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Pat Murphy's favorite metaphor for his own job is that of a bus driver. He's setting direction, and he bears ultimate responsibility for staying on the road and getting to the destination. However, he's cognizant of the fact that the most important people on the bus are the ones he's ferrying. Though his smirking acerbity and his penchant for storytelling and name-dropping might look like self-aggrandizement, Murphy's self-conception is as a servant leader. He understands that his job is to cultivate the talent of each individual on his roster, but it's also to ensure that the team is not unduly dependent on any one person—be that a player, a coach, Matt Arnold, or Murphy himself. When the Brewers hired Murphy to take over for Craig Counsell, it was a perilous moment in the progress of a would-be regional hegemon. Counsell had guided the team so well for the previous decade that many ascribed the small-market Crew's improbably consistent success to Counsell, so when he defected to the team's top rivals, it looked like Milwaukee was in trouble. The team was losing Counsell; they would have to survive 2024 without either Corbin Burnes or Brandon Woodruff; and Christian Yelich was in apparent decline. We know, now, that they had a deeper, abiding organizational competence that allowed them to weather those losses. The temptation might be to believe that that was true all along, and that there was never a real reason to fear the decline of the Brewers dynasty. In truth, though, that winter, even the organization itself had its doubts. The team was already doing a lot of things right—coaching players well, scouting exceptionally well, and making good, patient decisions at a front-office level—that made what they were doing more sustainable than it looked. Murphy, though, was the perfect hire, because he's facilitated the profusion of that excellence all the way to the majors and the continuity that has made the team more resilient to roster turnover than they were even under Counsell. It helped that he'd spent years at Counsell's shoulder, and was able to retain all the key coaches who helped the team be so much better than the sum of its parts. It helped, too, that he had spent most of the three decades before joining the Brewers coaching college baseball. There, roster turnover isn't optional. There, you have to have a system, and you must quickly learn not to take that as an exercise in egomania—but rather, as a dedication to principles and precepts that extend beyond the organization's reliance on any set of players. It's a balance you have to strike. It's about having an identity into which you seek to assimilate players, and about seeking players who will assimilate smoothly, but not becoming so rigid that you miss opportunities to bring in or empower great players who aren't natural fits for that identity. Not every manager even tries to be the locus of that identity in the modern game. Many of those who try to do so fail, leaning too far either toward accommodation or strict adherence to principle. Murphy has proved to be superb at that balancing act, though, and it has much to do with how long he waited for this chance and the variety of experiences he had before it came. "I think it probably helped," the skipper said of his time coaching Notre Dame and Arizona State, as he takes on the challenge of managing players much richer, much better and with much more self-actualized self-interest than college kids have. "Everything we go through like that should help. I see the correlation there that you do. You have to go, 'Ok, this is the ingredients I'm working with now.' Then, what do you do?" That's a mindset focused on adapting to his personnel, which Murphy knows will be forever changing. However, he also has a parallel mindset in which he expects his personnel to adapt to his system. The front office favors excellent defenders, patient hitters and fast runners, not because those are areas of market inefficiency—maybe they are, to some extent, but remember, this same front office seemed to endlessly collect plodding power hitters until a few years ago—but because Murphy likes them. He believes those are winning traits, and in particular, he believes that players like that who commit themselves to certain behaviors—situational swing decisions, excellent fundamentals on advanced plays, and seriousness of purpose—contribute to winning in ways that go beyond the box score. His reputation runs toward the scrappy underdog shtick, which is partly a conscious effort on his part. But Murphy likes stars. He likes power hitters. He likes power arms. He just doesn't stop with any of those traits. He craves them and celebrates them, but they don't satisfy him. Because Murphy will reward a player whose preparation, daily intensity and concentration augment their game—occasionally, even at the expense of a player he knows has a higher upside—his charges quickly learn to meet those expectations. With Murphy in the cockpit (or the driver's seat), the front office feels safe turning over the roster, even when it means trading players the skipper considered favorites. He admitted that trading Caleb Durbin "still hurts," but is on board with the udnerlying rationale for it. Swapping out Durbin, Isaac Collins and Freddy Peralta (among others) this winter gave the team better depth and more balance, and Murphy sees what he itches to see in players when he looks at new acquisitions Brandon Sproat, Jett Williams and David Hamilton. Entropy is still coming for the Brewers. The parade of rules changes from MLB continues to infringe on their competitive edges, and the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement this winter could hurt them badly, even though fans only superficially familiar with the economics of the game might expect the opposite. This team has undergone quite a bit of change since last fall, and the national baseball media doesn't believe they've improved. If anything, the numbers and the punditry say, they've gone backward. Murphy doesn't believe that. Neither does the team, and neither do I. While keeping the team's recent level of success going under their current circumstances will be difficult, I think it's much more likely than those not closely familiar with the team realize. They have depth and balance, and they have a system. It's unorthodox, but it's an excellent insulator against the erosion of their greatness. Murphy is still driving the bus, and he and the team have selected a direct route. The gas tank is full, and there are plans for refueling. They have supplies on board to withstand whatever adversity they encounter. This team isn't feeling the pulling-apart most teams like them would be feeling by now, and a great share of the credit goes to the two-time defending National League Manager of the Year. View the full article

The last round of roster cuts have occurred, so let's introduce the 2026 Boston Red Sox starters! The Boston Red Sox starting rotation is anchored by Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, Ranger Suárez, Brayan Bello, with the fifth spot potentially held by Johan Oviedo. The starting lineup features key players including Trevor Story, Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran, and Marcelo Mayer. Let's dive in! View the full article

