The Opener

With just ten days until Opening Day, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. WBC Update

Last night, Team USA (5-1) trounced Team Cuba (3-3) by a score of 14-2 to move onto the World Baseball Classic Finals. Their opponent will be decided tonight, as Team Japan (5-0) faces off against Team Mexico (4-1). Patrick Sandoval (1 ER in 3.0 IP) will take the ball for Team Mexico, facing off against Team Japan’s 21-year-old phenom, Roki Sasaki (0 ER in 3.2 IP). In addition to a strong pitching matchup, both clubs have an MLB star on a hot streak at the plate, with Randy Arozarena (1.566 OPS in 17 PA) and Shohei Ohtani (1.438 OPS in 16 PA) both standing in the top 10 of all WBC batters in terms of OPS. The game begins at 6pm CT and will air on FS1.

2. Soto injury update on the horizon?

Last night, the Padres revealed that superstar Juan Soto suffered a mild oblique strain, but few details were made available about the situation. More information could come to light regarding Soto’s situation as soon as today. Should Soto indeed miss time, Jose Azocar and Adam Engel are among those who could stand to garner some additional playing time, while a player such as David Dahl or Brandon Dixon could be called upon to fill out the Padres bench.

3. Without Altuve, where can the Astros look for middle infield depth?

Yesterday, it was announced that Astros star second baseman Jose Altuve would undergo surgery after sustaining a broken thumb while playing in the WBC. The team did not provide a formal timetable for Altuve’s return. It seems that David Hensley and Mauricio Dubon will handle second base duties until Altuve has recovered. Beyond that pair, Houston has former Orioles and Dodgers prospect Rylan Bannon on the 40-man roster and journeyman Dixon Machado in camp on a non-roster deal.

If the Astros want to add some further depth to protect against injury to one of of Hensley, Dubon or shortstop Jeremy Pena, the free-agent market still has a handful of experienced veterans, with Andrelton Simmons, Jonathan Villar and Alcides Escobar all unsigned at the moment. There will also surely be some middle infielders who’ll be designated for assignment over the next ten days or so as other teams select the contracts of prospects or veterans on minor league deals, which could create the opportunity for some minor trades or waiver claims for the ’Stros. The corresponding 40-man move could be rather straightforward, assuming the Astros feel Altuve will require a stint on the 60-day injured list while he recovers from surgery.

With Opening Day less than two weeks away, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. WBC Update

The World Baseball Classic continues tonight as Puerto Rico takes on Mexico in the quarterfinals. Marcus Stroman will take the mound for Puerto Rico, while Julio Urias will start the game for Mexico. To this point in this series, Mexico has been lead by Randy Arozarena (1.714 OPS) and Joey Meneses (1.263 OPS) while Puerto Rico is lead by Francisco Lindor (1.129 OPS) while also featuring All-Star Javier Baez. Puerto Rico, of course, will be without closer Edwin Diaz, who required surgery on the patellar tendon in his right knee yesterday and will likely miss the entire 2023 season. Tonight’s game, which will begin at 6pm CST, will air on FS1.

2. Relief Market Update

Following Diaz’s injury, all eyes are on the Mets as they decide whether to stick with their internal relief options like David Robertson, Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley or pursue external additions. Meanwhile, two possible options on the free agent market are holding workouts in attempts to get signed to big league deals: Zack Britton held a showcase yesterday, which the Mets were in attendance for, while Ken Giles will do the same this morning for multiple teams, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. Both Britton and Giles have worked out for teams already this spring, but as Opening Day approaches are doing so again, perhaps to ease the nerves of teams who are put off by each player’s lengthy recent injury history.

3. Voit Opt-Out Decision Looming

The Brewers signed slugging first baseman Luke Voit to a minor league deal earlier in the offseason, but Voit reportedly has an opt-out of the contract that he intends to exercise if the Brewers do not add him to the 40-man roster. The Brewers had until midnight last night to do so before Voit was able to opt-out, but it’s possible Voit could stay in camp with Milwaukee for a little while longer, as noted by MLB.com’s Adam McCalvey. Should Voit opt out of his contract, he would re-join the free agent market as one of the top remaining bats available, behind only the lingering Jurickson Profar.

