The Opener News & Rumors

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

1. Will Cleveland name a new fifth starter today?

With Guardians right-hander Triston McKenzie at risk of missing as much as two months to open the season, the club will need announce a replacement in the rotation, a move that could be made as soon as today. Left-hander Konnor Pilkington, who posted a 3.88 ERA in 58 innings of work in the majors last season, could be the most logical option. Righties Hunter Gaddis and Xzavion Curry both made a pair of starts for the club in 2022 and are on the 40-man roster as well. Others on the 40-man roster include Jason Bilous and Joey Cantillo, though both have limited experience above Double-A. Chris Archer and Anibal Sanchez are among the depth starters who might be available to the Guardians on a minor league deal, but it seems unlikely that Cleveland would add a free agent at this point, as that pitcher wouldn’t be ready for Opening Day anyhow. It’s always possible that another option could present itself via waivers or a veteran opt-out, but the Guardians are known for their ability to turn out quality pitching and already have several in-house options.

2. Will Hiura and Ruf find new teams?

Yesterday, both Keston Hiura and Darin Ruf were designated for assignment by their respective teams. The two are both right-handed hitting first baseman with experience at other spots (Ruf in the outfield corners, Hiura at second base and in left field) who were late cuts from their club’s Opening Day bench mix. Hiura, 26, has youth on his side and posted a 115 wRC+ in 266 plate appearances last year, albeit with a concerning 41.7% strikeout rate. Ruf, meanwhile, had a solid track record of success with the Giants before a disastrous 29-game stint with the Mets following last year’s trade deadline. Despite their warts, both could be bench options for a team short on right-handed pop.

3. MLBTR Chats

A pair of live chats with MLBTR readers are planned for today. At 10am CT, MLBTR’s Anthony Franco is set to host a Cardinals-centric chat with readers in conjunction with St. Louis’s installment of our Offseason in Review series. You can ask a question in advance using this link, and the same link will allow you to participate live or review the transcript once the chat is complete. Meanwhile, at 1pm CT, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be hosting a live chat with an MLB-wide focus. Click here to ask a question in advance.

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

1. Phillies to announce Opening Day roster

As clubs all around baseball are making their final roster decisions ahead of Opening Day, Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters, including Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, that the club plans to announce the Opening Day roster at some point today. With Matt Strahm starting the fifth game of the season in place of Ranger Suarez, much of the intrigue today seems likely to come down to which players will make the Phillies Opening Day bench. With Darick Hall assured a spot on the roster following Rhys Hoskins‘s injury, there are two roster spots available for four players: Kody Clemens, Dalton Guthrie, Scott Kingery, and Jake Cave. The Phillies are also known to be interested in adding a right-handed hitting outfielder, which could boost the chances of Kingery or Guthrie should they not find an external solution.

2. Orioles making final rotation decisions

At the beginning of Spring Training, Orioles brass made clear that top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez could play his way into the Opening Day rotation this season. Now, with Opening Day on the horizon, Rodriguez appears to be one of three finalists for two rotation sots alongside Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells, as noted by The Athletic’s Dan Connolly, who notes that the decision will likely come by the end of the day today. All three have struggled this spring, with ERAs well over 5.00, though Rodriguez’s 7.04 figure is the worst of the bunch. Rodriguez has struck out 26.7% of batters faced this spring while walking 9.9%. While that strikeout rate stands slightly ahead of either of his competitors, Bradish (6.0%) and especially Wells (3.0%) both outshine Rodriguez’s walk rate.

3. Will more Rule 5 picks be returned in the coming days?

Yesterday, two picks in December’s Rule 5 draft were returned to their original clubs: the Mariners returned right-hander Chris Clarke to the Cubs, while the Padres returned left-hander Jose Lopez to the Rays. The Mets returned right-hander Zach Greene to the Yankees earlier this spring, but there are still 12 players who were selected in the major league phase of the draft who could be returned to their original clubs. One of those players, Nick Avila, is not expected to break camp with the White Sox, though the club could still look to make a trade with the Giants in order to keep Avila in the organization.

