The Opener

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

1. What’s next for the Red Sox?

Fans in Boston received terrible news yesterday, as it was reported that likely Opening Day starter Lucas Giolito is suffering from a partially torn UCL and a flexor strain, a diagnosis that could put him at risk for season-ending surgery before the 2024 campaign even begins. The likely loss of Giolito is a huge blow to the Red Sox rotation, which now figures to feature right-hander Nick Pivetta as its lone veteran arm with youngsters Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock, and Josh Winckowski likely to fill out the rest of the rotation in some combination.

Of course, the club could improve its stock in the rotation by looking to add an arm externally. The Red Sox have been connected to both southpaw Jordan Montgomery in free agency and White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease via trade throughout the offseason, though rumors regarding Cease have died down since camp opened last month. While the addition of either of the aforementioned arms would offer Boston a bona fide front-of-the-rotation arm, other options to shore up the club’s rotation such as Michael Lorenzen and Mike Clevinger are available more affordably and would still benefit the team.

2. Will we see more extensions this spring?

Spring Training tends to offer clubs and players a chance to negotiate extensions, before the grind of the regular season begins but after the heavy lifting of the offseason is already complete. We’ve seen a handful of extensions over the past month, with Bobby Witt Jr. and Jose Altuve both reaching agreements in early February while the likes of Mitch Keller and Zack Wheeler agreed to deals more recently.

Aside from those completed deals, there are still some rumored extension possibilities that have yet to come to fruition: The Astros have been candid about their desire to extend both third baseman Alex Bregman and outfielder Kyle Tucker, though it’s unclear how likely a deal is with either player. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are known to have had talks with both right-hander Brayan Bello and first baseman Triston Casas since camp opened last month. Will deals for any of the aforementioned players, or perhaps even a deal that hasn’t made its way into the rumor mill yet, come together before Opening Day?

3. When will deals come together for remaining mid-tier free agents?

Much of the conversation regarding free agency as of late has been dominated by Montgomery and fellow southpaw Blake Snell, the top remaining free agents on the market after fellow members of the “Boras Four” Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman landed deals in Chicago and San Francisco respectively. With that being said, they’re far from the only players still looking for work. Lorenzen, who is reportedly seeking a two-year deal, and Clevinger also remain on the starting pitching market, while Ryne Stanek remains available out of the bullpen.

On the positional side of things, even more players remain available. Center fielder Michael A. Taylor is reportedly hoping to land a deal in the same ballpark as the one-year, $10.5MM pacts Kevin Kiermaier and Harrison Bader agreed to earlier in the offseason, while J.D. Martinez and Brandon Belt are the likely best hitters remaining on the market. In addition to that trio, the likes of Adam Duvall, Tommy Pham, Eddie Rosario and Donovan Solano all remain available on the market after turning in solid performances as regulars last year. With a dozen free agents of note remaining on the market and just three weeks until Opening Day, will all these players find homes before the start of the regular season?

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

1. Gray awaits MRI results:

The Cardinals are dealing with an injury scare regarding their top free agent addition this winter after right-hander Sonny Gray exited yesterday’s game mid-at bat with right hamstring tightness. The 34-year-old veteran underwent an MRI yesterday evening, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, with more information on the severity of Gray’s injury likely to be made available sometime today. Gray’s dealt with hamstring issues in his right leg previously, including a three-week trip to the injured list with the Twins early in 2022 season.

St. Louis landed Gray on a three-year, $75MM deal to lead their starting rotation after the righty posted a 2.79 ERA in 32 starts with Minnesota last year, en route to a second-place finish in AL Cy Young award voting. The veteran was the club’s marquee free agent signing this winter and the most significant addition to a rotation that posted a bottom-five ERA in the majors last year. Without Gray at the front of the staff, the Cardinals would figure to enter the season with internal veterans Miles Mikolas and Steven Matz at the front of the rotation, with veteran bounce-back candidates Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn bringing up the middle and the fifth starter spot likely to go to a younger arm such as Matthew Liberatore or Zack Thompson.