With just two weeks to go until Opening Day, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. WBC Update

The first round of the World Baseball Classic is officially in the books, with Cuba, Italy, Japan, Australia, Mexico, the United States, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico advancing to the quarterfinals, which have already begun. Cuba defeated Australia yesterday to advance to the semifinal round, while Japan advanced past Italy this morning. While no other matches will happen today, the other two quarterfinal matchups are now set, with Team Mexico squaring off against Team Puerto Rico tomorrow night while Team USA is set to take on Team Venezuela Saturday night. Of course, the biggest story of the WBC yesterday followed Puerto Rico’s upset victory that sent home the tournament favorites from the Dominican Republic.

2. Diaz Injury Update Incoming

That story is Edwin Diaz’s right knee injury, which he seemingly suffered during the celebration of Team Puerto Rico’s victory last night. The Mets announced last night that Diaz will undergo additional imaging today after receiving x-rays last night, meaning an update on Diaz could be coming as soon as later this morning. Until then, it’s unknown how much time Diaz will miss, though sources have told ESPN’s Jeff Passan that they fear Diaz is set to miss significant time. If Diaz misses significant time, that will obviously be a massive blow to the Mets’ bullpen, as Diaz is widely seen as the best closer in the entire sport.

3. Offseason in Review Chat Today

In conjunction with yesterday’s Reds Offseason in Review, MLBTR’s Anthony Franco will be hosting a Reds-centric live chat with readers today at 2pm CT. You can click here to submit a question in advance, and that same link will take you to the chat once it begins, or allow you to read the transcript once it’s complete. Be sure to check back throughout the day so you don’t miss Anthony’s chat!

As Opening Day approaches, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. WBC Update

The first round of the World Baseball Classic ends today, with a trio of key games that will decide who advances: At 2pm CT, Mexico will face Canada on FS2, with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals. Notably, Canada will likely be without star first baseman Freddie Freeman for today’s game after Freeman was removed from yesterday’s game with “slight” hamstring tightness, though the issue seems unlikely to cause Freeman to miss time with the Dodgers. Meanwhile, on FS1, a 6pm CT game between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic will also send its winner to the quarterfinals, sending the other team home.

Later on FS1, Team USA will take on Team Colombia at 9pm CT. The U.S. will advance to the quarterfinals with a win, while a loss will result in each of the U.S., Colombia, and the loser of Mexico vs. Canada having a 2-2 record, with a tiebreaker deciding which of the three will join the Mexico vs. Canada winner in the quarterfinals. Finally, the second quarterfinal match takes place tomorrow morning at 5am CT, where Italy will take on Japan on FS2.

2. Will Kelley finally get his roster spot?

Right-hander Trevor Kelley, who joined the Rays on a minor league deal this offseason, was selected to Tampa Bay’s 40-man roster last month near the start of Spring Training. However, MLB voided that selection, as minor league contracts cannot formally be selected to the 40-man until March 15. Now that the date has finally arrived, it seems reasonable to expect the 30-year old hurler to be added to the 40-man roster in the near future, especially considering he’s tossed 5 1/3 shutout innings with three hits, two walks and six strikeouts so far in Grapefruit League action. The Rays could place either Andrew Kittredge or Shane Baz on the 60-day injured list as the corresponding move. Both players are recovering from 2022 Tommy John surgery.

3. MLBTR Chats Today

We continue our series of live chats with people from around the game of baseball today as Jim Duquette will be joining us for a live chat with readers at 3pm CT this afternoon. Duquette spent 17 years working in MLB front offices with his most notable roles being GM of the Mets from 2003 to 2004 and vice president of baseball operations for the Orioles from 2006 to 2007. You can also hear Duquette on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, where he hosts the Power Alley alongside Mike Ferrin. Be sure to join the chat this afternoon as Duquette fields questions from MLBTR readers!

In addition, we have a Mets Offseason in Review chat with MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald scheduled for today, while MLBTR’s Anthony Franco will be hosting a his weekly chat this evening at 5pm CT. Both of those links will allow you to submit a question in advance and join the chats to participate live once they’re up and running.