Headed into the final weekend before Opening Day, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Article XX(B) veterans on minor league deals have opt-out opportunity tomorrow:

Tomorrow is the first date that Article XX(B) free agents (i.e. six-plus years of MLB service, finished the 2022 season on a Major League roster or injured list) who settled for minor league deals will have that opportunity to opt out of those contracts. A few dozen players qualify for this distinction. With the looming opt-out date on the horizon, clubs will need to make decisions on whether or not to add members of this group to their 40-man roster soon. As such, certain camp battles and Opening Day roster decisions will come into focus over the next day, in addition to the free agent market potentially receiving an influx of veteran players looking for a new opportunity. Article XX(B) free agents who do not opt out tomorrow will also have opt-out opportunities on May 1 and June 1.

2. External options for the Phillies following Hoskins’s injury:

Yesterday, first baseman Rhys Hoskins tore his ACL, requiring surgery that puts his season in danger before it even begins. The Phillies have enough depth to weather the injury, with Darick Hall standing as a suitable first baseman while Alec Bohm or Nick Castellanos could slide over to first against southpaws if the lefty-swinging Hall is utilized as a platoon player. That said, it would certainly make sense if the Phillies were interested in adding a veteran right-handed first baseman to complement Hall, who has just 41 games of MLB experience.

Currently, Miguel Sano is the only free agent that fits that profile, but tomorrow players like Yuli Gurriel and Hanser Alberto could join the free agent market as XX(B) veterans with opt outs, providing the Phillies with additional options. Perhaps the most interesting potential addition the Phillies could make, however, would be Luke Voit, the slugging first baseman who’s been in camp with the Brewers on a non-roster invite. Voit had an out clause in his contract originally scheduled for last week but agreed to push that date back until today. If the Brewers don’t add him to the 40-man roster by the end of the day, he’ll have the opportunity to opt out and could be a fit for the Phillies if he does.

3. Lynch undergoing tests:

Royals lefty Daniel Lynch exited yesterday’s game with discomfort in his left shoulder, and manager Matt Quatraro told reporters, including MLB.com’s Anne Rogers, that Lynch would undergo testing to determine the nature of the discomfort. Lynch made 27 starts for the Royals last year, posting a 5.13 ERA in 131 2/3 innings of work. With the offseason additions of Jordan Lyles and Ryan Yarbrough, Lynch did not figure to be a member of the Opening Day rotation. However, an early-spring injury to Yarbrough opened the door for Lynch to recapture a rotation spot, with Yarbrough seemingly ticketed for multi-inning relief. Should Lynch be forced to miss time, that could open the door for Yarbrough to return to the rotation, or allow fellow southpaw Kris Bubic to claim the spot rather than head to Triple-A to open the season.

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

1. WBC players return to camp

With the World Baseball Classic now in the rearview mirror, many of its late-round participants are set to return to camp today to participate in the final week of Spring Training with their MLB clubs. Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and J.T. Realmuto of the Phillies and Paul Goldschmidt and Lars Nootbaar of the Cardinals are among a few of the players who participated in the WBC final Tuesday night who have returned to camp and are expected to participate in spring games today.

2. Will any last minute extensions happen before Opening Day?

Opening Day is fast approaching, and players often look at the start of the regular season as a deadline for extension discussions. Cristian Javier, Manny Machado, and Corbin Carroll are among the players who signed extensions throughout the spring to this point, but plenty of other players have been rumored to participate in extension talks throughout the spring as well, including Josh Hader, Nico Hoerner, and Aaron Nola. The Cardinals are also known to have interest in extending some players in their starting rotation, while Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti has implied the club is looking into extending some of its young players. Of course, there’s always the possibility that an extension that hasn’t been rumored publicly is in the works as well; neither Carroll nor Keibert Ruiz were in the rumor mill much ahead of their extensions this spring, after all.

3. MLBTR Chats Today

A pair of morning live chats are on the docket today for MLBTR readers. At 9am CT, Tim Dierkes will be hosting a Cubs-centric live chat in conjunction with the Cubs edition of our Offseason in Review series. You can click here to submit a question in advance, participate live when the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat has concluded.

Then, at 10am CT, MLBTR is excited to welcome recently retired catcher Ryan Lavarnway for a live chat with readers. Lavarnway had a journeyman’s career in the big leagues, suiting up for eight major league teams across parts of ten seasons, though 97 of his 165 career games in the big leagues came as a member of the Red Sox, who drafted him in the sixth round of the 2008 draft. Lavarnway ended his career with a slash line of .217/.272/.345 in the big leagues while posting a .792 OPS in 690 career games at the Triple-A Level. You can click here to submit a question for Lavarnway, participate live, or read the transcript of the chat once it has concluded.