A lot of the camp drama has been locked up. All that's left is to find out if Craig Kimbrell will make the Opening Day roster (hint: he won't) and who the fifth outfielder will be. Mets Transactions, 3/20/2026 "table { margin: 2px; width: auto; border: 1px solid black;} th { padding: 2px; line-height: 1; max-width: 90px; border: 3px solid black; font-family: ""Arial"", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; color: #FFFFFF; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; background-color: #000000; } td { padding: 6px; line-height: 1; max-width: 90px; border: 3px solid black; font-family: ""Arial"", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;}" GOING COMING Transferred to Minor-League Camp, Projected to Open Season in Syracuse on IL with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Transferred to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Syracuse Optioned to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Syracuse Signed away from Durango (Mexican League) to Minor-League Contract, Projected for Brooklyn Starting Pitchers Relief Pitchers Relief Pitchers Infielders Robert Stock Kevin Herget Austin Warren Alejandro Urias L/R DoB: 32833 High Level: MLB (2025) L/R DoB: 1991-04-03 High Level: MLB (2025) R/R DoB: 1996-02-05 High Level: MLB (2025) R/R DoB: 2002-06-15 High Level: Mexican League (2025) We had already removed Robert Stock from our roster arrays, as he had been reported to have been suffering from thoracic outlet syndrome, which is a friend to no pitcher. We do not know what treatment option he is going for, but we wish him well as he confronts the condition that felled Matt Harvey. The farming out of Kevin Herget and Austin Warren sets the Mets' bullpen. The Mets have a veteran relief staff, and any competition was going to be for a spot opened due to an injury that did not arise. Any room for Craig Kimbrel would have likely come at the expense of Bryan Hudson. Hudson had performed pretty poorly in spring games, but he is out of options and is one of two lefty relief options in the pen. While there has not been a transaction regarding Kimbrel, the veteran (and quite possibly future Hall-of-Famer) has been informed he is not making the squad. Alejandro Urias is 24 and has never played in affiliated ball or even in the stateside indy leagues, having spent his whole career in the Mexican summer and winter leagues. Judging from his productivity, he has clearly been dazzling them with his glove south of the border. Whatever virtues he brings to the organization, Mets Roster Central has never seen that baseball cap he is wearing in his profile pic, and we are utterly beguiled by it. If you know where we can get such a splendid item, please drop us a line. Mets Transactions, 3/21/2026 "table { margin: 2px; width: auto; border: 1px solid black;} th { padding: 2px; line-height: 1; max-width: 90px; border: 3px solid black; font-family: ""Arial"", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; color: #FFFFFF; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; background-color: #000000; } td { padding: 6px; line-height: 1; max-width: 90px; border: 3px solid black; font-family: ""Arial"", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;}" GOING NEUTRAL Optioned to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Binghamton Transferred from Bullpen Transferred from Rotation Catchers Starting Pitchers Relief Pitchers Hayden Senger Kodai Senga Sean Manaea R/R DoB: 1997-04-03 High Level: MLB (2025) L/R DoB: 1993-01-30 High Level: MLB (2025) R/L DoB: 1992-02-01 High Level: MLB (2025) Hayden Senger's competition was to sustain his current role as the first catcher in case of injury. His competition in this role is Ben Rortvedt, and Rorgasm remaining in big-league camp while Hayden is shipped out must feel like bad news, but maybe the Mets are just showcasing Rortvedt for a potential trade to a team looking to shore up at the end of camp. Teams rarely keep four catchers on the 40-Player Roster, and things are crowded right now at catcher in the upper minors. A lot has been written about the Mets announcing their scheduled starters for the first five days of the schedule, and Sean Manaea's name not appearing there. Don't make too much of that. Look for him to get one or two relief appearances and then go back to the starting grind. If injury does not make a decision for them, the Mets could continue with swinging the last two spots in the rotation back and forth to the bullpen, as their belief seems to be that Kodai Senga needs something like the once-a-week appearance rate he enjoyed in Japan. Carson Benge, Christian Pache, and Mike Tauchman remain in camp trying to elbow out stubborn Canadian Jared Young for the fifth outfield spot. As of publishing time, though, Tauchman appears to be getting bad news about a torn meniscus, so that looks like a three-man battle. Your Mets Coaching Staff "table { margin: 2px; width: auto; border: 1px solid black;} th { padding: 1px; line-height: 1.1; max-width: 60px; border: 3px solid black; font-family: ""Arial"", sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; color: #FFFFFF; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; background-color: #000000; } td { padding: 1px; line-height: 1; max-width: 60px; border: 3px solid black; font-family: ""Arial"", sans-serif; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom; Manager Bench Coach Pitching Coach Hitting Coordinator Third Base Coach First Base Coach Bullpen Coach Ass't Pitching Coach Carlos Mendoza Kai Correa Justin Willard Jeff Albert Tim Leiper Gilbert Gomez José Rosado Dan McKinney DoB: 1979-11-27 DoB: 1989-07-14 DoB: 1990-09-09 DoB: 1992-08-16 DoB: 1996-07-19 DoB: 1992-03-08 DoB: 1974-11-09 DoB: 1989-06-06 Hitting Coach Strategy Coach Catching Coach Coaching Assistant Bat'g Practice Pitcher Equipment Manager Bullpen Catchers Bullpen Catchers Troy Snitker Danny Barnes J.P. Arencibia Rafael Fernandez Kevin Mahoney Kevin Kierst Eric Langill Dave Racaniello DoB: 1988-12-05 DoB: 1989-10021 DoB: 1986-01-05 DoB: 1988-08-03 DoB: 1987-05-11 DoB: 1964-07-09 DoB: 1979-04-09 DoB: 1978-06-03 Your Mets Training Staff "table { margin: 2px; width: auto; border: 1px solid black;} th { padding: 1px; line-height: 1; max-width: 60px; border: 3px solid black; font-family: ""Arial"", sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; color: #FFFFFF; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; background-color: #000000; } td { padding: 1px; line-height: 1; max-width: 60px; border: 3px solid black; font-family: ""Arial"", sans-serif; font-size: 9px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;} Director of Player Health Head Athletic Trainer Assistant Athletic Trainer Reconditioning Coordinator Reconditioning Therapist Head Performance Coach Assistant Performance Coach Performance Coordinator Brian Chicklo Joseph Golia Bryan Baca Sean Bardanett Josh Bickel Dustin Clarke Tanner Miracle Jeremy Chiang DoB: 1972-07-17 DoB: 1978-??-?? DoB: Circa 1980 DoB: 1988-06-23 DoB: 1996-??-?? DoB: 1987-??-?? DoB: 1991-??-?? DoB: ????-??-?? Your 2026 New York Mets "table { margin: 2px; width: auto; border: 1px solid black;} th { padding: 2px; line-height: 1; max-width: 90px; border: 3px solid black; font-family: ""Arial"", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; color: #FFFFFF; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; background-color: #000000; } td { padding: 6px; line-height: 1; max-width: 90px; border: 3px solid black; font-family: ""Arial"", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;} Starting Pitchers Clay Holmes Nolan McLean Freddy Peralta David Peterson Kodai Senga R/R DoB: 1993-03-27 R/R DoB: 2001-07-24 R/R DoB: 2996-06-04 L/L DoB: 1995-09-03 L/R DoB: 1993-01-30 Relief Pitchers Huascar Brazobán Luis Garcia Bryan Hudson Sean Manaea Tobias Myers Brooks Raley Luke Weaver R/R DoB: 1989-10-15 R/R DoB: 1987-01-30 L/L DoB: 1997-05-08 R/L DoB: 1992-02-01 R/R DoB: 1998-08-05 L/L DoB: 1988-06-29 R/R DoB: 1993-08-21 Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders Devin Williams Francisco Alvarez Luís Torrens Bo Bichette Vidal Brujan Francisco Lindor Jorge Polanco R/R DoB: 1994-09-21 R/R DoB: 2001-11-01 R/R DoB: 1996-05-02 R/R DoB: 1998-03-05 S/R DoB: 1998-02-09 S/R DoB: 1993-11-14 S/R DoB: 1999-11-13 Infielders Outfielders Marcus Semien Mark Vientos Brett Baty Luis Robert, Jr. Juan Soto Tyrone Taylor Jared Young R/R DoB: 1990-09-17 R/R DoB: 1993-12-11 L/R DoB: 1999-11-13 R/R DoB: 1997-08-03 L/L DoB: 36093 R/R DoB: 34356 L/R DoB: 1995-07-09 Also on 40-Player Roster "table { margin: 2px; width: auto; border: 1px solid black;} th { padding: 2px; line-height: 1; max-width: 90px; border: 3px solid black; font-family: ""Arial"", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; color: #FFFFFF; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; background-color: #000000; } td { padding: 6px; line-height: 1; max-width: 90px; border: 3px solid black; font-family: ""Arial"", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;} Starting Pitchers Starting Pitchers Relief Pitchers Tylor Megill Christian Scott Jonah Tong Alex Carrillo Reed Garrett Joey Gerber Justin Hagenman R/R DoB: 1995-07-28 R/R DoB: 1999-06-15 R/R DoB: 2003-06-19 R/R DoB: 1997-06-06 R/R DoB: 1993-01-02 R/R DoB: 1997-05-03 R/R DoB: 1996-10-07 On 60-Day Injured List with torn right UCL. In minor-league camp. Projected for Syracuse. In minor-league camp. Projected for Syracuse. In minor-league camp. Projected for St. Lucie. On 60-Day Injured List — right UCL surgery and nerve relocation surgery. Projected for Brooklyn. On 60 Day Injured List with fractured rib. Relief Pitchers Catchers Richard Lovelady A.J. Minter Dedniel Núñez Jonathan Pintaro Dylan Ross Austin Warren Ben Rortvedt L/L DoB: 1995-07-07 L/L DoB: 1993-09-02 R/R DoB: 1996-06-05 R/R DoB: 1997-11-07 R/R DoB: 2000-09-01 R/R DoB: 1996-02-05 L/R DoB: 1997-09-25 Projected for Syracuse, despite being out of options. Expected to open season on Injured List — left UCL tear. On 60-Day Injured List — right UCL surgery. In minor-league camp. Projected for Binghamton. In minor-league camp. Projected for St. Lucie. In minor-league camp. Projected for St. Lucie. Projected for Syracuse. Out of options. Catchers Infielders Outfielders Outfielders Hayden Senger Ronny Mauricio MJ Melendez Nick Morabito R/R DoB: 1997-04-03 S/R DoB: 2001-04-04 L/R DoB: 1993-11-29 R/R DoB: 2003-05-07 In minor-league camp. Projected for Binghamton. In minor-league camp. Projected for Syracuse. In minor-league camp. Projected for Syracuse. In minor-league camp. Projected for Binghamton. Also in Camp "table { margin: 2px; width: auto; border: 1px solid black;} th { padding: 2px; line-height: 1; max-width: 90px; border: 3px solid black; font-family: ""Arial"", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; color: #FFFFFF; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; background-color: #000000; } td { padding: 6px; line-height: 1; max-width: 90px; border: 3px solid black; font-family: ""Arial"", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;} Relief Pitchers Catchers Outfielders Outfielders Outfielders Craig Kimbrel Austin Barnes Carson Benge Cristian Pache " Mike Tauchman R/R DoB: 1988-05-28 R/R DoB: 1989-12-28 L/R DoB: 2003-01-20 R/R DoB: 1998-11-19 L/L DoB: 1990-12-03 Projected for Syracuse. Projected for Binghamton. Projected for Binghamton Projected for Binghamton Projected for Syracuse View the full article