As we arrive on the cusp of the World Baseball Classic’s quarterfinal round, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. WBC Update

Following a day that saw Puerto Rico throw eight combined perfect innings in their defeat of Israel, there are four matches on the docket for today: Venezuela (2-0) will face Nicaragua (0-3) at 11am CST on FS2, though the latter team has been eliminated from quarterfinals contention at this point. Also on FS2, Canada (1-1) will face Colombia (1-1) at 2pm CST. This evening, Israel (1-1) will try to right the ship after yesterday’s shutout loss to Puerto Rico against the Dominican Republic (1-1) at 6pm CST on FS1. Also on FS1 will be Mexico (1-1) vs. Great Britain (1-2) at 9pm EST. The first quarterfinal match, featuring Australia against Cuba, will take place at 5am CST tomorrow morning on FS2.

2. How long will Quintana be out?

Yesterday, a report emerged that Mets lefty Jose Quintana would be shut down for three months due to the stress fracture in one of his ribs, though GM Billy Eppler later pushed back against it, noting that the club is still talking to doctors about potential next steps. Losing Quintana for a significant amount of time would be a major blow to a Mets rotation that is set to heavily rely on aging pitchers who have struggled to remain healthy in recent years: Justin Verlander, 40, pitched just six innings 2020-2021 before his dominant return from Tommy John surgery last season. Max Scherzer, 38, is coming off his lowest full season innings count of his career (145 1/3) in 2022, while Carlos Carrasco, 36, eclipsed 100 innings for the first time since 2018 last year with his 152 innings of work.

The Mets have a strong contingent of depth, headlined by lefty David Peterson, righty Tylor Megill and left-hander Joey Lucchesi (whose workload will be monitored in his first season post-Tommy John surgery). Presumably, the Mets will make a more formal announcement Quintana’s recovery timetable once they’ve finished gathering opinions, but for now all eyes are on their depth options to see who claims the final rotation spot to begin the season. Peterson and Megill are the favorites, and both have pitched well so far in camp.

3. MLBTR Chat Today

Do you have any questions regarding your favorite team or the larger baseball world as the 30 clubs gear up for Spring Training and make their last minute offseason moves? MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be fielding questions from readers today during a live chat at noon CT. If you would like to ask questions in advance, you can do so here. That same link will also take you to the chat when it begins if you would like to participate live.

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

1. WBC Update

The World Baseball Classic continues today. Over the weekend, Australia (3-1) and Japan (4-0) both punched their tickets to the quarterfinals in Pool B. Pool A, meanwhile, saw a wild finish where all five teams finished with a 2-2 record. Cuba and Italy ultimately moved onto the quarterfinals after tiebreakers were exercised. Pools C and D are still ongoing, with the Dominican Republic (0-1) facing Nicaragua (0-2) at 11am CT today and Colombia (1-0) facing Great Britain (0-2) at 2pm CT today. Both games will air on FS2. Meanwhile, FS1 will air Israel (1-0) vs. Puerto Rico (1-1) at 6pm CT in addition to Canada (1-0) vs. the United States (1-1) at 9pm CT.

2. Eovaldi, deGrom to pitch today:

Today is a big day for the Rangers’ rotation, as Jacob deGrom will pitch in a game as a member of the organization for the first time today. deGrom, to this point, has been handled very carefully by the Rangers in order to preserve his health into the regular season. In addition, Nathan Eovaldi will be returning to the mound after being shut down with side tightness. Both righties are slated to pitch in minor league games. As two of Texas’s top three starters, their health will be crucial to the success of a team hoping to return to contention after a second straight offseason spending spree.

3. Could more extensions be on the way?

As the start of the regular season quickly approaches, so too does the time of year where contract extension talks typically wind down between clubs and players. Two major extensions occurred over the weekend, as Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz and Diamondbacks center fielder Corbin Carroll both signed eight-year extensions. Other extension talks around baseball seem to be proceeding with mixed results: the Padres seem intent on extension talks with both closer Josh Hader and star slugger Juan Soto, while the Astros seem pessimistic about their odds of getting a deal done with either Kyle Tucker or Framber Valdez this spring. Aaron Nola of the Phillies and Nico Hoerner of the Cubs are among other players who have been rumored to have extension talks with their clubs this spring.

