The Texas Rangers are getting a familiar version of Joc Pederson this spring—and if history is any guide, that may not be a bad thing.
Pederson has struggled to produce in the final week of spring training, with a .486 OPS in exhibition games. On the surface, it appears to be a continuation of his already disappointing 2025 season, which called his long-term role in Texas into question.
If you look at Pederson's career trends, his production has rarely matched his spring training numbers—and in many cases, it has been the opposite.
In 2024, he had a 1.018 OPS in spring training, but struggled out of the gate and didn't hit his first regular-season homer until May. What happened the year before? After a poor spring, he had one of his best seasons yet. The pattern extends back several seasons: strong springs, uneven years; weak springs, strong rebounds.
He's been working closely with Justin Viele, his hitting instructor, to improve his launch and power consistency by making his swing more vertical.
The underlying data suggests that there could be progress beneath the surface. Pederson's average exit velocity is 94.2 mph this spring, up from 2025, indicating he's still making quality contact, even if the results haven't yet arrived.
Despite a slow spring and a disappointing 2025 campaign, the Rangers remain confident in Pederson's ability to rebound.
Manager Skip Schumaker has made it clear that the veteran will stay in the lineup, citing his work ethic and experience as reasons for confidence. Chris Young, president of baseball operations, echoed that sentiment, citing Pederson's motivation and track record as key factors in predicting a turnaround.
Still, there's some pressure.
Pederson is entering the final year of his contract, and Texas has other options at designated hitter, including veterans such as Andrew McCutchen and Mark Canha, as well as younger, more versatile players.
For the time being, however, the Rangers are confident in the process.
If history is any indication, Pederson's quiet spring could be the precursor to a much-needed rebound season.
Jasson Dominguez has been sent down. He'll start the season at Triple-A.
It's a roster crunch that leaves the young outfielder on the outside looking in. Trent Grisham, Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge will start in the outfield.
Beyond that, Giancarlo Stanton will be the regular DH. There just wouldn't be at bats for Dominguez.
Given that he's a developing player still, it does make sense to get him full-time action at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, even if it has to be disappointing for him.
“Like I said before Spring Training started,” Domínguez told MLB.com earlier this spring. “I just go day by day, trying to do my job. At the end of the day, whatever decision comes out, I don’t control that. I just try to go day by day and see what happens.”
The 22-year old lefty hitter from Venezuela made his MLB debut in 2025 and got 57 at bats at the MLB level.
In that short stint, Ballesteros hit .298 and homered twice.
Ballesteros is still prospect-list eligible, and he ranks No. 36 in all of baseball on the Baseball America list entering this season. He's also 55th on MLB Pipeline and 80th on Baseball Prospectus.
At Triple-A Iowa in 2025, Ballesteros was a monster. He had an .858 OPS thanks in part to a .316 batting average. He also hit 29 doubles and 13 homers while driving in 76 runs.
Ballesteros will likely hold down the DH job in the early going, except if Carson Kelly needs a little time off occasionally and the Cubs feel they can't take Ballesteros' bat out of the lineup.
PHOENIX – When the Milwaukee Brewers open their season March 26 against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field, they will likely do it in a way they never have before: Triple-digit heat.
Jacob Misiorowski will be the Brewers opening day starter, manager Pat Murphy announced six days before the opener in Milwaukee.
Misiorowski, at 109 days of MLB service time and 23 years old, will be the least-experienced opening day starter for the Brewers since Rafael Roque in 1999 and the third-youngest in franchise history. He will also be going up against a former teammate of his in the Brewers organization in Shane Smith, who is the opening day starter for the White Sox.
Misiorowski found out in typical Pat Murphy fashion: The Brewers manager called him into the room alongside Christian Yelich, and the two delivered a message about how bad the right-hander's performance was in the team's rookie talent show March 19.
"I told him his rookie show was one of the worst I've ever seen," Murphy said. "Due to that he's going to be our opening day starter. Figure it can't go worse than that."
It became apparent as spring training went on that Misiorowski would be the frontrunner to start the opener. Woodruff from the jump said his status for opening day was “in the air” and, while he figures to be on the active roster to begin the season, a slower ramp-up process didn’t quite match him up with pitching March 26.
"He's a nice young talent," Murphy said of Misiorowski. "Obviously gave us great hope with the way he finished the season. Came into camp and we think it's a good way to get rolling. Obviously [Brandon Woodruff], if 100 percent, would be in that slot. Traditionally people like Woody, he's our one veteran starter, [would start] but Miz is going to step up."
It's a bit of an unusual situation for a team coming off a 97-win season to start such a relatively inexperienced pitcher on opening day, but that sums up the Brewers' situation this season: A cast of young but highly talented arms lining up an opening day rotation that figures to also include Brandon Sproat, Kyle Harrison and Chad Patrick.
"I think we're going to have to be creative on our pitching staff but we've done that before," Murphy said. "Miz being the opening day choice, I think he's very capable."