2. Ohtani to face the Angels:

The Spring Training edition of the Freeway Series is set to take place today, with Angels right-hander Chase Silseth set to take on Dodgers youngster Bobby Miller starting at 7:05pm CT. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince) recently that superstar Shohei Ohtani will be in the lineup today against his former team. Ohtani is also expected to be in the lineup for tomorrow’s game against the White Sox. That’ll mark his first back-to-back appearances with the Dodgers as the club gears up for the start of its regular season on March 20 against the Padres in Seoul, South Korea. Ohtani has wasted no time in making an impression with Dodgers fans this spring, having picked up five hits and two walks in nine trips to the plate so far this spring, including a home run and a triple.

3. MLBTR Chat today:

While teams around the league are already participating in Cactus and Grapefruit League games, a handful of the winter’s top free agents remain unsigned and plenty of offseason shopping lists around the league remain unfulfilled. Are you wondering if there’s more in store for your team with Opening Day just a few short weeks away? If so, tune in this afternoon when MLBTR’s Steve Adams hosts a live chat with readers at 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, and that same link will allow you to join in on the chat once it begins or read the transcript after its completed.

With one major piece of news already breaking this morning, here are three other things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on around the baseball world today:

1. Are the Giants done?

The Giants made a splash on the free agent market this weekend by signing third baseman Matt Chapman on a three-year deal with opt-outs after the 2024 and ’25 seasons. The deal substantially improves the club’s defense at third base while adding a high-upside bat to the lineup, and checks a box that was near the top of the club’s offseason shopping list. Now that Chapman’s in tow, however, is there more in store for San Francisco before Opening Day? Reporting has indicated that the club remains interested in top free agent hurler Blake Snell, while incumbent third baseman J.D. Davis appears to be without a spot in the lineup after the Chapman signing and could be a trade candidate in the coming weeks. On the other hand, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi seemingly downplayed the likelihood of major additions after bringing Chapman into the fold yesterday.

2. Where will Martinez land?

With Chapman and Cody Bellinger having recently come off the board, veteran slugger J.D. Martinez now stands atop the pile of remaining free agent hitters after crushing 33 homers in 113 games last season. The market for the 36-year-old’s services has been fairly quietly of late, with the most significant development in recent weeks being reports of ultimately fruitless negotiations between Martinez and the Giants which came to a close when San Francisco signed Jorge Soler. As a player more or less limited to the DH spot in the lineup, Martinez’s market is a bit more limited than most, though MLBTR’s Anthony Franco recently discussed possible suitors for his services. With Opening Day just weeks away and the winter’s other top bats having signed, could a deal be on the horizon?

3. Acuna meeting with doctor:

Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. was scratched from the Braves’ spring lineup over the weekend as he deals with irritation in his right meniscus. While Atlanta has expressed confidence that Acuna will be ready for Opening Day, the club is remaining cautious with its superstar thanks in part to the fact that he’s just two seasons removed from a torn right ACL that cost him the second half of the 2021 campaign and delayed the start of his 2022 season. Today, Acuna is expected to meet with Dr. Neal ElAttrache for further examination of the issue, which could provide additional clarity on the slugger’s status. Should Acuna require a stint on the shelf, the Braves could turn to Forrest Wall, J.P. Martinez, or non-roster invitee Jordan Luplow to handle right field alongside Michael Harris II in center and Jarred Kelenic in left.

As the calendar flips to March, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world headed into the weekend:

1. When will the remaining free agents sign?

A whopping seven free agents in MLBTR’s annual Top 50 remain on the open market. That list includes not only three of the so-called “Boras Four” in Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and Matt Chapman, but also a pair of quality DH candidates in J.D. Martinez and Brandon Belt along with a pair of solid #4 starters in Mike Clevinger and Michael Lorenzen. By contrast, the only player in last offseason’s top 50 who remained on the open market into march was veteran outfielder Jurickson Profar. There’s other quality free agents who didn’t make our offseason Top 50 that remain on the market as well, such as veteran outfielders Tommy Pham and Adam Duvall. While it seemed as though outfielder Cody Bellinger accepting a short-term deal with the Cubs earlier this week could’ve signaled the dam breaking on remaining free agents, so far that hasn’t come to fruition. Will the remaining players available begin putting pen to paper with Opening Day now less than a month away?