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

1. WBC Update

The World Baseball Classic continues today, and really kicks into gear throughout the weekend. Pools C and D will begin play tomorrow, highlighted by Julio Urias starting for Mexico against Colombia at 1:30pm CT, Sandy Alcantara taking the mound for Dominican Republic against Venezuela at 6pm CT, and the vaunted Team USA lineup making its debut against Great Britain at 8pm CT. In addition, Pools A and B will have their first round complete over the weekend, deciding which two teams from each pool will advance to the quarterfinals. The final game of Pool A, the Netherlands vs. Italy, will happen at 6am CT Sunday morning, while the final game of Pool B, China vs. Korea, will occur at 5am CT Monday morning.

2. Could recent deals spur more FA movement?

Yesterday, the Marlins agreed to minor league deals with two of the better remaining free agent position players: first baseman Yuli Gurriel and middle infielder Jose Iglesias. With the free agent market growing ever thinner, it’s reasonable to wonder when the rest of the remaining players will sign with a club. Left fielder Jurickson Profar remains the top player still available on the market, with catcher Gary Sanchez, first baseman Miguel Sano, middle infielders Jonathan Villar and Andrelton Simmons, and outfielder Albert Almora Jr. among the notable position players who’ve yet to sign a contract this offseason.

3. Brewers Chat Today

As we continue our Offseason In Review series, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be hosting a Brewers-centric live chat with readers at 10am CT. You can click here to leave a question in advance, and that same link will take you to the live chat when it begins or allow you to read the transcript after the chat is completed. If you missed yesterday’s Brewers Offseason In Review, you can find it here.

With Opening Day now just three weeks away, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. WBC Update

The World Baseball Classic continues today, with the Czech Republic taking on China this evening at 9pm CT and Cuba taking on Panama at 10:30pm CT. Early tomorrow morning, Korea will face Japan at 4am CT while Italy will take on Chinese Taipei at 5am CT. Cuba vs Panama and Korea vs Japan will both air on FS1, while the Czech Republic vs China and Italy vs Chinese Taipei can be live-streamed on Tubi. Japan has a 1-0 record so far in the WBC, while Panama currently sports a 1-1 record and each of China, Korea, Cuba (pending their ongoing game with Italy), and Chinese Taipei have 0-1 records. The Czech Republic team has yet to participate in a WBC game.

2. Astros extension saga to reach a conclusion

Astros GM Dana Brown has been unusually candid about his efforts to extend both outfielder Kyle Tucker and starting pitcher Framber Valdez this spring, and those negotiations appear set to come to a head later today. Shortly after a report emerged that the club was facing difficulties in extension talks with both players, Brown himself spoke with the media discussing the negotiations. Brown noted that he expects to hear from both agents this afternoon, though he wasn’t willing to describe today as any sort of “deadline” for negotiations, instead simply noting, “It’s just that, for right now, we may decide to wait a little bit.” Both Tucker and Valdez are controlled through the end of the 2025 season, lessening the urgency to complete a deal this spring, though the price on both players only figures to increase the closer they get to free agency.

3. MLBTR Chats Today

A trio of live chats with readers are planned for today, headlined by our chat with former All Star second baseman Jason Kipnis, which is set to begin at 11:30am CT this morning. Kipnis spent almost all of his decade-long major league career in Cleveland, only departing during the shortened 2020 season, the final season of his big league career, to join his hometown Cubs. Kipnis’s best season took place in 2013 with Cleveland, where he .284/.366/.452, good for an wRC+ of 127. That performance earned him his first All-Star appearance and some down-ballot MVP votes. Click here to join the chat with Kipnis.

In addition to Kipnis’s chat, a pair of Offseason in Review chats are set to happen today. MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald will be hosting a Rays-centric chat here at 9:30am CT, while MLBTR’s Anthony Franco will be hosting an Astros-centric chat here in the late afternoon. Keep an eye out throughout the day today for those chats!