Misiorowski's room for improvement in 2026
Coming off a roller coaster of a rookie season, Misiorowski doesn’t have any set numbers for goals in mind for 2026. He just wants to be great.
“You kind of have to have that arrogance of like, ‘This is what’s going to happen’ and visualize it and say that's what’s going to happen.”
The key question on opening day and beyond is what it’s always been with Misiorowski: Can he throw enough strikes?
There were times last season where the control was better for the rookie but also times, especially late in the season, where it snowballed on him. He finished with 31 walks in 66 regular-season innings before locking things in during the playoffs and walking only three over 12 innings as he struck out 16 and allowed only two earned runs.
He’s stronger now than he was last fall, listed six pounds heavier than a season ago, and that may help him control his lower half better as he moves down the mound. Mostly, though, he hopes more repetitions will improve his control.
“It’s repetition,” Misiorowski said. “It can be a little of both, there’s stability stuff and all that. But it’s mostly from throwing.”
Misiorowski himself wants to bring an end to the talk of his ability to throw strikes, and knows it’s on him to do that.
“It was never where I wanted it,” he said. “I think every time it was snowballing, I have to figure it out. That’s my job, to go out there and figure it the [expletive] out, to be frank. At the end of the day, that’s why I get paid.”
Playoff performance serves as springboard for 2026
Misiorowski figured it out late last year, to say the least, becoming the Brewers top-performing pitcher in the postseason. It was far from a guarantee that Misiorowski would deliver – much less pitch well at all – after a finish to the regular season so shaky it registered on the Richter scale.
"I was like, 'Are we really doing this? Did I really say that, Jim [Henderson]? Jim, did I really say that?'" Murphy joked. "No, you're going for the win. You're going for the win and that gave us a chance to win....You got to believe in your players. You got to believe in them. We had told him you're going to pitch in a big situation. We're not keeping you on this roster for mop-up. You're going to get a big situation because you're capable."
Yet time-in and time-out, Misiorowski delivered, delivering three dominant performances against the Cubs and Dodgers.
It was that flourish in October that gives the Brewers all the confidence in Misiorowski entering 2026.
The Boston Red Sox and Triston Casas haven't had the greatest relationship over the past few years, and his injury last season only complicated that. Now, with Opening Day about a week away, the left-handed hitting first baseman is still dealing with that injury.
Casas, who has been working his way back from injury, provided an update on his timeline. While he's making some progress now, the Red Sox want to take a cautious approach rather than rushing him back into action.
“I don’t have a plan to start Opening Day with an affiliate,” Casas told Chris McCaffrey of The Athletic. “I haven’t discussed with the team if they want me to continue rehab at a facility up north at an affiliate. We haven’t discussed where I’ll be in April, but we’re taking it week by week. The return-to-play guidelines were between 12 and 14 months, and I’m at 10 1/2 right now, so it’s coming close, but not for this month.”
With this in mind now, Casas will likely have to wait at least a few weeks before we see him back on the field. There is about a 5% chance that he doesn't have to go on a rehab assignment, so that would take another week or so, at the very least.
Many players in Major League Baseball have come out during and after the World Baseball Classic, saying that the event is more important to them than winning a World Series. I completely understand where players from outside of the USA are coming from, as there seemed to be a different sense of pride in wearing their country's jersey.
Aaron Judge was one of the players who spoke and said that playing in the World Baseball Classic is an incredible honor, perhaps bigger than the World Series, and now a player on the Boston Red Sox had the same thing to say.
Willson Contreras, who has experienced the World Series and WBC, spoke about where the tournament ranks in his career.
“I think it’s the best experience of my life,” Contreras told MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “I played in the World Series in ’16 and it was big, but playing the WBC for your country, for 37 million people, means a lot more to me.”
For somebody like Contreras, it makes sense that the World Baseball Classic might mean a bit more for him. Contreras winning the World Baseball Classic would be one of the greatest honors of his life. The same can be said for Judge, but fans would know and remember him a lot more if he had a World Series with the Yankees.
Oct 12, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) reacts after striking out in the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game one of the ALCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Rogers Centre. | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The Philadelphia Phillies could look to make a splash before opening day, and few moves would have a bigger impact than acquiring Randy Arozarena from the Seattle Mariners.
Known for his rare combination of power, speed, and on-base ability, Arozarena would immediately upgrade the Phillies' outfield and middle-of-the-order lineup, complementing stars like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner.
His presence would not only strengthen the team on the field but also send his fantasy baseball value soaring across multiple categories.
Here's what it would take for the Phillies to acquire him.
Philadelphia Phillies- Seattle Mariners MLB Mock Trade Details & Fantasy Football Impact
Phillies Acquire:
OF Randy Arozarena
Mariners Acquire:
OF Brandon Marsh
LHP Cade Obermueller
SS Devin Saltiban
Fantasy Impact
Arozarena would immediately become a key offensive weapon for the Phillies, bringing a rare combination of power, speed, and on-base ability.