Not that the San Diego Padres needed more depth in their bullpen, but you can never have too many arms. But this one will go into the bank in hopes of a future payoff. Veteran right-hander Jose Leclerc, who has closer experience but missed most of 2025 with an injury, is close to signing a minor-league contract with the San Diego Padres, MLB insider Mike Rodriguez reported Monday. The 32-year-old had lat surgery in August and is still working his way back, projected to return to action in July. To show his progress, Leclerc threw a bullpen session recently for a handful of teams. Leclerc pitched in just 10 games and nine innings last season for the A's, with his last appearance in late April. Before that, he had spent his entire eight-year career with the Texas Rangers, including being a big part of the bullpen that helped secure the 2023 World Series championship, getting four saves that postseason. He has 41 saves in 360 career games, posting a 3.54 FIP. He has struggled with walks in his career, with a 13.1% walk rate, but excels at strikeouts with a 30.8% rate. His walk rate was 11.1% in 2024. View the full article

On the eve of a new season, and just months removed from a World Series that came down to the final outs, the Toronto Blue Jays have doubled down on the leadership group that guided them there. The club has extended executive vice president and general manager Ross Atkins through the 2031 season and manager John Schneider through 2028, removing any lingering questions about direction or stability. Both were entering the final year of their contracts. The conversation surrounding this leadership group is far different from what it was just a year ago. Coming off a disappointing 2024 season, criticism was loud and persistent. Contract talks with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had stalled. The roster felt incomplete. Many were openly questioning whether Atkins, and even president Mark Shapiro, should survive another reset. Fast forward 12 months. The Blue Jays won 94 games, captured the American League East, and came within one game of a World Series title. The offseason has been more decisive. Now, the organization has publicly committed to the architects behind the turnaround. (Shapiro was extended through 2030 in December.) The early 2025 skepticism has faded. Frankly, it is hard to argue with the extensions. Not because of one hot season, but because the blueprint is finally clear, and it is working. Since taking over midway through the 2022 season, Schneider has done three things that matter. He has won. He has kept the room together. He has learned and, in doing so, become a better, more confident manager. After back-to-back postseason disappointments and a last-place finish in 2024, Schneider guided a 20-win turnaround that ended with a division title and a World Series appearance. That rebound matters just as much as the pennant itself. It showed adaptability. It showed credibility. It showed that the players never stopped listening. Schneider is not Bobby Cox. He is closer to Cito Gaston in temperament and style, a players' manager who emphasizes communication, trust and accountability. That approach has carried real weight in a clubhouse that has been under constant scrutiny. He is also as “Blue Jays” as a modern manager gets. Drafted by the organization, Schneider coached his way through Lansing, New Hampshire, and Buffalo, managing Guerrero and Bo Bichette during their formative years. He won an Eastern League championship with them. He knows how his players think, how they respond and when to push. That continuity matters. It is a competitive advantage. Yes, his October resume is not spotless. The 2022 decision to pull Kevin Gausman. The 2023 Wild Card hook of José Berríos. Those moments will always be part of the conversation. But last season showed growth. Schneider was more willing to adjust. More willing to trust the moment. More comfortable blending preparation with feel. Schneider now joins Gaston as the only managers to take the Blue Jays to the World Series. That alone places him in rare company. Gaston owns the rings. Cox lit the fuse. John Gibbons provided stability. Charlie Montoyo nurtured a transition. Schneider’s differentiator is the blend. Homegrown relationships, modern analytics and a clubhouse that still believes in his voice. Hired in December 2015 after the Alex Anthopoulos era, Atkins inherited a roster built to win immediately and the responsibility to extend that window without burning it down. That was not always clean. The rebuild bottomed out in 2018 and 2019. The offense stalled at times in 2023 and 2024. Some free agent bets did not work. Tanner Roark still looms large. But judged over a decade, Atkins’ approach has been consistent and increasingly effective. This has not been about one franchise-altering swing. It has been about layering. Big-ticket pitching investments like Hyun Jin Ryu, Gausman and Chris Bassitt. Opportunistic moves like Robbie Ray. Smart, control-conscious trades like Berríos and the extension that followed. Defensive upgrades that reshaped the club’s identity. The result is a roster built on pitching, run prevention and depth. A model that seems to have raised the floor and survived October. Toronto’s most successful general manager remains Pat Gillick, whose patience earned him the nickname “Stand Pat” and two championships. Atkins has been at times more aggressive, and increasingly so. The recent additions of Dylan Cease and Kazuma Okamoto reflect a front office that now recognizes its window and is willing to act within it. Atkins’ tenure is not flawless. But the infrastructure is stronger. The farm system is recovering. The major league club is built to contend annually, not sporadically. No one surpasses Gillick without a championship. Even then, not sure you can ever really surpass him. But Atkins has already separated himself from the long post-Gillick drought, and a title would move him into a very different historical tier. The criticism of extensions after a great season is familiar. You are paying for what already happened. In this case, the Blue Jays are paying for what they believe comes next. Schneider has shown he can evolve. Atkins has shown he can build sustainably. The organization, for the first time in years, feels aligned from top to bottom. That consistency and stability also matter beyond the field. For a fan base that has lived through constant resets, the message is continuity with purpose. Players know who is in charge. Coaches know the plan. Fans know what the organization believes in. That clarity reduces the noise, sharpens accountability, allows decisions to be made and players to play. It’s not flashy, but it is how good organizations turn competitive seasons into eras. Time, patience and focusing on the details ultimately separate contenders from champions. Championships end debates. That has always been true. You play the games to win. Last season’s pennant put John Schneider and Ross Atkins on that path. Today’s announcements are a bet that they will finish the climb. If they do, their legacies will not be about patience or perseverance. They will be about building, and sustaining, something that finally lasts. View the full article

While it has seemed like the obvious decision since the San Diego Padres began spring training, the team took its time in formally naming the Opening Day starting pitcher. Right-hander Nick Pivetta, the Friars' best pitcher in the 2025 season, was named the starter for Thursday's season-opening game at Petco Park against the Detroit Tigers and Tarik Skubal, the winner of the last two AL Cy Young Awards. First pitch for Opening Day is 1:10 p.m. The remainder of the matchups for the Tigers series are Padres right-hander Michael King vs. Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez on Friday at 6:40 p.m. and Friars right-hander Randy Vasquez vs. Detroit right-hander Jack Flaherty. The Padres are off Sunday, then opening a three-game series vs. the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park. Right-handers Walker Buehler and German Marquez are expected to make their Padres debuts in that series. View the full article