2. Yankees, Red Sox in the market for bench bats?

With so many free agents still available, its no surprise that clubs are still looking to upgrade their rosters even with Spring Training in full swing. That appears to be true of both the Yankees and the Red Sox as things stand, with Boston reportedly interested in adding depth to their position player mix. The club appears to prefer adding a right-handed bat to complement their bevy of left-handed options for the lineup, as they’ve been linked to the likes of Garrett Cooper and Gio Urshela over the past week before they signed with the Cubs and Tigers, respectively.

In the Bronx, meanwhile, the Yankees were a finalist for utility man Enrique Hernandez according to Hernandez himself, suggesting the club is interested in finding a possible alternative to youngster Oswald Peraza on the club’s bench. That could leave the longtime rivals to compete over the remaining bench bats on the free agent market, particularly those with right-handed bats and experience on the infield dirt. The likes of Donovan Solano, Elvis Andrus, and Jean Segura remain on the market as players who check those boxes and could be plausible targets for either club.

3. Brash updated expected today:

The Mariners are reportedly concerned that right-hander Matt Brash could face an extended absence due to as-of-yet unspecified arm troubles. Clarity on Brash’s health and timetable for return could be on the horizon, however, as reporting yesterday indicated that the club hopes to have a formal update regarding the righty as soon as today. Brash, 26 in May, led the majors with 78 appearances last year and dominated in doing so, posting a 3.05 ERA and a sterling 2.26 FIP in 70 2/3 innings of work while striking out opponents and a fantastic 34.7% clip. A lengthy absence from Brash would remove one of the most promising arms from Seattle’s bullpen, though the club enjoys considerable depth in that area with the likes of Andres Munoz, Gregory Santos, and Greg Speier also available for late-inning duty.

With the final day of February upon us, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Skenes vs. Holliday:

Prospect lovers won’t want to miss today’s game between the Pirates and Orioles, where the first-overall picks of the past two seasons are set to clash. Right-hander Paul Skenes, the No. 1 pick of the 2023 draft and a consensus top-10 prospect in the game, is poised to face shortstop Jackson Holliday, the top pick of the 2022 draft and the consensus top prospect in the entire sport. Fans interested in seeing the matchup won’t have to wait very long, as Holliday told reporters this morning (including MLB.com’s Jake Rill) that he’s set to open the top of the first inning today as Baltimore’s lead off hitter, leaving him to be the very first batter Skenes faces today. If that matchup isn’t enticing enough for you, Skenes will be taking the mound opposite newly-minted Orioles ace Corbin Burnes. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05pm CT this afternoon.

2. Muncy to undergo testing:

Dodgers infielder Max Muncy was struck in the hand by a pitch from Rangers left-hander Cody Bradford during yesterday’s game, with USA Today’s Bob Nightengale relaying that the slugger has been diagnosed with a contusion, according to manager Dave Roberts. The Dodgers’ skipper added that Muncy is set to undergo “precautionary” x-rays today. A mainstay of the L.A. lineup since he broke out with the club during the 2018 season, Muncy has slashed .230/.356/.486 in 751 games while clubbing 175 homers in a Dodgers uniform. That includes last year’s .212/.333/.475 slash line, which was good for a wRC+ of 118. Should Muncy miss time due to the injury, the club would likely be left to turn to youngster Miguel Vargas at the hot corner to open the season.

3. Where will Stanek land?

While most discussion of the free agent market has been focused on the “Boras Four” in recent weeks, right-hander Ryne Stanek stands out as the clear best reliever remaining on the open market. While his 4.09 ERA and 4.60 FIP last year were both rather pedestrian, he’s just one season removed from dominating to a 1.15 ERA and 3.05 FIP in 54 2/3 innings of work and sports a strong 27.8% strikeout rate for his career. Those numbers would make him at least a solid middle reliever for any bullpen in the majors. The righty has been connected to the Cubs, Red Sox, and Mets so far this winter, though other clubs are surely also in the mix.

Stanek’s market has been quiet since the calendar flipped to February. Chicago has seemingly backed off its pursuit despite mutual interest, while the Mets added a different high-octane bullpen arm to their mix in Shintaro Fujinami. It’s possible that injuries around the game could spur a club to shore up their bullpen mix with Stanek as Spring Training continues; yesterday alone saw injury scares for the Guardians and Mariners (Trevor Stephan and Matt Brash, respectively). Will the veteran righty’s market begin to pick up as the calendar flips to March?