In 2025, he hit .238 with 27 home runs, 76 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases, showcasing his ability to contribute across multiple fantasy categories.
Moving to Philadelphia would likely boost his runs, RBIs, and power stats due to better lineup protection alongside Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, while keeping his stolen base production intact.
Fantasy managers in redraft and dynasty leagues would see him jump toward top-tier outfielder status, making him a must-add in nearly every format.
Oct 9, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Brandon Marsh (16) reacts after striking out in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game four of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Marsh, an MLB outfielder, would provide the Mariners with solid production immediately.
In 2025, he hit .280 with 11 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 7 stolen bases, combining average with moderate power.
While his fantasy ceiling is lower than Arozarena's, Marsh's consistency makes him a reliable contributor in runs, OBP, and moderate power, and he would be especially valuable in leagues emphasizing batting average or multi-position eligibility.
He's also a safe piece for dynasty leagues while the Mariners develop their other prospects.
Cade Obermueller is a newly drafted pitching prospect in 2025.
Obermueller did not yet have professional stats, but his college season at Iowa (5-3, 3.02 ERA, 117 strikeouts in 83 innings) signals a high-strikeout arm with rotation upside.
In a trade to Seattle, he becomes a high-upside dynasty pitching prospect, potentially a mid-rotation starter with strikeout potential, contributing significantly in K-heavy or ratio-focused fantasy leagues once he reaches the majors. He's a bet on the future, but one that could pay off handsomely.
- Adelaide Giants Baseball Club (@AdelaideGiants) January 25, 2026
Saltiban's 2025 season in High-A saw him hit .180/.259/.305 with 7 home runs, 26 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases over 66 games.
While the batting average and OBP are low, his speed and versatility make him intriguing for dynasty fantasy leagues, especially in formats that reward stolen bases and multi-position eligibility.
For the Mariners, Saltiban represents a long-term upside piece whose fantasy value would likely increase if he develops more consistent contact and power at higher levels.
Why The Phillies Make The Trade
Oct 19, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) runs the bases after an RBI single by third baseman Eugenio Suarez (not pictured) in the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game six of the ALCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Rogers Centre. | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Phillies would target Randy Arozarena because he offers an immediate upgrade to their lineup, adding a proven, multi-category star alongside Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner.
His combination of power, speed, and on-base ability strengthens the middle of the order, boosts run production, and increases RBI opportunities.
Beyond stats, Arozarena fills a positional need in left field, allowing Philadelphia a high-impact, win-now addition without sacrificing core MLB talent.
Why The Mariners Make The Trade
Oct 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Brandon Marsh (16) reacts at first after hitting a single against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning during game one of the NLDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Citizens Bank Park. | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The Mariners would make this trade to convert Randy Arozarena, a star nearing free agency, into a mix of controllable talent with both immediate and long-term value.
Brandon Marsh would provide an MLB-ready outfielder capable of stepping in right away, while Cade Obermueller adds a high-strikeout pitching prospect with rotation upside.
Devin Saltiban gives Seattle a versatile infielder who can contribute at multiple positions, providing depth and future potential.
By acquiring these pieces, the Mariners strengthen both their major-league roster and farm system, balancing short-term competitiveness with long-term development.
This package allows Seattle to maintain a competitive lineup around stars like Julio Rodrguez and Cal Raleigh while securing cost-controlled, high-upside talent to build for the future.
It happens to everyone -- from amateurs to experts and everyone in between -- in every fantasy sport you play: You reach the late rounds, you're on the clock and suddenly, you have to search around for a few players to queue up, but you don’t see names you like.
So you start to panic and worry that you’re going to end up missing a deep sleeper that someone else will take.
Fear not. That’s what this list is here for. We did this last year, and I can say: Brandon Woodruff and Nick Londolo were on there (just ignore the other picks, OK?)
SP Kodai Senga, New York Mets
He was so far from healthy last year. But he's the same pitcher who had a 2.98 ERA in 2023 and who looks good in spring training. That's worth a look with your last pick.
INF/OF Jose Caballero, New York Yankees
He's going to get a bunch of playing time as Anthony Volpe recovers from shoulder surgery. On top of that, he stole 49 bases last year. Cheap speed is valuable!
OF Mickey Moniak, Colorado Rockies
Is there "playing in Colorado" bias? Sure is. What's wrong with that, especially when he hit .270 and blasted 24 home runs?
OF Justin Crawford, Philadelphia Phillies
Carl Crawford's kid stole 46 bases in the minors last year. Remember what I said about cheap speed?
1B Coby Mayo, Baltimore Orioles
I'll buy his spring performance in that lineup and see if he can make it work in the regular season.
3B Jordan Lawlar, Arizona Diamondbacks
Sometimes, it takes a bit of time for a top prospect to find his place. He could end up in the outfield, but bet on the talent here.
2B/3B Caleb Durbin, Boston Red Sox
I just love taking players who can notch double-digit HRs and steals late in drafts.