Ben Brown doesn't lack confidence. The tweaks he made this winter changed the righty's profile as a pitcher, and he firmly believes that he's tapped into the fullness of his potential for the first time. "This is the best I have ever http://been," Brown told 104.3 The Score's Bruce Levine earlier this month. "It should be clear to anyone [who] has watched me. So regardless of anyone’s opinion of me, it shouldn’t change how I feel about myself.” That comment spoke to Brown's fierce desire to be part of the big-league team as they head north this week, and on Monday, that wish was fulfilled. The Cubs optioned Javier Assad to Triple-A Iowa, shortly after having reassigned Corbin Martin and Collin Snider to minor-league camp. Brown has made the Opening Day roster, as the team's second long reliever. He and Colin Rea will be the team's fallback starter options, as well as going multiple innings at a time out of the bullpen when needed. Assad will be assigned what would have been the alternative role available to Brown, serving as a starter in Iowa and staying ready for an injury that might shelve one of the team's top five starters. Brown's sinker garnered lots of attention right from the start of camp this year, and it seems to have transformed his game in an interesting way. More important than the addition of the sinker, though, is the fact that his fastball has sat at 97 MPH this spring, after averaging under 96 MPH last season. His heater works so much better at the higher end of his velocity range than at the lower end that seeing his velocity tick up carries more weight than it would for a typical pitcher. That's borne out by the results he's achieved this spring, despite what seems like a degradation in shape on the four-seamer that has diminished his grades within some stuff models. Here's a comparison of his stuff from 2025 to what he's shown this spring, in a vacuum. Interestingly, in studying video, Brown doesn't seem to have lowered his arm slot this year, which makes it somewhat difficult to explain the loss of carry on his four-seamer and the decreased depth on his knuckle-curve. With the sinker in the mix, though, the four-seamer is running less to his arm side, so there's more consistency in his shape. Brown appears to be less focused on maximizing extension and getting down the mound this year, having exchanged some of that intensity of movement for better posture at release. That's led to better command and the newfound ability to differentiate the sinker from the four-seamer. As a result, while each pitch might grade worse in certain computer models, Brown is missing more bats this spring. The difference lies as much in the variability in locations he can reach with his altered arsenal as in the sheer power or intensity of his stuff. Here's where he located each of his pitches against both lefties and righties in 2025. Here's where he's located his pitches this spring. That he's locating the four-seamer higher than he did last year (to both lefties and righties) only makes it an even more intriguing mystery that he's getting less carry, because on average, the higher a pitcher's target, the higher their induced vertical break will be. However, it also underscores that Brown's change in posture and mechanical efficiency increases his ability to hit specific targets, and the introduction of the sinker creates a whole different look for right-handed batters than he offered last season. This is the best version of Brown—not just (or even mainly) because of the new pitch, but because he's throwing harder and locating better at the same time. He did that all spring while stretching out with an eye toward starting, so if he can get the fastball to tick up still higher in relief—without giving back the improved control and execution—things can go another level higher. For now, the Cubs made the right choice, because Assad is the guy who needs to stay ready for a mid-season rotation assignment. Brown, if things go perfectly, should stay in the bullpen and continue to cultivate the improvements we glimpsed this year during Cactus League play. View the full article

How deep are the Brewers in center field? Put it this way: In 2025, they set a team record for wins in the regular season despite their top two center fielders from 2024 missing substantial time, and turning to what was arguably a worst-case scenario at the position. What is their center field situation like in 2026? Let’s take a look. The Starter: Garrett Mitchell Mitchell was Milwaukee’s first-round pick in the truncated 2020 draft. His offensive profile is tied to his high-end speed and power, and he has a strong arm and plays excellent overall defense in the middle of the outfield. When he’s been on the field, Mitchell’s been productive. In 141 career games, he’s posted a 112 OPS+ and 3.6 Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball Reference. That WAR total would have been third on the team among position players in 2025. The problem is that these 141 games have been scattered across four seasons, from his 2022 debut to 2025. Mitchell has also shown vulnerability to high heat when he does play. He’s good at forcing pitchers to pitch to spots where he can crush the ball, though. He just has to keep himself on the field, and not the injured list. The Backups Brandon Lockridge Jackson Chourio Sal Frelick In addition to Lockridge, who has flashed some serious potential of his own in spring training, both Jackson Chourio and Sal Frelick would be very capable starters in center field if needed. Chourio, of course, spent most of his time there in 2025. Lockridge unlocked more offensive potential over the offseason and could end up being an excellent secondary return on the Devin Williams trade. He was acquired for Nestor Cortes, who came over from the Yankees. Chourio and Frelick are slated to be the starters in left field and right field, respectively, but both came up through the farm system primarily as center fielders, and most major-league teams would love to have them in center. Other 40-Man Roster Options Blake Perkins Steward Berroa Akil Baddoo In 2024, Blake Perkins was a Gold Glove finalist and arguably the team’s primary center fielder. He’s now going to be at Triple-A Nashville, partially because of Lockridge’s spring breakout. Baddoo and Berroa are more likely to get their center field starts in Nashville, if they aren’t released. Both players hover close enough to the fringe of the 40-man roster that if the team makes an external addition, it could come at their expense. Prospects Luis Lara Braylon Payne Jose Anderson Kenny Fenelon Eduardo Garcia Lara is an intriguing mix of Perkins and Frelick, likely to start in Nashville and be knocking on the door to the majors. Payne has a potentially dynamic bat, but he will need to cut down on his strikeouts and stay healthy; he's far from the big leagues. Anderson and Fenelon are raw talents who were international free agents. Garcia, at one point, was Milwaukee’s Shortstop of the Future, but has been bypassed by Cooper Pratt, Jesús Made, and Luis Peña. Still, he's turned himself into a valuable utility player who can competently handle center field, among other positions. Overview The Brewers will have plenty of depth, and should be able to count on excellent production at the plate, on the basepaths, and in the field from whoever ends up as the primary center fielder in 2026. If it has to come from Chourio and/or Frelick, though, that production could come at the cost of value in the corner spots. View the full article

Some players can make or break a season, and the 2026 Twins have a few names that fit that mold perfectly. From Royce Lewis’ upside to Luke Keaschall’s injury risk, and Anthony Banda’s high-pressure experience, these X-factors could determine how the year plays out.View the full article

That might sound like a joke at first. Baseball players do not suddenly lose height over the offseason. But thanks to a new league-wide measurement system tied to the Automated Ball Strike challenge system, several members of the Minnesota Twins are officially a little shorter this spring. If this feels like a throwback, it should. Anyone who has been around a high school roster sheet remembers how flexible listed heights could be. Players stood a little taller, wore their cleats, and rounded up an inch or two when no one was looking. That era is effectively over at the major-league level. With the implementation of ABS, accuracy is no longer optional. Why MLB Suddenly Cares About Exact Height The ABS challenge system is coming to the big leagues, after several seasons of testing in the minors. Rather than relying solely on the home plate umpire, teams will now be able to challenge certain ball-or-strike calls, with a computer-generated strike zone determining the result. That strike zone is not one-size-fits-all. It's customized to each hitter, based on their height. The top and bottom of the zone are calculated using a player’s stance and physical measurements, which means even the smallest discrepancy can impact whether a pitch is ruled a ball or a strike. When you consider that some calls come down to the stitches of the ball, precision becomes critical. That's why MLB has standardized the measuring process in a way the sport has never seen before. Players are now measured without shoes or hats, with heels together, knees visible, backs against the wall, and no slouching allowed. Even the timing matters. Teams must conduct measurements between 10 AM and noon local time to minimize natural height variation throughout the day. “Because people shrink over the course of a day,” said Brewers assistant GM Will Hudgins, the club’s point man on ABS. “I’m not entirely sure how much, but I’ve been told that enough times to believe that it is scientifically true.” In other words, MLB is eliminating every possible variable. The Twins Who Got a Little Shorter With the new system in place, several Twins saw their official listings tick down by an inch. This compares their 2025 listed heights on MLB.com to their current 2026 listed heights. Ryan Jeffers goes from 6-foot-3 to 6-foot-2. Brooks Lee shifts from 6-foot-1 to 6 feet. Byron Buxton drops from 6-foot-2 to 6-foot-1. Gabriel Gonzalez moves from 5-foot-11 to 5-foot-10. Austin Martin also slides from 5-foot-11 to 5-foot-10. None of these changes are dramatic, but they are telling. Across the league, players are almost universally being measured slightly shorter than their previously listed heights. It's less about shrinking, and more about finally being measured the same way across all 30 organizations. Over the weekend, Alex Bregman’s height was the one being most circulated. Two seasons ago, his height was listed as 6 feet. Last season, he dipped to 5-foot-11, and he enters the 2026 season an inch shorter than that. Why It Matters More Than You Think It would be easy to dismiss this as a quirky footnote of spring training, but it ties directly into how games will be decided. A slightly lower top of the strike zone for a player like Buxton could turn a borderline high fastball into a ball instead of a strike. Over the course of a season, those margins add up. ABS has already passed through multiple iterations in the minor leagues, where players and teams have become comfortable with the challenge system and the technology behind it. As it reaches MLB this season, the expectation is that the process will be smoother, even if it still invites debate. And debate is inevitable. Strike zones have always been part science and part art. Now, the league is leaning harder into the science than ever before. Baseball has always been described as a game of inches. This season, that idea becomes more literal than ever. The Twins are not actually shrinking. But thanks to a stricter, more consistent measuring system tied directly to the strike zone, they and the rest of the league are being defined with greater precision. In a sport where a fraction of an inch can change an at-bat, that's one of the most important changes of all. How much do you think changes in heights will impact ball and strike calls this year? Are you looking forward to the ABS system? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

