The Opener

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

1. Will the Cardinals make a spring trade?

This weekend saw some small signs of movement in the trade market surrounding the Cardinals bubble to the surface. That began with reports of reignited trade talks between St. Louis and Houston regarding Nolan Arenado. While the two teams seem to have touched base again in the wake of Alex Bregman signing in Boston, a trade sending Arenado to Houston is considered to be a “longshot.” Arenado isn’t the only Cardinals player whose name came up as a potential trade candidate this weekend, however; the Cards could be open to late conversations surrounding right-hander Erick Fedde. Trading either Arenado or Fedde before Opening Day would more clearly set the tone for St. Louis’s 2025 campaign after an offseason where the club has signaled they want to focus on the future without many concrete moves backing that up.

2. Madrigal to undergo MRI:

After already losing Frankie Montas to a lat injury, the Mets suffered another potential hit to their depth yesterday when utility infielder Nick Madrigal suffered a dislocated shoulder while fielding a grounder. Madrigal will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the issue, per MLB.com, which could require surgery if the dislocation is particularly severe. Luisangel Acuña, Ronny Mauricio and Brett Baty give the club some infield depth, but Mauricio isn’t even getting into spring games until mid-March after last spring’s ACL tear (per Newsday’s Tim Healey), and Baty isn’t the backup shortstop option that Madrigal or Acuña would be. As such, Acuña seems likeliest to step up, but it bears mentioning that Jose Iglesias remains unsigned if the Mets want to look outside the organization and focus on getting their in-house youngsters regular at-bats in Triple-A.

3. Will the Twins be sold?

News broke Friday that Justin Ishbia, the reported leading candidate to purchase the Minnesota Twins, had pulled out of the bidding to pivot toward acquiring a larger stake in the White Sox — a club in which he already holds a minority stake. It’s since been reported that “everything is on the table” for the Twins and the Pohlad family, including the possibility that the club is taken off the market. More clarity surrounding the future of the franchise is expected within the next month or two, and it figures to be a top story to keep an eye on given the massive potential impact a sale would have not only on the Twins organization but the AL Central as a whole.

As Spring Training continues, here are four things to keep an eye on heading into the weekend:

1. Yankees alter facial hair policy:

For more than half a century, the Yankees have adhered to a strict facial hair policy barring their players from sporting beards. The policy dates back to 1973, when late owner George Steinbrenner disapproved of the shaggy hair and facial hair of several players on Opening Day — Thurman Munson, Sparky Lyle and Bobby Murcer among them. Each offseason, there’s an air of almost novelty when a typically bearded player signs with the Yankees and fans wonder how he’ll look reporting to camp clean-shaven. (Or, alternatively, when a longtime Yankee departs and promptly grows a beard, as Gleyber Torres has done in his new Detroit environs.) Many Yankees have still donned mustaches over the years, with examples ranging from Don Mattingly to Jason Giambi to 2024 Yankees like Nestor Cortes and Austin Wells. Newly signed Max Fried arrived in camp with a prominent mustache on display last week.

As of this morning, managing partner Hal Steinbrenner has had a change of heart. He issued the following statement:

“In recent weeks I have spoken to a large number of former and current Yankees — spanning several eras — to elicit their perspectives on our longstanding facial hair and grooming policy, and I appreciate their earnest and varied feedback. These most recent conversations are an extension of ongoing internal dialogue that dates back several years. Ultimately the final decision rests with me, and after great consideration, we will be amending our expectations to allow our players and uniformed personnel to have well-groomed beards moving forward. It is the appropriate time to move beyond the familiar comfort of our former policy.”

It doesn’t appear that the Yankees will embrace a full Brandon Marsh or peak “Captain Caveman” Johnny Damon look anytime soon, but for the first time in a generation, there’ll be some beards sprouting up in camp. Early returns on a quick poll from Yankees beat writer Bryan Hoch suggests that the move is overwhelmingly popular among fans, with roughly 80% of respondents approving of the change.

2. Spring Training games:

The first Spring Training game of the year was held yesterday between the Cubs and the Dodgers, and throughout the weekend the rest of the league will get in on the action as well. Notable starters who have been announced for this weekend’s slate of games include Yankees righty Marcus Stroman and Dodgers righty Tony Gonsolin, both of whom are fighting for a rotation spot this spring. Diamondbacks and Red Sox fans will get their first glimpse of offseason additions Corbin Burnes and Garrett Crochet pitching for their new organizations. Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara will be making his first pitching appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. Fans and clubs will also be getting their first taste of the automatic ball-strike system that MLB is testing this spring, which could be implemented in the majors as soon as next year.