The former New York Mets manager and longtime MLB pitching coach was announced March 19 as the new manager of the Meridian Blues, a summer team for college baseball players based in Meridian, Mississippi.
It is believed to be Callaway’s first coaching job in the United States since he was suspended for two seasons by MLB for harassing at least five women while employed by teams.
Callaway was fired from his job as the Los Angeles’ pitching coach when the suspension was announced in May 2021.
Callaway, 50, was the Cleveland Guardians’ pitching coach for five seasons (2013-17) before he was hired to manage the Mets prior to the 2018 season. His teams went 163-161 over two seasons before Callaway was fired in October 2019.
Callaway managed the Acereros de Monclova during the 2021-22 Mexican Winter League season and led the team to a championship. He stayed on to manage their summer league club, but was ultimately fired with a 16-17 record on May 30, 2022.
Percy Bland, the mayor of Meridian, announced Callaway’s hiring in an Instagram post.
“It’s a new day in Meridian!” Bland wrote. “Today the Meridian Blues announced the new Manager for the team! Mickey Callaway was announced today by General Manager Larry Gill as the manager for our new Independent Summer Collegiate Baseball Team! Mickey has over 20 years MLB baseball experience and once served as the Manager of the New York Mets! He is about to begin the work of putting a great team for our city on the field beginning in May!”
While he was working for MLB teams, Callaway was credibly accused of pursuing “at least five women who work in sports media,” as detailed in a 2021 report by The Athletic.
Callaway was accused of “sending three of them inappropriate photographs and asking one of them to send nude photos in return. He sent them unsolicited electronic messages and regularly commented on their appearance in a manner that made them uncomfortable,” according to the report by Katie Strang and Britt Ghiroli.
The Atlanta Braves have a lot of great players who can make the case for being the best at their positions. Chris Sale is a fantastic starting pitcher, Ronald Acuna Jr. is a superstar outfielder, and Matt Olson is one of the best first basemen in baseball.
Those are the three clear superstars on the roster, and players like Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies are great starters as well. But what about catcher Drake Baldwin? He's a great player, but can he lay claim to being the best at his position? Likely not.
However, The Athletic's Eno Sarris is predicting that by the end of the 2026 MLB season, Baldwin will take the mantle of MLB's top catcher from Seattle Mariners superstar Cal Raleigh.
Drake Baldwin predicted to be MLB's best catcher
"Drake Baldwin emerges as MLB's top catcher," Sarris predicts. "This guy does everything right. Seriously, Baldwin does not have an obvious flaw. The 24-year-old Atlanta Braves catcher has pristine peripherals."
Baldwin being predicted to have a good 2026 season is hardly a bold prediction. But, for Sarris to predict that the young Braves catcher will be the best at his position after the 2026 season is an incredibly bold prediction to make.
Raleigh just hit 60 home runs and helped lead the Mariners to Game 7 of the ALCS. For Baldwin, in just his second season in the Majors, to surpass Raleigh would be a wild outcome for the 2026 season.
While Badlwin might not be the best defender, neither was Raleigh when he was just starting out his career in the Major Leagues.
The braves 2025 NL Rookie of the Year becoming baseball's best catcher would be a wild storyline for the 2026 MLB season.
There's no denying that he's a good player. But, the best catcher in baseball? That's a whole other level for Baldwin to reach.
But that's what makes this prediction from Sarris a bold one. Baldwin had a .274 batting average, 3.3 bWAR, and 19 home runs last year in 124 games played while splitting time with Sean Murphy.
His .810 OPS was a great number for his first year in the Majors, and if he can add a bit more power and get on base a bit more often than the .341 on-base percentage he had last year, then Baldwin could be in store for an All-Star caliber season.
Sarris is predicting the lefty-hitting catcher becomes the best catcher in baseball, better than Raleigh, Will Smith, and every other star catcher across the league. It's an incredibly bold prediction, and one that the Braves would love to come true.
The Chicago Cubs are in a weird spot in their outfield following Seiya Suzuki’s injury, and some thing they need to make a trade.
Mark Powell of FanSided proposed a deal between Chicago and the New York Yankees that would send Jasson Dominguez to Chicago, with New York landing Josiah Hartshorn and Brandon Birdsell in return.
For the Cubs, losing Suzuki creates an issue in the lineup, and with uncertainty surrounding his long-term future as well, adding a controllable outfielder is interesting. Dominguez hasn’t been the player he was expected to be, but has all the tools in the world to eventually be.
“Dominguez was once one of the most exciting prospects in the Yankees system, but has since proven he cannot be relied upon defensively. Sure, Dominguez can put on a show in batting practice, but if his limited time in the major leagues is to be taken at its worth, then he's a league-average hitter.
“Still, there is value in a league-average starting corner outfielder under team control for the foreseeable future. That's why Chicago could take a swing while they can, acquiring a possible replacement for Suzuki, who could leave in MLB free agency after this season,” he wrote.