The Toronto Blue Jays have made two decisions regarding their Opening Day bullpen. 35-year-old Tommy Nance has made the team, while 2024 Rule 5 draft pick Angel Bastardo has been left off. Nance has struggled this spring, throwing 5 1/3 innings while posting a 6.75 ERA and an 11.1 walk percentage. However, he doesn't have any minor league options. Without an option, and given his strong performance last season (1.99 ERA and 1.01 WHIP over 31 2/3 innings), the right-handed reliever would likely have been selected off waivers by another team if the Blue Jays had designated him for assignment to try to send him down to the minors. Bastardo missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Because he was a Rule 5 selection, not making the team means the Blue Jays must return him to his original team, the Boston Red Sox. Injuries to Trey Yesavage and José Berríos, forcing them to miss the start of the season, have moved Eric Lauer to a starting role. This situation left an additional open spot in the bullpen that Bastardo looked to be a possibility to fill. However, he has had an up-and-down spring training, posting a 4.70 ERA over seven 2/3 innings with a 15.2 strikeout percentage and an abysmal 21.2 walk percentage. Since Bastardo missed last season, the Jays would need to keep him on their 26-man roster for 90 days before they could option him. This requirement, along with Yesavage's expected return shortly after the season begins, means the Blue Jays are better off just cutting ties with Bastardo now and focusing on the relievers who can help the team all season. With two open spots in the bullpen, Mason Fluharty will fill one spot. He will join Brendon Little as Toronto's second lefty reliever while Lauer is in the rotation. Little was the only consistent left-handed presence in last year's bullpen; Fluharty and fellow southpaw Justin Bruihl had their ups and downs, while Lauer moved between the rotation and the 'pen. The team won't want Little to have too big a workload to start the season, and Fluharty's addition will help relieve the pressure on Little. Blue Jays insider Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet has reported that the final spot in the bullpen is between Chase Lee and Spencer Miles. Lee came over in an offseason trade with the Detroit Tigers because the Tigers needed to open a roster spot for Kyle Finnegan. Lee offers the Blue Jays MLB experience, having thrown 37 1/3 innings last season with a 4.10 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. He also offers a different look with his -4 degree sidearm angle. The sidearmer has been impressive in a short spring stint, not allowing a run over six innings, but he did walk two batters while only striking out four. Miles was a 2025 Rule 5 selection from the San Francisco Giants, which means he will need to spend the entire season on the Blue Jays' 26-man roster or else be sent back to the Giants. He was selected in the 2022 MLB Draft, but missed the 2023 season after undergoing back surgery. The righty returned in 2024, but only made five appearances before requiring Tommy John surgery due to a right flexor strain. Miles made his return in the Arizona Fall League last year at the conclusion of the minor league season. He threw eight 2/3 innings, posting a 4.15 ERA, but he struck out 12 batters while only walking one. This spring, he has made a case to make his MLB debut. Miles produced a 3.72 ERA over nine 2/3 innings and had a 23.9 strikeout percentage. However, he's struggled with his control, walking batters at a 10.9 percent clip and posting a 1.66 WHIP. Zwelling said both players will travel to Toronto Monday night, and the club expects to make the final decision by Wednesday afternoon. Lee's experience and shutout spring performance may give him the edge, but with Miles making it to the final cut, the Blue Jays must see something they like. Lee's availability to be optioned to Triple A hurts his case, as Toronto can keep both players if he is sent down. If this plays out with Lee being demoted, the sidearmer will still play a role in the Blue Jays bullpen at some point this season. View the full article

The Boston Red Sox have seemingly decided upon their bench for Opening Day, as Nate Eaton has been optioned to Triple-A Worcester according to MassLive's Chris Cotillo. Eaton was in a competition with Andruw Monasterio for the final bench spot, but in the end, it was Monasterio who won it. What may have swung the decision towards Monasterio was his ability to play second base and the potential to platoon with Marcelo Mayer by hitting left-handed pitching well. Eaton signed as a minor league free agent prior to the 2025 season and played well enough to garner a call up to Boston. In 41 games with the big-league club, Eaton hit .296/.348/.383 with four doubles, one home run, four RBIs, and nine stolen bases. He can also play all three outfield positions and third base will provide excellent depth in Worcester. He will likely be one of the first players called up should injury or inconsistent play occur. The Red Sox's bench now should look as such come Opening Day: Connor Wong, Masataka Yoshida, Andruw Monasterio, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. In other roster-related news, Ryan Watson was informed Monday that he made the team. Watson was a Rule 5 pick over the winter and was required to be on the active roster in order to remain with Boston. In response, Boston optioned Tyler Samaniego to Worcester per MassLive's Chris Cotillo. The roster is nearly complete, as the only spots remaining is who out of Johan Oviedo, Connelly Early, and Payton Tolle will be the final member of the rotation and who might be the final bullpen arm. View the full article

Signing relievers to multi-year deals is not typically part of the Cubs' team-building plan. Even a modest two-year commitment to Phil Maton this winter was a relatively significant investment, by Jed Hoyer's standards; he prefers to cobble together a relief corps without using up a meaningful share of his total resources. It might be worth making Daniel Palencia the exception to that rule. The Cubs' closer, 26, is still five years from reaching free agency based on service time. However, he'll reach arbitration eligibility next winter. He had 22 saves last year, and will probably save more games this season. The arbitration system infamously underpays middle relievers, but rewards those who rack up high saves totals. Palencia is in line, absent any change, to go through the arbitration process four times, and his salary will rise steeply because of his role. Instead of risking seeing him push toward an eight-figure salary by 2030 and being in a position where his earning power diminishes their interest in retaining him, the Cubs could lock Palencia up right now, to an exceptionally team-friendly deal. He only received a $10,000 signing bonus when he joined the Athletics organization in 2020. As a reliever, he has to reckon with the inherent volatility of his role, and unlike most big-leaguers, he's not set for life. A contract extension for Palencia wouldn't need to include massive guarantees. Instead, the Cubs could lock up Palencia for the balance of his five years of team control, and add one or two club options that would extend their control. The cost would be trivial, from the team's perspective. Here's one possible structure: 2026: $1 million + $2-million signing bonus 2027: $2.5 million 2028: $4 million 2029: $5.5 million 2030: $7 million 2031: $11 million - club option with $1-million buyout 2032: $12 million - club option with $2-million buyout This structure would guarantee Palencia $23 million, with the opportunity to earn as much as $45 million if the team options are exercised. It's not dissimilar from the deal to which Cleveland signed now-disgraced closer Emmanuel Clase in early 2022. That deal also included incentives, which Palencia's could, too, but he doesn't have quite as strong a track record as Clase had when he signed, and the Cubs have more leverage over Palencia (based on his age and amateur signing bonus) than the Guardians had with Clase, so the incentives could be muted. A deal like this would ensure that the Cubs don't end up owing huge money to Palencia in 2029 or 2030. It's not terribly uncommon for high-end relievers to reach eight figures in arbitration, especially if they become Super Two-eligible, as Palencia will next winter. Astros closer Josh Hader made over $25 million in his final two years of arbitration, alone, and got $4.1 million in his first year as a Super Two guy. Palencia, again, is not quite on Hader's level, but that illustrates how much a closer can rack up money via arbitration. The Cubs have every incentive to gain some cost certainty, given their lack of power arms waiting in the wings in the minors. Palencia, for his part, would have a hard time passing up over $20 million in guaranteed money, since he's one elbow surgery from ending up as a free agent next winter with less than $2 million in total career earnings. Although deals with Pete Crow-Armstrong, Nico Hoerner or others would be more impactful, the Cubs could secure Palencia's services pretty cheaply, and it could resolve some of their perennial uncertainty in the bullpen without eating into their ability to do anything else. The two sides should be talking, and try to hammer out a deal before Opening Day. View the full article