As we inch closer and closer to Opening Day, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. World Baseball Classic update

Another handful of games are on the docket for the World Baseball Classic today: Team Australia takes on Team Korea at 9pm CST, while Team Panama faces off against Team Netherlands at 10pm CST. Team Italy will face Team Cuba at 5am CST as well, but surely the game that will grab the most attention occurs at 4am CST, when Team Japan, with two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani on the mound, will face Team China. Australia vs. Korea and China vs. Japan will both be aired on FS1, while Panama vs. Netherlands will air on FS2 and Italy vs. Cuba can be live-streamed on Tubi.

2. deGrom to face hitters today:

Rangers GM Chris Young told reporters, including Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, that ace Jacob deGrom is set to throw live batting practice today for the first time this spring, as he’s been slowed by tightness in his side since the beginning of camp. Should today go well, Grant notes the likely next step would be for deGrom to begin pitching in spring games. Young has said the Rangers expect their newly signed ace to be ready for Opening Day, but Rangers fans will surely be keeping a close eye on how today’s session goes.

3. MLBTR chats today

MLBTR is excited to continue its live player chat series by welcoming three-time All Star Dan Haren for a live chat with readers at 6:30pm CT. Haren, who played for the Cardinals, A’s, Diamondbacks, Angels, Nationals, Dodgers, Marlins, and Cubs during his 13-year MLB career, posted a 3.75 ERA (109 ERA+) with a 3.78 FIP while racking up 2,013 strikeouts over his 2,419 2/3 career innings of work. The best stretch of his career came from 2007-2009, when Haren made three consecutive trips to the All Star game, posting a 3.21 ERA (139 ERA+) and 3.31 FIP in 668 innings of work that culminated in a fifth place finish in Cy Young award voting in 2009. Haren is currently working for the Diamondbacks, where he holds the title of “pitching strategist” in their baseball operations department.

At 5pm CT, MLBTR’s Anthony Franco will be hosting his weekly Wednesday chat, where you can ask any pressing questions you may have regarding your favorite team or the larger baseball world. Click this link to ask a question in advance or participate live.

With just over three weeks until Opening Day, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. World Baseball Classic Begins

The first game of the WBC is scheduled for tonight at 10pm CST, where Team Netherlands will face off against Team Cuba. Per the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s World Rankings, the Netherlands is the 7th ranked country in the world for their baseball program, whereas Cuba is the 8th ranked country. In 2017’s Classic, Cuba was eliminated in the second round while the Netherlands made it to the semifinals before falling to Puerto Rico in a 4-3, 11 inning loss. This year, Team Netherlands is highlighted by Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts, while White Sox center fielder Luis Robert highlights Team Cuba. Tonight’s game will be aired on FS1.

2. Mets’ fifth starter up in the air:

Given the news that Mets lefty Jose Quintana suffered a stress fracture in his fifth rib on his left side, it seems likely that the Mets will need to begin exploring alternatives for the fifth slot in their rotation behind Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Kodai Senga, and Carlos Carrasco. The top option for that role appears to be left-hander David Peterson, who posted a 3.83 ERA (101 ERA+) in 105 2/3 innings last year. Other options include right-hander Tylor Megill and fellow southpaw Joey Lucchesi. Megill excelled early last season with a 1.93 ERA in his first five starts of the season but began to battle injuries as the calendar flipped to May, spending most of the rest of the season on the injured list an struggling badly when he was able to take the mound. Lucchesi, meanwhile, missed almost the entire 2022 season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.

3. MLBTR Chats Today

Following yesterday’s chat with former Cubs GM and major-league pitcher Ed Lynch, the transcript of which you can read here, MLBTR is excited to welcome former major-league catcher Gary Bennett for a chat with readers. The journeyman catcher suited up for the Phillies, Mets, Rockies, Padres, Brewers, Nationals, Cardinals, and Dodgers during his 13-year career, which included a World Series championship with the Cardinals in 2006. Bennett appeared in 587 games at the big league level and slashed .241/.302/.328 (64 OPS+) over the course of his career. Be sure to tune in later this morning at 10am CST for Bennett’s live chat!

Other live chats today include Steve Adams’ weekly Tuesday chat — open for advance questions right now and kicking off at noon CT — as well as Darragh McDonald’s Orioles-focused chat, which is being held in conjunction with the Orioles offseason review he published yesterday. You can ask a question in advance for that chat as well.