This trade makes a bit more sense for the Cubs than it does for New York. Not that the Yankees have much of a spot for Dominguez, but trading him for a non-big league player would be tough to justify.
In his career, Derek Jeter built his name on winning. During his time with the New York Yankees, that's all Jeter did.
To this day, it sounds like it's still something he strives for.
Jeter recently shared a hilarious story when it comes to teaching his children about sports. In a time when participation trophies and enjoyment are more important for most, the Yankees legend said that he's looking to win.
“Is that you do your best, and you have fun, and you root for your teammates. You understand? And regardless of what happens, mommy and daddy are proud of you,” Jeter told his daughter. “No, you want to have fun, you will have fun. The goal is to win, don’t get it twisted. Win. Beat them down, all of them, you beat 'em down. You run faster, you hear me? You finish, first. That’s what we do, we finish first.”
That's the same mentality that helped define one of the most successful careers in baseball history. Jeter had a lot of personal accolades but as long as the Yankees won, he was happy.
Him saying that to his young daughter is pretty funny and shows the type of guy he is, but we all know that at this point.
"(Twins) have granted Liam Hendriks his release. Had an opt out."
That suggests that Hendriks had some kind of language built into his contract that allowed him to head to free agency if he wasn't going to make the Minnesota roster for the season ahead.
Hendriks was technically a non-roster invite to Spring Training.
The 37-year old Australian relief pitcher is a three-time All Star but had a 6.59 ERA at the MLB level last season in 14 appearances.
This spring, Hendriks has been solid. He has allowed two runs in six innings pitched while striking out four.
The Twins may have read more into Hendriks' recent seasons at the MLB level to decide what they're doing here. At the very least, one side of this relationship didn't have enough confidence in the other side.
Minnesota's bullpen doesn't shape up to be too strong, but Hendriks is now gone from having a chance to impact that.
He'll surely try to latch on elsewhere sooner rather than later so he can potentially still be on an Opening Day roster.
Coming into the 2026 MLB season, the New York Mets have plenty of optimism with their revamped roster. While the bullpen and the lineup have undergone big changes, the rotation might be the best part of the roster.
Led by Nolan McLean and Freddy Peralta, the Mets have a great starting rotation entering the season. They also have a few other strong starters to round out a six-man deep rotation.
With such a good rotation, The Athletic's Eno Sarris is predicting that the Mets will have the best depth in their rotation in all of Major League Baseball and ride that to the NL pennant this season. This would be a great outcome for the Mets, and it's fairly realistic.
Mets predicted to have best SP depth in MLB
"Mets ride MLB's best pitching depth to NL pennant," Sarris predicts. "... Teams use around 10 starters to get through the season, on average. Those depth innings matter a lot. And the New York Mets might have the best pitching depth in baseball."
Outside of McLean and Peralta, the Mets' current crop of options in the Majors includes David Peterson, Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea, and Kodai Senga.
That's a strong six-man rotation for the Mets, and that's far from all the depth options the Mets have at their disposal for the upcoming season.
Currently injured and on the 60-day injured list are Tylor Megill and Justin Hagenman. But their best depth comes in the form of three starters who are already on the 40-man roster.
Rounding out the depth for the Mets, with their starter pitching options beyond the current projected six-man rotation are Jonah Tong, Tobias Myers, Christian Scott, and Jonathan Pintaro.
And what's to say the Mets don't go out and acquire more pitching help if the right opportunity arises? Pitching depth is a must for postseason contenders, and there's always room to add more depth, as seen by the Los Angeles Dodgers over the past two years.
Coming into 2026, the Mets have 10 possible starting pitching options, with McLean, Peralta, Peterson, Manaea, Holmes, Senga, Tong, Scott, Myers, and Pintaro forming what Sarris is calling the deepest rotation in baseball.
There's something particularly cool about getting to list yourself at 6-feet tall, rather than 5-foot-something.
Bo Naylor is no longer part of that club with the Cleveland Guardians. His height has changed.
Naylor himself isn't actually any taller or shorter. His official listing with Major League Baseball has just been altered.
Last season, Naylor was listed at 6-feet even.
Now, he's listed at 5-foot-9.
Yep, a drastic change, and for good reason.
"We’re going to see a lot of height changes this year because, with the rollout of ABS, MLB is now measuring each player's height down to the millimeter," Joe Pompliano wrote on X. "The process is super strict — no shoes, no hats, knees exposed, back against the wall — and to account for potential shrinkage throughout the day, MLB is even requiring all its teams to take measurements between 10 am and 12 pm local time on their appointed day."
Naylor, the Guardians starting catcher, will hopefully have a more accurate ABS strike zone for the challenge system. Every little bit counts when it comes to getting strike calls right and how they impact games.
The ABS system will set up the upper and lower portions of the zone based on percentages of a given player's height. So if a hitter has his height listed as too tall, then he'll have a bigger strike zone.