When Spring Training ends, the preparation for the regular season's start, and the roster accounting that entails brings for a spontaneous explosion of Injured List assignments. Many of these players had likely been injured for weeks or more, but as it all had gone largely unreported on, the effect is that of a meteor collision striking down in St. Lucie tearing menisci and rupturing hamstrings all over town at once. And the depth chart fans had counted on is thrown into dissaray. Transactions, 3/16/2026 "table { margin: 2px; width: auto; border: 1px solid black;} th { padding: 2px; line-height: 1; max-width: 90px; border: 3px solid black; font-family: ""Arial"", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; color: #FFFFFF; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; background-color: #000000; } td { padding: 6px; line-height: 1; max-width: 90px; border: 3px solid black; font-family: ""Arial"", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center; vertical-align: bottom;}" GOING Released Outfielder Hector Francis L/L DoB: 39366 High Level: MLB (2025) When a minor-leaguer gets released mid-camp, one wonders what infraction he triggered. Did he sleep through a wake-up call and miss a bus? Did he cross the wrong coach at the wrong time? Fall down during a drill. While any of that might be possible in the case of Hector Francis, the truth is that a .153 batting average in 67 Dominican Summer League plate appearances is not the guarantee of future employment it used to be. Maybe young Hector was not at very bottom of the list of paid servants of the House of Wilpon, but he was probably at low end of the outfielder totem pole. And that, sadly, led to him being sent home early. Without so much as a thumbnail photo in circulation to represent his brief career. And now, on to the end-of-camp triage report. End of Camp IL Assignments 03/18/26 Binghamton Rumble Ponies placed RHP Joshua Cornielly on the 60-day injured list. 03/18/26 Brooklyn Cyclones placed LHP Ryan Ammons on the 60-day injured list. 03/18/26 Brooklyn Cyclones placed SS Boston Baro on the 60-day injured list. 03/18/26 Brooklyn Cyclones placed RHP Austin Troesser on the full-season injured list. 03/18/26 Brooklyn Cyclones placed RHP Owen Woodward on the 60-day injured list. 03/18/26 Brooklyn Cyclones placed LHP Eli Ankeney on the full-season injured list. 03/18/26 FCL Mets placed RHP Peter Kussow on the full-season injured list. 03/18/26 FCL Mets placed RHP Peyton Prescott on the 60-day injured list. 03/18/26 FCL Mets placed C Daniel Silva on the 60-day injured list. 03/18/26 St. Lucie Mets placed RHP Ethan Lanthier on the 60-day injured list. 03/18/26 St. Lucie Mets placed RHP Edgar Moreta on the 60-day injured list. 03/18/26 St. Lucie Mets placed RHP Jace Hampson on the 60-day injured list. 03/18/26 St. Lucie Mets placed SS Trey Snyder on the 60-day injured list. 03/18/26 St. Lucie Mets placed RHP Candido Cuevas on the 60-day injured list. 03/18/26 Syracuse Mets placed RHP Kevin Herget on the 60-day injured list. 03/18/26 Syracuse Mets placed RHP Robert Stock on the 60-day injured list. 03/18/26 Syracuse Mets placed 3B Grae Kessinger on the 60-day injured list. While Mets Roster Central researchers are hard at work trying to get to the bottom of who Peter Kossow is (was?), we can't help but feel that there is a lesson in here for you kids. If you want to be professional baseball player — if it's March 18, don't pick up the phone, don't check your e-mail, don't even check turn on the light switch if you can help it. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins made another round of spring roster cuts, optioning both Ryan Kreidler and Eric Wagaman to Triple-A as Opening Day draws closer. While neither move comes as a complete surprise, the decisions help clarify how the bench picture is forming under new manager Derek Shelton. Kreidler’s path to the roster always felt like a narrow one. Claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh organization in October, he brought some familiarity for Shelton, who previously spent time with the Pirates. That connection made him an intriguing under-the-radar candidate to win a backup middle infield role, especially given his defensive versatility. Ultimately, the bat did not provide enough support for the glove. Kreidler appeared in 17 spring games and went 6-for-39, good for a .154 average, with one home run and an 11-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The broader offensive track record paints a similar picture. Across 89 career big-league games, he owns a .383 OPS, which translates to an 11 OPS+. That level of production makes it difficult to justify a roster spot unless the defensive value is elite, and even then, there are limits to how much a team can carry offensively. Wagaman’s case is a bit different, but the result is the same. Acquired in early January in a trade that sent left-handed reliever Kade Bragg to Miami, Wagaman brought a more balanced offensive profile. He logged 140 games for the Marlins last season and hit .250/.296/.378 (.674). His 28 doubles and nine home runs helped him post an 86 OPS+, suggesting he can at least provide some pop off the bench. This spring, Wagaman showed flashes of that ability, going 10-for-39 with one home run and a 13-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 18 games. Still, without the same defensive upside as Kreidler, he needed to clearly separate himself offensively. That did not quite happen, leaving him on the outside looking in as the Twins finalized their bench mix. All signs now point to Orlando Arcia securing a spot on the Opening Day roster. The veteran infielder and former All-Star brings a longer track record and the ability to handle shortstop behind Brooks Lee. Even with a difficult 2025 season that saw him post a 42 OPS+ and -1.2 rWAR across 76 games between Atlanta and Colorado, Minnesota appears willing to bet on experience and defensive reliability in a reserve role. There is still time for things to shift at the margins, but this decision signals a clear preference from the Twins coaching staff. They are prioritizing stability up the middle while keeping additional depth in Triple-A should injuries or performance issues arise. In the end, both Kreidler and Wagaman remain part of the organizational picture. Each offers a different skill set that could become useful over the course of a long season. For now, though, the message is simple. The Twins are narrowing their focus, and the Opening Day roster is beginning to come into view. View the full article

Alex and Maddie sit down with NESN’s Jahmai Webster to discuss his path to becoming the sideline reporter for the Red Sox, what it was like getting a chance to interview Kobe Bryant as a young journalist, and a lot more stories that led him to where he is today. After the interview, Alex and Maddie give Greg Weissert his flowers and talk through why Jarren Duran is the best DH option for the team in 2026. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-talk-sox-podcast/id1783204104 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qPrPXEngu0CxgTmlf0ynm Listen on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-talk-sox-podcast-244591331/ Listen on Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/4tmd121v View the full article

The San Diego Padres' farm system has everything from seasoned arms to up-and-coming backstops to support Ethan Salas in their top 10. Here are prospects no. 6 to 10, according to our Padres Mission writers. Learn all about the background, strengths, and weaknesses of the following players: Kale Fountain, Ryan Wideman, Ty Harvey, Humberto Cruz, and Jagger Haynes. View the full article

Any major-league starting pitcher wants to have a strong suit of pitches to select from when taking the mound. For the Royals' Kris Bubic, he's put together a strong suit to select from this season. Bubic, a left-hander, finished 2025 with a 2.89 FIP in 116 1/3 innings and 20 starts. He recorded 116 strikeouts, good for a 24.4% strikeout rate. He also finished a .277 wOBA, well below the baseball-wide average of .313. Now, entering the 2026 MLB season, Bubic wants to dig into his arsenal of pitches and make them all work together. But what does that arsenal look like? According to Baseball Savant, Bubic uses a four-seam fastball, a changeup, a sweeper, a slider, and a sinker to keep opposing hitters guessing. Per his Statcast Pitch Arsenal, Bubic uses his four-seamer the most at 38.1% of the time. Next is his changeup, which Bubic throws it 21.1% of the time. As for the sweeper and slider, he uses them 28.9% and 13.4% of the time, respectively. And the sinker? He's used that 6.5% of the time when he's on the mound. Let's break down how Bubic used his pitches against left-handed and right-handed hitters in 2025. Baseball Savant data indicate Bubic used his four-seamer 38% of the time, with 42% against right-handed hitters and 25% against left-handed hitters. Bubic used his changeup 21% of the time, with 27% against righties versus just 3% against lefties. Bubic saved his sweepers, sliders, and sinkers for left-handed hitters. His overall sweeper percentage was 21%, but against lefties, he threw it 26% of the time and 19% against right-handers. He used his slider 13% of the time in the 2025 MLB season, with 27% usage against lefties and 9% usage against righties. And the sinker? Bubic used it 7% of the time in 2025, with 19% versus lefties and 3% against righties. With these percentage breakdowns, Bubic has a chance to evaluate which pitches will prove effective in different situations. Ever since Bubic entered the majors back in 2020, he's shown a willingness to adjust his arm angle, too. When he first arrived for the Royals, he was throwing at a 45-degree arm angle. That dropped to a 37-degree angle in 2023, rose to a 41-degree angle in 2024, and dropped back to a 38-degree angle last season. Can Bubic put all of this data together for even better results in 2026? Royals manager Matt Quatraro and pitching coach Brian Sweeney sure hope so. And they really hope that Bubic can stay healthy, especially since he missed a chunk of the 2025 MLB season after dealing with his left rotator cuff strain. View the full article

