the injured list, Perez has stood out as a center field option for the Tigers to open the season. If he’s also ticketed for a late start to the 2025 campaign, however, the Tigers may need to get creative in filling out their outfield mix.

Riley Greene was ticketed for everyday duties in left field but could slide over to center if needed. Kerry Carpenter could spend more time in right field rather than serving as a regular DH. Zach McKinstry and Andy Ibanez both have at least some outfield experience, but it seems likely the club could benefit from another outfielder joining the roster like Justyn-Henry Malloy or perhaps even non-roster invitee Jahmai Jones. If Carpenter plays more in the outfield instead of filling the DH slot in the lineup, that could also create an avenue for Spencer Torkelson to get back into the lineup after losing the first base job to Colt Keith.

As Spring Training continues, here are three things to watch for today:

1. Tokyo Series roster decisions:

The Cubs and Dodgers are hitting pause on Spring Training and boarding planes to Japan as they prepare for next week’s Tokyo Series. The exhibition games and other festivities associated with the coming event won’t get underway for a few more days, but the clubs will need to make decisions regarding their 31-man travel roster today. A few notable decisions remain, with Patrick Mooney of The Athletic writing that either outfield prospect Kevin Alcantara or infield prospect Matt Shaw will be heading to Japan with the Cubs, but not both players. Meanwhile, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic notes that the Dodgers have a decision to make on infielder Hyeseong Kim.

Shaw, 23, figures to be the club’s starting third baseman in 2025 but may not begin his time with the club immediately after being slowed in camp by an oblique injury. Alcantara, meanwhile, is the club’s primary backup to Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field after the Cubs parted ways with Cody Bellinger, Mike Tauchman, and Alexander Canario throughout the offseason. As for Kim, Ardaya notes that the 26-year-old could start the 2025 regular season in the minors as he works to implement changes to his swing the Dodgers have worked with him on throughout the spring.

2. Garver, Mariners await x-ray results:

Mariners catcher and DH Mitch Garver exited yesterday’s game against the Brewers after being hit by a pitch. The Mariners sent Garver for x-rays on his “hand and wrist area,” and Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times notes that the club is still awaiting those results. Garver, 34, is entering the second year of a two-year, $24MM contract with Seattle and is likely to serve as the club’s primary backup to Cal Raleigh behind the plate. If Garver were to miss significant time with injury, Blake Hunt is on the Mariners’ 40-man roster and would likely be tapped to fill in as Raleigh’s backup.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

The first regular season games of the year are just a week away, though a handful of of MLBTR’s Top 50 Free Agents remain unsigned and some clubs are scrambling to patch holes created by spring injuries. Whether you have a late spring trade proposal in the back of your mind or questions about your favorite club’s final roster decisions, 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. Cole, Yankees await second opinion.

News broke yesterday that veteran Yankees ace Gerrit Cole has been recommended for Tommy John surgery after undergoing tests on his elbow over the weekend. It’s a potentially brutal blow to the Yankees’ hopes of returning to the World Series in 2025, but nothing is set in stone just yet as Cole and the club are seeking a second opinion before making a final decision on the right-hander’s path forward. Specifically, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that Cole is set to consult with noted surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache about the issue. ElAttrache is one of the country’s preeminent sports medicine figures and, notably, met with Cole about his elbow just last year during Spring Training when a bout of elbow inflammation sidelined the righty for most of the first half.

2. Mets in need of catching help:

With youngster Francisco Alvarez set to miss the next six to eight weeks due to hamate surgery, the Mets are now facing a scramble for catching help with Opening Day just over two weeks away. Backup catcher Luis Torrens figures to step into the starting role for the Mets while Alvarez is out, but the club has no other catchers on the 40-man roster with Jakson Reetz and his eight games of MLB experience standing out as the most experienced non-roster catcher in camp. The club’s lackluster internal solutions make an addition appear likely before Opening Day, with veterans Yasmani Grandal and James McCann still on the market.