Naylor and a bunch of other players around the league don't want that, and so they've made sure to nail down their accurate height.
Even if it sounds less cool, the change could pay off in the batter's box.
The Philadelphia Phillies have been on a postseason stretch since the 2022 MLB season, as Rob Thomson has helped lead the Phillies to continued regular-season and postseason success.
In the last four years, the Phillies have made the World Series once, the NLCS once, and were bounced in the NLDS as the home team two years in a row. Heading into 2026, it's going to be a huge year for the Phillies as this iteration of the team is running out of time.
That's why the bold prediction from MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince would be such a disaster. He is predicting that the Phillies, an all-in team, will miss the postseason this year, following a recent All-Star host trend from the last three seasons.
Phillies predicted to miss postseason in 2026 in disaster year
"The Phillies will miss the playoffs," Castrovince predicts. "But have you noticed Misummer Classic hosts have been kinda cursed in recent years?"
The Seattle Mariners played host to the All-Star game in 2023 and missed the postseason despite having a 90% chance to make it at one point. Then in 2024, the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers collapsed at the end of the year.
Last year, the Atlanta Braves were out of the postseason race very early in the season due to a litany of injuries and struggling players.
While this is merely correlation, and not causation, this trend is a concerning one for the Phillies. Castrovince is piggybacking on this trend and predicting the Phillies will miss the postseason in 2026.
Philadelphia is relying on Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford, rookies who have yet to make their MLB debuts, for big roles in the 2026 MLB season.
Bryce Harper is getting older, Kyle Schwarber, coming off a $150 million extension, might not be as good as he was last year, and Zack Wheeler is coming off a serious injury.
There are real reasons to be concerned about this Phillies team, but this prediction, in which the Phillies miss the postseason entirely despite being about as all-in as a team can get, would make this upcoming season a complete disaster.
Gavin Lux did some shrinking during the offseason.
Well, at least that's how the official listings spell it out. Lux is three inches shorter for the 2026 season with the Tampa Bay Rays than he was when he left the Cincinnati Reds.
Is he really, though?
Probably not. This is about how MLB is measuring heights going forward.
Because of the ABS challenge system, which sets a strike zone based on a given player's height, the heights need to be accurate.
"We’re going to see a lot of height changes this year because, with the rollout of ABS, MLB is now measuring each player's height down to the millimeter," Joe Pompliano wrote on X. "The process is super strict — no shoes, no hats, knees exposed, back against the wall — and to account for potential shrinkage throughout the day, MLB is even requiring all its teams to take measurements between 10 am and 12 pm local time on their appointed day."
It's hard to understand the ramifications of this exactly, but it has brought to light some players who were really exaggerating on their heights.
Lux, apparently, was one of those guys. Now though, he'll hopefully have the computers giving him a slightly more accurate strike zone.
The irony of Lux's height change is that fans are already hopping in the comments insisting that he isn't even 5-foot-11. So who knows?
All we know is he lost three inches on his official height. But it's baseball, where height probably matters less than any other sport, so Lux should be just fine, no matter how tall he actually is.
Mick Abel was a highly-touted recruit from Oregon. He was a two-time Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year and was set to play college baseball for Oregon State University.
However, he would be selected 15th overall by the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2020 MLB Draft. He would go on to sign his pro deal and start his big-league career.
Abel worked through the minors, made his MLB debut last season, and went on to make six starts. In Triple-A, he was named the International League Pitcher of the Year.
High velocity and newfound command could drive Twins' Mick Abel to success
Abel's time with the Phillies would come to an end ahead of the trade deadline. He was sent to the Minnesota Twins as part of the Jhoan Duran trade.
He would appear in four games for Minnesota, compiling a 1-2 record with an 8.36 ERA across 14 innings of work.
That's not great, but he is having a bounce-back spring. He has appeared in five games, striking out 23 batters with three walks, while keeping his ERA at 2.00, and reaching 97-99 mph on his fastball.
"Abel was a top-100 prospect annually between 2021 and 2024 before he hit a wall in the minors and fell out of favor. Yet he started to find his groove with Minnesota's Triple-A affiliate last season, and he may still be in it. That's a heck of a K/BB ratio, and he's one of nine pitchers with a whiff rate north of 30 percent this spring. The fastball is averaging 96.4 mph, and he's showing more confidence in a curveball that misses bats."
With what he is doing this spring, it is going to be hard to deny Abel a spot in the rotation. Don't be surprised if he comes in as the No. 5 starter and continues to miss barrels.
The Detroit Tigers are looking to be World Series contenders in 2026, in what looks to be Tarik Skubal's final year in Detroit.
To make the most of one of the best pitchers in baseball being on the roster, the Tigers need all of the help they can get, especially in the lineup. That's why they cannot afford to be too picky with who's starting this year. They simply need to win now.
ESPN's Buster Olney predicted that, "sooner rather than later," the Tigers will bring top prospect Kevin McGonigle in the middle of a .990 OPS spring training, to the Majors to be an instant-impact player for the Tigers this season.