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

1. Yamamoto to make stateside debut:

For the second day in a row, a newly-signed Dodgers superstar will make his first in-game appearance for the club this spring. Yesterday, Shohei Ohtani stepped up to the plate for the first time in a Dodgers uniform and crushed a home run later on in the game. Today, L.A. fans will hope to be similarly dazzled by right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed the largest free agent contract in MLB history for a pitcher back in December despite not having pitched in the majors previously. The 25-year-old pitched to a sterling 1.24 ERA in 23 starts for NPB’s Orix Buffaloes last season, his fourth season in the last five years where he posted a sub-2.00 ERA. In his first stateside matchup, Yamamoto will take on left-hander Cody Bradford and the reigning World Series champion Rangers at 2:05pm CT.

2. Could Snell or Chapman be the next marquee free agent to sign?

The quartet of top free agents attempting to wait out the market for a better contract shrunk to three over the weekend when Cody Bellinger and the Cubs reunited on an opt-out laden three-year deal. Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, and Matt Chapman all continue to linger in free agency with March just around the corner.

Snell has been most frequently connected to the Yankees throughout the winter, and reporting yesterday indicated that the sides have continued to discuss scenarios this week, even as a deal remains an extreme long shot. As of last night, the Giants are reportedly still in the mix for both Snell and Chapman, with Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle citing one source in saying there’s about a 50% chance the team lands one of the two. With spring training in full swing and Opening Day just one month away, the waiting game could finally draw to a close sooner than later.

3. Are the Giants down a starter?

One factor that might be impacting the Giants’ pursuit of Snell is the health of right-hander Tristan Beck, who left camp yesterday to undergo testing on his right-hand back in San Francisco. Beck, 27, pitched to a solid 3.92 ERA and 4.00 FIP with the club last year, though only three of his 33 appearances in the big leagues came as a starter. Despite that limited starting experience, Beck appeared slated to enter his sophomore season as the club’s fifth starter behind Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, and Keaton Winn.

With Sean Hjelle and Ethan Small among the next best options for the rotation should Beck miss time, an injury of any note could push San Francisco to attempt to add a starter before Opening Day. While there’s an obvious potential connection between Beck’s health and the Giants’ reported interest in Snell, the club wouldn’t necessarily have to turn to the top of the free agent market to replace or even improve upon Beck’s expected production. After all, other quality arms remain available on the open market such as right-handers Mike Clevinger and Michael Lorenzen, the latter of whom MLBTR’s Steve Adams explored plausible fits for just yesterday.

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

1. Ohtani to make Dodgers debut:

The Dodgers had their first Cactus League game against the Padres last week in preparation for the Korea Series in Seoul next month, though superstar offseason addition Shohei Ohtani has not yet made his first spring appearance for the club. That’ll change today, as the Dodgers have announced that Ohtani will make his debut in today’s game against the White Sox. Left-hander Garrett Crochet will take the mound for the White Sox opposite Dodgers youngster Bobby Miller, with the game scheduled for 2:05pm CT. The two-way superstar will be limited to only hitting this year as he rehabs from elbow surgery, though he’ll be building off an incredible 2023 campaign that saw him slash a whopping .304/.412/.654 in 135 games while hitting an AL-best 44 home runs en route to his second MVP award in three years.

2. Cubs working on potential trade?

Center fielder Cody Bellinger’s deal with the Cubs has not yet been made official, and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic indicated yesterday that the Cubs are trying to work out a trade to clear space on the 40-man roster. Per Sharma, Chicago hopes to move a pitcher off its 40-man roster via trade in the coming days rather than risk losing a player for nothing on waivers. Speculatively speaking, that could mean the Cubs are shopping an arm towards the back of their bullpen depth chart such as Keegan Thompson, Jose Cuas, or Yency Almonte, or perhaps even a prospect such as Porter Hodge or Caleb Kilian. Sharma went on to suggest that if a trade cannot be worked out quickly, the Cubs could still designate a player for assignment in hopes that a trade of that player could be finalized over the seven-day window following the DFA.

3. MLBTR Chat today:

While teams around the league are already participating in Cactus and Grapefruit League games, a handful of the winter’s top free agents remain unsigned and plenty of offseason shopping lists around the league remain unfulfilled. Are you wondering if there’s more in store for your team as camps open in Arizona and Florida? If so, tune in this afternoon when MLBTR’s Steve Adams hosts a live chat with readers at 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, and that same link will allow you to join in on the chat once it begins or read the transcript after its completed.