3. Non-roster veterans await opportunities:

With Spring Training beginning to wind down and teams beginning to plan out their Opening Day rosters in earnest, there are a number of veterans in camp on minor league deals who will be on the outside looking in when it comes to the big league roster of their current organization. It’s likely that the majority of those veterans will opt out and return to free agency in hopes of finding a major league opportunity elsewhere, as infielder Nicky Lopez seems poised to do after being re-assigned to minor league camp yesterday. As injuries (such as the aforementioned issues faced by the Yankees and Mets) begin to pile up around the league, that could create opportunities for some non-roster veterans in camp with other clubs to get snapped up relatively quickly once they get the chance to opt out closer to Opening Day.

As the start of the regular season draws closer, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world heading into the weekend:

1. Roberts, Dodgers nearing extension?

Working out an extension with longtime manager Dave Roberts has been a clear priority for the Dodgers all offseason, and reporting yesterday indicated that the sides are not only making progress towards a deal, but that an agreement is likely to be finalized before the club’s trip to Tokyo next week. With Roberts entering the final year of his contract, getting a deal done should be a major relief for both sides. Roberts has spent all but one game of his managerial career in Los Angeles, and the partnership has certainly been very fruitful. Since Roberts first took over as manager back in 2016, the Dodgers have a sensational 851-506 record with nine consecutive playoff appearances, two World Series championships and two additional NL pennants.

2. Rodriguez being evaluated:

The Orioles are dealing with another injury scare, as manager Brandon Hyde told reporters (including Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun) that young right-hander Grayson Rodriguez is dealing with soreness in his right triceps. A more comprehensive update on Rodriguez’s status is expected sometime today after they receive test results. Word of a potential triceps issue comes just days after Rodriguez downplayed an alarming velocity drop in a spring start against the Twins, one in which he felt “sluggish” and felt as though all of his pitches were “flat,” to use his own words.

It’s a concerning situation with Opening Day just three weeks away, especially for an Orioles club that’s light on potential impact rotation talent after losing Corbin Burnes to free agency this past winter. If Rodriguez were to miss time due to the issue, the club would seem poised to utilize a quintet of Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano, Dean Kremer, and Albert Suarez in the rotation, although youngsters like Cade Povich and Chayce McDermott could also be viable depth options.

3. Walker undergoing MRI:

Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters (including MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart) yesterday that first baseman Christian Walker was headed back to Houston yesterday in order to undergo an MRI. Walker’s been dealing with an ailing oblique in recent days, and depending on what the imaging reveals it’s possible that the veteran won’t be ready for Opening Day. That could clear playing time for last year’s first baseman Jon Singleton to return to the lineup, though third baseman Isaac Paredes and backup catcher Victor Caratini also have some level of experience at the position. Even so, the loss of Walker for significant time would be a major blow to the club given his long track record of steady work on both sides of the ball in Arizona, which convinced Houston to offer him a three-year, $60MM deal this winter.

Here are three things we’ll be watching for around baseball today:

1. Christian Walker’s oblique injury:

Christian Walker was removed from the Astros’ spring training matchup against the Cardinals on Wednesday with soreness in his left oblique (per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle). Manager Joe Espada told reporters (including Brian McTaggart of MLB.com) that the team will have more information on Walker’s injury today after the first baseman has met with team doctors. While Espada couldn’t offer many more details, it’s worth noting that he did not downplay the injury, saying: “It’s something I don’t want to see right now. I’m just hoping for the best.”

With Opening Day just three weeks away, even a mild strain could keep Walker out for the beginning of the season. The veteran missed five weeks last summer with a left oblique strain. He also missed a similar amount of time with a right oblique injury in 2021. Losing Walker for even a couple of weeks would be a tough blow for the Astros. The soon-to-be 34-year-old blossomed into one of the better first baseman in the sport in his thirties. Over the last three seasons, he has hit 95 home runs with a 120 wRC+, while winning the NL Gold Glove each year. The Astros, meanwhile, ranked last among AL teams in FanGraphs WAR at first base last season, and they are counting on Walker to change that.