Tigers predicted to call up Kevin McGonigle to MLB roster soon
"Kevin McGonigle could play a big role in Detroit this year," Olney writes. "... whether McGonigle opens the season with the tigers or is held back in the minor leagues a couple of weeks - which would delay his free agency by a year - he figures to help Detroit in the big leagues sooner rather than later."
Detroit getting the most out of its 2026 roster is a must. Skubal is in the final year of club control, and even if the Tigers find a way to bring him back, it will be on a massive deal that would restrict their spending elsewhere.
To make sure the Tigers are putting their all into 2026, what might be the last year with Skubal, calling up McGonigle, their top prospect, is a must.
The 21-year-old has been incredibly impressive this spring, playing great defense at both shortstop and third base, while also providing high-quality offense for the Tigers.
He has a .990 OPS this spring, with a .257 batting average, two home runs, and six RBIs with two stolen bases across 35 at-bats.
McGonigle is one of the highest-ranked prospects in baseball, and he's on the cusp of the Majors. Olney is predicting the superstar prospect will see his spot in the Majors come sooner rather than later this season, as he could be a huge contributor for Detroit in 2026.
There’s only one pitcher in baseball you could argue might be better than Paul Skenes. That would be Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers, the winner of the last two American League Cy Young awards.
Skenes and Skubal are clearly the two best pitchers in baseball as evident by the fact that both enter the 2026 as the reigning Cy Young in their respective leagues and the favorites to win again.
For the Pittsburgh Pirates, Skenes headlines what was a strong starting rotation in 2025 and what looks to again be a strength of the team again this season. In addition to Skenes, the Pirates have Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler and a couple guys vying for the fifth spot, likely as a placeholder until Jared Jones returns from injury.
Of the bunch, who should be considered the No. 2 behind Skenes?
The Los Angeles Angels are dealing with a developing concern as Opening Day approaches, with Grayson Rodriguez now at the center of attention. Kurt Suzuki offered a candid update, describing the issue as “dead arm,” a term that quickly raises questions this late in camp. Opening Day is closing in, and even minor setbacks now carry weight.
According to MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger, Rodriguez is experiencing arm soreness, though there remains a chance he can be ready if he improves in the coming days. Still, the Angels are monitoring him closely. That wording matters. It signals uncertainty rather than urgency, but it does not eliminate concern. Kurt Suzuki’s comments, supported by SoCal News’ Jeff Fletcher, add context. Rodriguez was still able to play catch, which suggests the issue is manageable. Even so, the team has chosen to slow him down. That decision stands out.
There is also history here. Grayson Rodriguez’s 2025 season was shaped by injuries. Elbow inflammation surfaced early. Shoulder soreness followed. Then came a lat strain. Eventually, it led to season-ending elbow surgery. Those details are not distant. They shape how this current update is viewed.
But availability remains the question. Dead arm can pass quickly. It can also linger. The Angels are taking a cautious path, and that makes sense given his recent timeline. If Rodriguez responds well, he could still be ready for Opening Day. If not, the injured list becomes a real possibility.
The energy is building. The lights are coming on. Yet uncertainty now follows one of the team’s key arms. So as the Angels approach Opening Day, one question remains: will Grayson Rodriguez be ready when it matters most?
You know what would’ve qualified as a bold prediction?
Anticipating the Yankees would enjoy one of their most stress-free, undramatic, healthy and humdrum camps in recent history, to say the least.
Spring training sites are the forever headquarters of baseball optimism, but the happenings around Steinbrenner Field – to date – mostly raised expectations for 2026.
So, let’s take a few wild swings about the pinstriped season ahead.
Spencer Jones gets the call
Young outfielders Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones will begin the season at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
But the lefty-slugger Jones gets the first call-up, and winds up with more MLB plate appearances than the switch-hitting Dominguez, despite his big-league experience.
If there’s an injury situation or a performance drop-off by Trent Grisham, you can see the fleet, 6-foot-7 Jones making his major league debut and getting starts in center field.
Dominguez is still just 23, two years younger than Jones, but the Yankees no longer view him as a center field option.
Should Jones start hot at Triple-A, with an outfield need in the Bronx, maybe the Yanks keep Dominguez at Scranton to work on his left field defense and right-handed swing.
Luis Gil is traded by the deadline
Already, it’s starting to look as if Gil will be one of the first starters bounced from the rotation once the injury-rehabbing veterans return.
That could be as early as late April, when lefty Carlos Rodon (elbow surgery) is due back.
Or it could be around June 1, when ace Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery) is expected to return, or if one of those electric young prospects forces his way to the majors.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman casts a wide trade net and he’s willing to deal with rivals or contenders if the matchup is suitable.
Would the Mets need a starter by the deadline? Would there be a big-league need, or a few prospects, that sways the Yanks to deal from a strength?