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

1. The “Boras Four” is down to three:

The big news over the weekend was center fielder Cody Bellinger returning to the Cubs on a three-year deal worth $80MM with opt-outs after the 2024 and 2025 seasons. With free agency’s top remaining hitter now signed, the so-called “Boras Four” is now down to three, with southpaws Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery as well as third baseman Matt Chapman still lingering on the market. Now that one of the quartet of high-profile Boras Corporation clients has agreed to a short-term deal, will any of the others follow suit?

Montgomery has been loosely connected to the Red Sox throughout the offseason, though the latest reporting has indicated Boston only has interest in the event that his price comes down. It’s a similar story for Snell, who reportedly had an offer on the table from the Yankees last week with negotiations seemingly at a standstill. Chapman’s market is somewhat murkier at this point. He had been connected to Chicago prior to the club’s reunion with Bellinger, but the Cubs have not indicated a willingness to surpass the luxury tax — which would likely preclude them from further significant additions. The Giants have also been connected to Chapman frequently throughout the winter, with some reporting indicating the third baseman is their “top target,” though it’s unclear where negotiations between the sides stand at this point.

2. Bellinger deal to be made official:

As noted by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Cubs and Bellinger have wasted no time in moving forward now that a deal is in place, with Bellinger having already arrived at camp to take his physical yesterday. Assuming the physical didn’t turn up anything unexpected, that could put the deal in position to be officially announced sometime today. The Cubs have a full 40-man roster as things stand, meaning they’ll need to make a corresponding move to make room for Bellinger.

Barring a surprise injury announcement, the club has no clear candidates for the 60-day injured list, meaning that they’ll likely need to designate a player towards the back of the 40-man for assignment. Another option would be to work out a trade that would clear roster space. Chicago benefited from that sort of trade earlier this winter when the club acquired infield prospect Michael Busch and right-hander Yency Almonte for non-40-man prospects Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope in a deal that cleared two roster spots for the Dodgers.

3. Hernandez nearing decision?

Veteran utility player Enrique Hernandez was reportedly nearing a decision entering the weekend. While no deal ultimately came together, a list of four finalists for the 32-year-old’s services was reported that suggested he was choosing between the Giants, Padres, Twins, and Angels. Hernandez is among the most versatile players in the game with the glove. He’s spent more than a thousand innings in center field and at both middle infield spots in addition to hundreds of innings in the outfield corners, significant time at third base, and even occasional cameos at first. He touts a solid .257/.343/.458 slash line against lefties, though he’s typically posted below-average offense against righties, which limits his ceiling as an everyday player. Nonetheless, Hernandez figures to improve the depth of any club he signs with significantly. Which team will ultimately land the veteran?

With regular season baseball less than a month away, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world over the weekend:

1. Spring Training games begin for 28 clubs:

While the Dodgers and Padres opened Cactus League play against each other yesterday, the league’s other 28 teams will all have their own first games of the season this weekend. Today, the Cubs will take on the White Sox, the Rangers will face the Royals, and the Diamondbacks will square off against the Rockies in addition to a second game between San Diego and L.A. Meanwhile, the Red Sox and Twins will kick off spring play in Florida with exhibition games against the Division I Northeastern Huskies and Minnesota Gophers, respectively.

Grapefruit League play won’t begin in earnest until tomorrow, which features a slate of games highlighted by newly-minted Orioles ace Corbin Burnes kicking off the club’s spring with a start opposite Boston’s Garrett Whitlock. Elsewhere in the AL East, right-handers Marcus Stroman of the Yankees and Lucas Giolito of the Red Sox figure to make their spring debuts for their new clubs on Sunday.

2. Wong signing on the horizon?

According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, second baseman Kolten Wong has seen his market “begin to pick up” following a number of infield signings around the league over the past week. From 2017 to 2022, Wong was an above-average regular at the keystone with quality defense and a .269/.349/.414 slash line during that time. The 2023 season was difficult for the 32-year-old, however, as he hit a paltry .165/.241/.227 in 216 trips to the plate with the Mariners before being released and catching on with the Dodgers. He much better upon arriving in Los Angeles, where he was used largely as a pinch hitter but slashed a respectable .300/.353/.500 in 34 trips to the plate during the season’s final month.