2. Justin Topa to go for testing:

Twins right-hander Justin Topa exited early on Wednesday in his third outing of the spring, with manager Rocco Baldelli later telling reporters (including Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune) that Topa felt some tightness in his pitching shoulder. The skipper expressed optimism, suggesting the issue does not seem “overly serious,” but Topa, who’ll turn 34 tomorrow, will undergo testing today.

Topa did not make his MLB debut until his age-29 season in 2020, and injuries kept him from pitching more than eight innings in a season until 2023. However, he was phenomenal out of the Mariners’ bullpen that year, tossing 69 frames with a 2.61 ERA and 3.47 SIERA. Unfortunately, patellar tendinitis in his left knee limited him to just three appearances last year in his first season with the Twins. Minnesota will hope this latest setback proves to be minor and Topa can quickly return to the mound. If he can pitch anything like he did in 2023, he will make this team’s already strong bullpen even more dangerous.

3. Spring breakout rosters to be announced:

After a successful debut last March, Spring Breakout is returning for another year. The four-day event is designed to spotlight the top young talent in all 30 organizations. Every club will put together a roster of prospects to compete in a spring training showcase matchup against a team of prospects from another organization. Each of these prospect teams will play at least one Spring Breakout game from March 13-16, while the Cubs and Nationals will each play two games to account for the uneven number of clubs in the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues.

The rosters for all 30 teams will be announced this morning at 10:00 a.m. CT on MLB Network. Not every top prospect will take part in Spring Breakout, but much of the game’s best young talent will be on display. Last year, 71 of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects participated in the event.

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

1. Walker, Cardinals await imaging results:

Cardinals youngster Jordan Walker underwent imaging on his left knee yesterday after he felt some pain during a play in the outfield yesterday, as noted by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Goold adds that more information on Walker’s situation is expected as soon as this morning. The 22-year-old was once one of the top 10 prospects in the entire sport but has struggled somewhat to this point in his big league career with a league-average .255/.317/.423 slash line in 168 big league games over the past two seasons.

Despite that middling performance so far, Walker still figures to be a key part of the future in St. Louis and is ticketed for everyday reps in right field this year. The Cardinals have options if Walker needs to miss any time. Lars Nootbaar and Brendan Donovan can handle the outfield corners, thereby making room for both Nolan Gorman at second base with either Michael Siani or Victor Scott II in center field.

2. Garcia, Rangers await imaging results:

The Cardinals aren’t the only club awaiting imaging results on regular right fielder. The Rangers sent Adolis Garcia for an MRI due to discomfort in his left oblique yesterday. The club is already expecting Garcia to miss at least a few games due to the issue, though a specific timetable for his return likely won’t be clear until the club receives results from Garcia’s MRI.

The Rangers’ situation is further complicated the fact that fellow outfielder Wyatt Langford is also dealing with an oblique injury that has kept him out of spring games so far. If either player misses time during the regular season, Leody Taveras would likely move from a bench role back into regular center field work. Young Evan Carter can handle a corner spot, and if both Garcia and Langford were to miss Opening Day, a utility bat like Josh Smith could move to left field or the Rangers could select a non-roster veteran like Kevin Pillar.

3. Could the Royals upgrade their outfield?

Earlier this week, it was reported that the Mets and Royals discussed the possibility of a Starling Marte trade earlier this winter. Perhaps more notably, that report indicated that Kansas City has not entirely closed the door on making a deal for Marte. With a matter of weeks left until Opening Day, even the remote possibility of a notable trade is cause for some intrigue. It also stands to reason that if the Royals haven’t ruled out Marte entirely, they could yet look to the remnants of the free agent market as well. The Royals reportedly made an offer to veteran outfielder Adam Duvall, though it was declined. Other notable free agent outfielders still on the market include Alex Verdugo and David Peralta.

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.