If Cole, Rodon and Max Fried are on their game, fronting a productive rotation (with the chance of getting Clarke Schmidt back by late summer), Gil could be moved.
Carlos Lagrange wins Rookie of the Year
In some way, at some time, Carlos LaGrange will impact the 2026 Yankees.
It might be as a starter, or it might be as a reliever. But the Yankees saw into the immediate future when they witnessed LaGrange’s impressive spring training work.
Lagrange’s 100-plus mph fastballs during live BP sessions were “silly, never seen anything like it,’’ said Cole, who also witnessed Lagrange’s improved control and command of the slider and changeup.
Completing the Florida-version of camp on an 11-inning exhibition-game scoreless streak, Lagrange left little doubt about his readiness to help the Yankees this year.
As either a rotation piece or a multi-inning bullpen weapon, Lagrange makes enough of a difference over about a four-month period to capture Rookie of the Year honors.
Aaron Judge narrowly misses another MVP
Around the Fourth of July, Aaron Judge will connect for his 400th career home run.
Batting over .300 again, on the way to another 50-homer season, Judge will be firmly in the conversation to win a third straight AL MVP award.
But this time, Judge will be runner-up to Kanas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who takes his exceptional all-around game to new heights in 2026.
Oh, and the Royals win the AL Central title, while the Texas Rangers win the AL West.
In the NL, the Phillies repeat as East champs, the Cubs win the Central and – naturally – the Dodgers take the West.
As for the Yankees…
Yankees win the pennant
It’s been a while since we’ve gone here, but…
This run-it-back lineup can produce 850 runs, and this pitching staff – with the Cole-Rodon cavalry coming back, and the likes of Lagrange and Elmer Rodriguez pushing up – could be special.
If there’s a need for bullpen arms, those reinforcements can come from within.
With its pitching depth and depth of talent, this club seems better equipped to avoid the too-familiar June swoon, but that requires continued good health from a veteran core group.
No one’s promising a smooth road, but this year’s trail leads to the World Series.
Stahl played for the Kansas City A’s (1964-66), Mets (1967-68), San Diego Padres (1969-72) and Cincinnati Reds (1973). He made the only postseason appearance of his career in his final season with the Reds, and collected the final hit of his career in the final inning of the 1973 National League Championship Series.
Stahl played all three outfield positions and first base in his career. He retired with a .232/.292/.351 slash line, 36 home runs, and 163 RBIs in 730 career games.
Stahl is perhaps most famous for a single check-swing that led to a historic walk.
On Sept. 2, 1972, Chicago Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas was one out away from a perfect game when Stahl drew a walk with two outs in the ninth inning. He checked his swing on 3-and-2, according to umpire Bruce Froemming, a call Pappas would later dispute.
Pappas retired the next hitter to beat the Padres and record a no-hitter. But Stahl’s fortuitous walk stuck with the pitcher for years afterward.
After retiring as a player, Stahl went to work for the Peabody Coal Company before retiring to his home state of Illinois.
While the Red Sox return to Boston in a matter of days — Opening Day is March 26 against the Reds in Cincinnati — Casas will either remain in Florida at extended spring training or meet with a Red Sox affiliate’s medical staff before playing in games.
“I don’t have a plan to start Opening Day with an affiliate,” Casas said, according to McCaffrey. “I haven’t discussed with the team if they want me to continue rehab at a facility up north at an affiliate. We haven’t discussed where I’ll be in April, but we’re taking it week by week.”
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love will throw out the ceremonial first pitch when the Brewers face the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, March 26 at 1:10 p.m.
It won't be Love's debut on the mound in Milwaukee. He also handled first-pitch duties on Memorial Day last season. But he may want to take a few more warmup pitches than he did last May, because the pitch he threw to Christian Yelich was nowhere near the strike zone.
Oof: Packers QB Jordan Love threw out the first pitch at the Brewers game today and it did not go as planned 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/rx79icoDT4
Fresh off his run with Team Canada at the World Baseball Classic, pitcher Logan Allen signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to a report March 19 from Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.
Allen, 28, will be assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City according to the report.
Allen, a left-handed reliever, has appeared in parts of five major league seasons with the San Diego Padres (2019), Cleveland Guardians (2019-22), Baltimore Orioles (2022) and Arizona Diamondbacks (2024).
A former Boston Red Sox draft pick (eighth round, 2015), Allen lingered on the free agent market after his minor league contract with the D-Backs expired in November 2024. He did not land a contract in North America last year.
Allen signed with the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Organization. He appeared in 32 games (31 starts) and went 7-12 with a 4.53 ERA last season.
In two games for Canada at the WBC, Allen allowed four hits and one run in 3.1 innings out of the bullpen.
“Thank you @baseballcanada for an experience of a lifetime,” Allen wrote on Instagram after the tournament. “Getting to wear the is something my family and I will cherish forever. Merci les fans, we will be back! ”
As it turned out, Allen was back in affiliated baseball long before the next WBC rolled around.
Login