Recent years across Major League Baseball have shown that you don't have to be an elite defensive team to make a deep playoff run. But it helps. The Toronto Blue Jays were the best defensive team in the league last year, according to Statcast's Fielding Run Value. They posted a mark of 44, which finished four runs ahead of the Chicago Cubs and 16 ahead of the third-place Cleveland Guardians. The Los Angeles Dodgers, meanwhile, ranked 18th in FRV at -1. Of course, they were also one of just three teams that scored over 800 runs in 2025, negating whatever advantage another team could have in the field. More than anything, quality defense helps a team to compensate on the margins for those periods where a different element of their game may not be producing in the way that it should. In the case of the Padres, the defensive component is now more essential than ever. Last year's offense was prone to down stretches, and while they've taken a volume approach that can keep the lineup afloat, they're working behind a starting pitching staff that's been cobbled together by past-their-prime veterans and non-roster invitees. As good as the bullpen may be, the variance at the plate combined with a shaky starting group will help to illustrate the importance of the defensive phase within the broader fortunes of the 2026 team. The Padres were 20th in the league in FRV last year -1. They were also below average in Outs Above Average (-7) but ranked in the top half of the league in Defensive Runs Saved (28). Each metric measures something different. OAA is about outs recorded and includes range as a factor. DRS is about runs prevented and lacks some of the nuance of a positional adjustment that OAA has. For our purpose, we'll utilize FRV due to its more comprehensive nature in examining a player range and arm, among other factors. This is how each projected Padre regular figured in the FRV game in 2025: Freddy Fermin (C): 0 FRV Jake Cronenworth (2B): -1 FRV Xander Bogaerts (SS): 7 FRV Manny Machado (3B): -4 FRV Ramón Laureano (LF): -5 FRV Jackson Merrill (CF): 5 FRV Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF): 9 FRV One of the things that makes FRV valuable as a defensive metric is that it includes catcher adjustments as part of its calculation (other metrics have a more difficult time integrating catchers). The Padres finished at -4 FRV as a catching group, which was largely held down by Martín Maldonado & Elías Díaz prior to the acquisition of Fermin ahead of last year's trade deadline. Even at exactly average, Fermin should represent a sizable improvement in the work behind the plate. Maldonado, in particular, was woeful in the metrics posted at catcher. He sat below average in blocking, throwing, and framing. Díaz was closer to average or slightly below in each regard. That means that on the merit of their starter alone, the Padres are looking at improvement behind the plate. It's when you look past the starter that things get a bit more questionable. In 2024, Luis Campusano caught enough innings to qualify for the defensive leaderboard. His FRV that year came in at -13, which tied with Shea Langeliers for the league's worst mark. His defense was bad enough that even a team as thin at the position as the Padres were last year essentially refused to give him a crack at regular work, electing to roll out the Maldonado-Díaz tandem for much of the year instead (despite the upside Campusano possesses at the plate). We'll have to see if a full spring within the context of being the for-sure backup yields anything positive, but given what the Padres seem to gain with Fermin as the No. 1, it may be difficult to compensate if he goes down or misses time. The middle infield doesn't represent a source of concern in the same way. Jake Cronenworth graded slightly below average in range and exactly average with his arm. Where he lost points in the FRV calculation was in his inability to turn double plays, where he finished at -2. There's some pretty stiff competition on the leaderboard in range at second base, but there are also some regulars held in higher esteem that were far worse off in the field than he was. Factor in the part where his running mate on the middle infield missed almost a full month while readjusting to a position that he hadn't played full-time in two years, and there's some optimism that he could be slightly back toward where he was pre-2023 (2 FRV). Speaking of names about which there is little worth being concerned about, Xander Bogaerts returns after missing most of September of last year with an injury. Since demonstrating marked improvement with the glove between the 2021 and 2022 seasons when he was still in Boston, Bogaerts has yet to post a season where he is below average in the eyes of the metrics. While his weaker arm pins him down a bit in the FRV calculations, his range is undeniable. That becomes a key component when you're talking about the potential area of concern to his right. After falling from 10 FRV to 0 between 2023 and 2024, Manny Machado dropped yet again in 2025. His -4 FRV was his worst since 2019, wrought by a poorly-graded arm that was also his lowest since that first year in San Diego. Last May, we wondered if there was a positioning factor at play in such a rapid regression. The conclusion at the time was that Machado's positioning had certainly changed and may have played a role in his regression. But we also were unsure of the reason for such a change. What we do know, however, is that it's something worth monitoring. Machado was better from that point on, with a -1 FRV from June through the end of the year, and a leadership change on the bench could have some impact on what positioning looks like for him. His body isn't what it used to be, so any chance to regain an advantage and capitalize on what remains a quality arm should help him to recover some value there. The Padres' outfield is more unique in this discussion, as two of their three spots are of no concern. Jackson Merrill has thrived with the glove, even when he's mired in an injury-riddled season like he was last year. Meanwhile, Fernando Tatis Jr. is one of the sport's premier defenders and has the hardware to back it up. Instead, the only real concern lies in the -5 FRV of Ramón Laureano, who is poised to handle full-time duty after being acquired from the Baltimore Orioles at last year's trade deadline. What's interesting about Laureano in left is that his inclusion on the leaderboard only accounts for his time post-deadline. Even so, his FRV was the worst among qualifying Padres defenders last year. And that's with an arm value that sits in the 92nd percentile among all MLB players. It's also important to acknowledge that defensive metrics rely heavily on sample size to find validity. It's hard to put too much stock in a 400-or-so inning sample. Nevertheless, that so much of his negative FRV is indicative of a range issue — something that was also problematic when his range accounted for -6 of his overall -2 FRV in 2024 — may not bode super well for improving on a position that ranked 15th in FRV last year. It's a much more enigmatic situation than the team has anywhere else on the field. Can playing next to Merrill help? Can the arm compensate more for the range over a full season? Either way, the fact that there's stability has to mean something on the defensive front against the rotating cast of characters left field saw last year. You will note that there has yet to be a discussion about first base as part of this larger exploration of team defense. That represents sort of an important position on the field in its need to effectively support the rest of the infield defenders. The fact is that this position is a complete wild card in matters of the San Diego Padres' defense in 2026. Each of Gavin Sheets, Nick Castellanos, and Miguel Andujar have either zero or minimal sample on which to hang their defensive hat. Other than a decent showing in a small sample from Sheets last year, there is simply no way of knowing where the numbers may end up in this position by the end of 2026. It's because of that that it becomes fairly difficult to state that the Padres can be a better defensive team in 2026 than they were last year. There are certainly things that indicate that they should be. Fermin and Laureano as full-time contributors, Cronenworth back in a full-time position, Machado's improvement after a brutal start, and Sung Mun Song's presence as a utility fielder all paint a rosier picture this time around. The defense should be, at worst, league average. First base, however, will have a lot to say about how far above or below they land on that threshold when it's all said and done. View the full article

Some players can make or break a season, and the 2026 Twins have a few names that fit that mold perfectly. From Royce Lewis’ upside to Luke Keaschall’s injury risk, and Anthony Banda’s high-pressure experience, these X-factors could determine how the season plays out. View the full article

Next in Talk Sox prospect rankings, we look at the group in the 11 through 15 range. What is Jake Bennett's upside? What position will Henry Godbout call home in the long run? These questions and more are answered in this video! Discussed in this video are prospects Yoeilin Cespedes, Henry Godbout, Johanfran Garcia, Jake Bennett, and Miguel Bleis. View the full article

Finally, the time has come to look at the top five prospects in the Milwaukee Brewers organization as voted on by contributors at Brewer Fanatic. Where will recent acquisitions Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat fall in the list? Additional players discussed in this video are Jesus Made, Luis Pena, and Cooper Pratt. View the full article