Solid as that brief stint with L.A. was, few clear landing spots for a pure second baseman such as Wong remain around the league. The Pirates were previously rumored to be considering a reunion with fellow lefty-swinging second baseman Adam Frazier before he signed with the Royals, however, and it’s certainly possible to imagine Wong fitting in as a left-handed bench bat on a club such as the Angels, Yankees, or Brewers.

3. What’s next for the Marlins?

The Marlins filled their most obvious hole on the roster yesterday by agreeing to a one-year deal with shortstop Tim Anderson, who figures to take over as the regular at the position, pushing Jon Berti into a utility role. While Anderson struggled badly in his final season with the White Sox last year, the two-time All Star was among the better regulars at the position from 2019 to 2022, when he slashed a collective .318/.347/.474 in 318 games. With the club’s vacancy at shortstop filled, what’s next in Miami? The club has largely stood pat this winter after winning 84 games last year en route to a surprising playoff appearance, though they did lose Jorge Soler to the Giants in free agency.

There’s been buzz throughout the winter that the Marlins could look to deal a controllable arm such as Jesus Luzardo, Braxton Garrett, or Edward Cabrera from their rotation mix, though it’s unclear how likely such a deal is and Garrett’s recent bout of shoulder soreness could complicate that decision further for the club. If Miami were to decide to consider further augmenting the roster after adding Anderson, a bat to add to an outfield/DH mix that currently features Avisail Garcia, Jesus Sanchez, and Bryan De La Cruz alongside center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. could make some sense. The likes of Eddie Rosario, Adam Duvall, and Tommy Pham are all still available in free agency and could be sensible, fairly low-cost additions for the Marlins to make.

As all 30 clubs continue their spring preparations for the 2024 season, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Will the Red Sox extend a young player?

Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello revealed to reporters yesterday that he and the club have been discussing a possible extension, with the 24-year-old hurler indicating that a deal could come together before the spring is up. The comments from Bello come just days after first baseman Triston Casas offered his own comments on the possibility of an extension, saying that he hoped to spend his whole career in Boston but that extension talks had produced “nothing enticing” to this point. While newly-appointed chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has yet to extend any players during his short tenure at the helm, the Red Sox haven’t been shy about extending players in the past. Many of the club’s recent extensions such as deals with Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts, and Chris Sale were for well-established talent nearing free agency, though the club has also locked down younger talent in the form of Garrett Whitlock. Could Bello or Casas join the list before Opening Day?

2. Senga undergoing testing:

Mets right-hander Kodai Senga sat out yesterday’s team workout due to “overall arm fatigue,” as manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters (including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com). DiComo adds that Senga was scheduled to undergo testing yesterday, meaning it’s possible that an update on the righty’s health could be made available as soon as today. If the injury were to impact Senga’s readiness for Opening Day, it would be a major blow to the club. Senga was a rare bright spot in the 2023 campaign for the Mets, pitching to a 2.98 ERA with a 29% strikeout rate across 29 starts last year. With the likes of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer departing Queens last summer, Senga enters the 2024 campaign as the club’s likely Opening Day starter at the front of a rotation that added Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, and Adrian Houser this winter. Should Senga miss time to open the season, Tylor Megill, Joey Lucchesi, and Jose Butto would be among the options to fill in for him in the big league rotation.

3. First game of the spring:

The Dodgers and Padres will participate in the first spring training game of the year today, as the two clubs gear up for an early start to the season with the Korea series in Seoul next month. Today’s game will start at 2:10pm CT, with Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove kicking things off opposite Dodgers youngster Gavin Stone. The 25-year-old Stone struggled to a 9.00 ERA in his first 31 innings of work in the majors last year but is nonetheless one of the club’s most promising young arms and could battle with the likes of Emmet Sheehan and Michael Grove. Musgrove, meanwhile, pitched to an excellent 3.05 ERA and 3.52 FIP last year but was limited to just 17 starts due to injuries. Among those injuries was a bout of shoulder inflammation that ended the right-hander’s season in late July, though the 31-year-old righty nonetheless appears to be healthy ahead of today’s Cactus League opener.