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

1. Storybook ending to the WBC

Last night’s World Baseball Classic final proved to be an instant classic as Team Japan beat Team USA 3-2. Japan, undefeated during the tournament, jumped out to an early lead. Trea Turner‘s WBC-record fifth home run and an eighth-inning bomb from Kyle Schwarber following a 10-pitch at bat against Yu Darvish made it a one-run game headed into the ninth, when Shohei Ohtani took the mound to close out the game. After a leadoff walk to Jeff McNeil, Ohtani induced a double play from Mookie Betts to bring his Angels teammate and fellow superstar Mike Trout to the plate as both the potential final out and tying run. Trout and Ohtani battled to a full count before Trout ultimately struck out swinging on a slider, giving Japan their third WBC championship.

Trout and Ohtani are both planning to play in the WBC again when it returns in 2026. “I already told [Team USA] I’m doing the next one, so I’m already in,” Trout said on FS1’s pregame show last night. “If I’m DHing, playing left field, whatever they want, I’m in, I’m in.” Ohtani, the WBC MVP, called last night’s win “the best moment in my life” and said he would “love to enter [the WBC] again.”

2. Tweaks to new rules incoming

Yesterday, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred told reporters, including The Athletic’s Britt Ghiroli, that adjustments to the new rules being implemented for the 2023 season were on the way ahead of Opening Day. These adjustments, which are being made at the behest of the MLBPA, are expected to be fairly minor. Even minor changes would have to be implemented very soon, as with barely a week left before Opening Day, teams and players will want as much time as possible to acclimate to any changes made. Manfred notes that the changes will be announced in the coming days, so clubs could be informed as soon as today.

3. MLBTR chats today

MLBTR’s Anthony Franco is hosting a pair of live chats with readers today. First up, at 10am CT, is a Braves-centric chat in conjunction with the Braves edition of MLBTR’s Offseason in Review series. You can click here to submit a question in advance, and that same link allows you to follow along when the chat goes live or read the transcript when it’s completed. Later today, at 5pm CT, Anthony will also be hosting his weekly live chat with an MLB-wide focus. You can click here to leave a question, participate live, or read the transcript of that chat.

With just nine days remaining 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 World Baseball Classic final is today. After a 6-5 walk off win in the bottom of the ninth against Team Mexico, the undefeated Team Japan moves on to the final round to face Team USA. Japan, of course, sports two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, as USA counters with not only Ohtani’s teammate Mike Trout, but also Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, who leads all WBC players with four home runs in just 19 at bats. With the game set to air at 6pm CT tonight on FS1, the biggest question remaining is: Will Ohtani pitch? The team has left the answer up in the air publicly, naming lefty Shota Imanaga as the starter for tonight’s game even as Ohtani admits that it would be difficult to get warm in the bullpen while also batting in the heart of the order.

2. When will Profar be made official?

Jurickson Profar, the last top-50 free agent on the market this offseason, recently signed a one-year pact with the Rockies, though Colorado has yet to make the deal official. While the Rockies have a full 40-man roster, making the Profar signing official likely will not be impacted by that, as players such as Brendan Rodgers and Lucas Gilbreath are already ticketed for the 60-day IL. Still, with Profar expected to arrive in camp sometime this week, it seems reasonable to expect the signing to be made official in the coming days as Profar prepares to be the everyday left fielder in Colorado. The timing of the move is also notable given the simple fact that Opening Day is just over a week away. Profar got 16 plate appearances in with the Netherlands during the WBC and went 3-for-13 with a homer and three walks, but he’d still benefit from as many spring at-bats as possible.

3. MLBTR Chats Today

In conjunction with the Padres edition of our Offseason in Review series, MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald will be hosting a Padres-centric live chat with readers later today at 10am CT. You can click here to leave a question in advance, and that same link will take you to the chat when it begins or allow you to read the transcript afterwards. In addition, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be hosting his  weekly chat with an MLB-wide focus at 1pm CT. You can click here to leave a question, participate live, or read the transcript of Steve’s chat.

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.