With their time in Arizona over and the Milwaukee Brewers returning to Wisconsin after more than a month of the desert warmth, it's time to reflect on what took place over the last six weeks. The biggest thing to note is that the Brewers appear to be pretty healthy going into Opening Day, which is Thursday at American Family Field against the Chicago White Sox. They're dealing with injuries, to be sure, but they're relatively few and minor, compared to other teams. Let's take a look at what happened in Arizona, picking out one starting pitcher, one reliever and one hitter who had good and bad springs. Who's Hot? ? Jake Bauers If you have an OPS of more than 1.700, you are simply en fuego. Welcome to the world of Bauers this spring. The first baseman/left fielder put together a slash line of .471/.581/1.147. How does that happen? Bauers, who came to life late in the 2025 season to provide an unexpected spark, went 16-for-34 with 6 homers and 8 RBIs. He walked seven times and struck out seven times. His 16 hits tied him with Andrew Vaughn for the most on the Crew, while the half-dozen homers led the team, and his walks were tied for second-most. He and Vaughn will share time at first base in the early going. Aaron Ashby Let the speculation continue. Of all of the Crew's pitchers who made multiple starts this spring, Ashby performed the best. A stalwart of the bullpen in recent years, this spring has once again raised the specter of Ashby being part of the rotation. In four games, including two starts, Ashby had a 1.17 ERA over 7⅔ innings, walking five and striking out eight. Ashby could be in line for more of a hybrid role this season, perhaps piggybacking with Brandon Woodruff as the grizzled right-hander slowly builds up his velocity and endurance. Ashby's versatility could be one of the most important aspects of the pitching staff this season. Jacob Waguespeck The skyscraping righty is one of those Brewers finds. Having spent 2022 and 2023 in Japan, he returned to the U.S. and joined the Tampa Bay Rays, pitching in an MLB game for the first time since 2020. But that only lasted four games, and he spent most of the year in the minors. That is also where he was most of 2025, when he dealt with injuries, a midseason release and then joining the Philadelphia Phillies. He latched on with the Crew this spring, and the 32-year-old turned in a 1.17 ERA in tying for the team lead with seven appearances. Waguespeck allowed three hits and two walks against seven strikeouts in 7⅔ innings to put himself in position to be a call-up this season. Who's Cold? ? Garrett Mitchell The center fielder had horrible numbers in camp, going 2-for-32 (.063/.189/.188) with 1 homer and 4 RBIs. On top of that, he struck out in 15 of the 30 at-bats in which he did not get a hit. Mitchell did draw a respectable five walks, at least. Even with those poor numbers, the 2020 first-round draft choice was given a spot on the Opening Day roster. Perhaps that's because of the talent he's shown (when healthy) in his three-plus seasons with the Crew. The obvious problem, though, is that Mitchell only played in 113 of 468 games from 2023-25. He flashes enormous potential when available, but various injuries have kept him from consistently showing his skills. Chad Patrick Figuring out why a pitcher struggles in spring training can be a futile effort. Sometimes a guy is working on a specific mechanical cue or tinkering with a grip to get things just right for the regular season. Is that what was going on with Patrick this spring? He capped Cactus League play by surrendering seven runs while reaching 87 pitches Sunday against the Chicago Cubs. As a caveat, Patrick was the only player from major-league camp who was left in Arizona as the team traveled back to Milwaukee. Still, he lasted just four innings, giving up six hits and two walks, while striking out four. It wasn't his only poor statistical outing, as he gave up six runs in his previous start to finish Cactus League play with an 11.68 ERA, including 8 walks in 12⅓ innings. Mark Manfredi We'll give the 2023 ninth-round draft choice a mulligan, considering this was his first major-league camp experience. Even so, the 26-year-old left-hander has progressed through the system quickly, spending 2024 at High-A Wisconsin and 2025 at Double-A Biloxi, notching a 3.30 ERA in 44 appearances and 60 innings. Given a shot to make an impression this spring, Manfredi appeared in five games and allowed four runs over four innings. He walked five and struck out five. It will be something to work off of in 2026, but for a guy on the old side to still be considered a prospect, it wasn't quite the springboard for which he might have hoped. View the full article

The Kansas City Royals, a team striving to rebound from the disappointment of missing the playoffs last year after a stunning return to postseason play in 2024, open their 2026 campaign against the Braves in Atlanta Friday night. Featuring as it will the two clubs’ respective aces — Cole Ragans for the Royals and Chris Sale for the Braves — the 6:15 p.m. CDT tilt at Truist Field sizes up as one not to be missed. And the first game of the year for both teams will also snap a trend to which Kansas City has become so accustomed. After opening at home for five straight seasons and nine of the past 11, the Royals are set to launch their newest pursuit of October baseball on the road. Ominously, the club lost its two most recent openers away from Kauffman Stadium — 7-1 at Minnesota in 2017, and 2-0 at Cleveland in 2020 — and hasn’t beaten an Opening Day host since edging Detroit 5-4 in 2008. How, though, did the Royals fare in their first-ever road opener? Answering that question requires turning the baseball clock back 55 years. The Royals Started on the Road for the First Time in 1971 After kicking off their inaugural 1969 campaign by beating the Twins at Kansas City’s old Municipal Stadium, and then losing the 1970 opener to Oakland at home, the Royals headed West to take on the then-California Angels on Opening Day in 1971. And things went well. The Royals won 4-1 to post the first victory of their third season. Leading the way was starter Dick Drago, an original Royal who went the distance and limited California to six scattered singles; although he struck out only two, he didn’t walk anyone, retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced, and put the Angels down in order five times. The only run he surrendered came on a fifth-inning passed ball. Drago won 16 more games that season, a total that would today challenge for the big league lead, but significantly trailed major league leader Mickey Lolich’s 25 in 1971. And in another sign of a bygone era, Drago’s 2.98 ERA wasn’t good enough to crack the majors’ top 10. He won at least 11 games in four of his five KC seasons and retired after the 1981 campaign following stops in Boston, California, and Seattle. Most responsible for giving Drago the offensive support he needed were second baseman Cookie Rojas and left fielder Lou Piniella. Piniella opened the top of the second with a single off California starter Clyde Wright, went to third on Bob Oliver’s single, and scored when Rojas beat out an infield single that gave KC its first run of the season and a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Rojas scored what proved to be the winning run on Buck Martinez’s sacrifice fly to Tony Conigliaro in right. Piniella and Rojas struck again in the fourth. Piniella opened the frame with a double and, after Oliver bunted him to third, came home on Rojas’ sacrifice fly to left fielder Alex Johnson. Kansas City scored once more when third baseman Paul Schaal drove in Amos Otis with a single. Otis and Rojas went on to make the American League All-Star team that year. The Game Featured Three Future Royals Club Hall of Famers KC’s 1971 Opening Day lineup included Rojas, Otis, and shortstop Freddie Patek, all of whom also later became members of the team’s Hall of Fame. Rojas spent half of his 16-year big league career with the Royals before retiring after the 1977 season. Patek played nine of his 14 big league campaigns in Kansas City and didn’t play after 1981 with the Angels, and Otis, a Royal for all but three of his 17 major league seasons, played for the last time in 1984 with Pittsburgh. How Did the Royals Fare the Rest of the 1971 Season? It was a historic campaign — the Royals went 85-76 to notch the first winning season in franchise history. But the A’s, whose departure from Kansas City after the 1967 season paved the way for the Royals to bring baseball back to Municipal Stadium in 1969, were simply too good and finished 16 games ahead of second-place KC in the AL West. The season was the Royals’ best until 1973, when they won 88 times but again ended up second to Oakland in the West. Kansas City didn’t clinch its first division title and playoff berth until 1976. View the full article

Opening Day is always about possibility: a fresh start, a clean slate, and the belief that anything can happen. This year, the Twins Daily Social Club is adding even more excitement to that feeling with a giveaway that keeps the celebration going beyond March. At our Opening Day Watch Party at BlackStack Brewing, one lucky fan will walk away with a pair of tickets to see the Minnesota Twins Home Opener at Target Field. That’s right – while we gather to watch the Twins kick off the season against the Baltimore Orioles, you’ll also have a shot at being there in person when the Twins return home to take on the Tampa Bay Rays for their first game of the season at Target Field on April 3. All you need to do to get in on the action is RSVP and show up. Throughout the watch party, we’ll be running games and handing out raffle entries, giving you multiple chances to win. We will draw names at key moments – first pitch, final out, and throughout the game – so there is always something happening beyond the action on the screen. It is all part of what makes a Twins Daily watch party different. You’re not just watching the game, you’re part of it. Every inning brings a new chance to win, every big play brings the room to life, and every fan in the building shares in the energy of Opening Day. And then there’s the grand prize: a chance to be at Target Field for the Home Opener to get a first look at the Twins on their home field in 2026. It’s one of the best days on the baseball calendar, and you could be there. So grab your spot, bring your friends, and get ready for a full afternoon of baseball, beer, and big moments. Opening Day starts at BlackStack. And if things break your way, your next stop for a live game might just be Target Field. EVENT DETAILS RSVP: bit.ly/4sgSTnG What: Twins Daily Social Club's Opening Day Watch Party Cost: Free When: 1 pm, March 26, 2026 Where: Blackstack Brewing, 755 Prior Ave N, St Paul, MN View the full article