3. Miller in concussion protocol:

Yesterday’s game between the Dodgers and the Cubs featured a scary moment where right-hander Bobby Miller was struck with a 106mph line drive off the bat of Michael Busch. The comebacker struck Miller in the head, though after briefly hitting the ground the 25-year-old managed to walk off the field under his own power. Miller later posted on social media to assure fans that he was doing well after the incident, and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale relayed that the righty remains in MLB’s concussion protocol. Miller, Gonsolin and Dustin May are among the pitchers hoping to win the final rotation spot in Los Angeles this spring, though on-the-field considerations are a very, very distant second to the player’s general well-being in frightening situations such as this.

4. Will Quintana find the right deal?

After the Pirates signed southpaw Andrew Heaney to deepen their rotation mix yesterday, reporting indicated that Pittsburgh actually went to Jose Quintana first in hopes of working out a reunion. The veteran southpaw was reportedly offered a guarantee larger than the $5.25MM Heaney landed from the Pirates, but when Quintana declined the offer, the Bucs pivoted to bring Heaney into the fold. With Heaney off the market, Quintana is now the clear best left-handed starter still available and arguably the best overall starter left on the market. With the majority of teams seemingly satisfied with their starting depth as things stand, however, will he be able to find the deal he’s looking for?

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

1. Spring Training games begin:

Today marks the first Spring Training game of the year, as the Cubs and Dodgers face off at the latter’s spring home of Camelback Ranch. Chicago and L.A. are getting an earlier start than the rest of the league thanks to their early start to the regular season in Tokyo, which is now less than a month away. The Dodgers are sending right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the mound for the spring opener, while the Cubs will counter with righty Cody Poteet. The Dodgers haven’t revealed who else they intend to pitch in the game beyond Yamamoto, but MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian and Sonja Chen report that non-roster veterans Brad Keller and Brooks Kriske will pitch for Chicago today, as well as youngsters Daniel Palencia and Jack Neely.

2. Extensions coming down the pipe for the A’s?

The Athletics are a team without a permanent home for the time being, but that isn’t stopping them from locking up multi-year talent. After adding Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs to the rotation this offseason, the club extended star DH Brent Rooker with a five-year deal. Now that spring training has begun and the club’s roster is mostly set, the A’s have turned their attention to potentially working out extensions with more pieces of their young core. That reportedly includes outfielder Lawrence Butler, but GM David Forst indicated that the club is talking to other young players as well without naming specific names. Closer Mason Miller, outfielder JJ Bleday, and catcher Shea Langeliers are among the club’s other players who could make some sense as extension targets.

3. Cubs roster move expected:

The Cubs are known to be in agreement with veteran infielder/DH Justin Turner on a contract, and the 40-year-old veteran was reportedly in camp with Chicago yesterday getting his spring work started. That surely means that a formal announcement of Turner’s signing with the team is imminent, but one obstacle remains before the deal can be made official. Chicago’s 40-man roster is full, meaning that the Cubs will need to make room for Turner with a corresponding move in order to officially bring him into the fold. The club has no obvious contenders for a trip to the 60-day injured list, so that will mean either designating a player for assignment or perhaps working out a trade that clears a 40-man roster spot.

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

1. Nationals 40-man move incoming:

The Nationals were reportedly nearing a deal with right-hander Lucas Sims earlier this week, and this morning MASNsports.com’s Mark Zuckerman reports that Sims has a locker in the team’s clubhouse. Given that, it seems likely that the club will make Sims’ deal official at some point today. The Nationals will need to make room on the 40-man roster in order to bring Sims into the fold officially. Right-hander Mason Thompson is recovering from Tommy John surgery after undergoing the procedure last March, making him a potential candidate for the 60-day injured list, but it’s also possible he’ll be ready to return early enough in the season that the club doesn’t want to commit to shelving him for the first two months of the season.

2. Extension season underway:

The Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did not reach an extension before Guerrero’s self-imposed deadline yesterday, which took perhaps the winter’s highest-profile extension target off of the table. That same day, the Diamondbacks finalized an extension with shortstop Geraldo Perdomo that extends the team’s window of club control by three seasons. Spring training is the most common time for players and clubs to discuss the possibility of a longer-term deal. Pending free agents like Guerrero, Kyle Tucker, Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto have all seen their names surface in extension rumors. A team like the Red Sox could have extra motivation to try to lock up a trade acquisition (e.g. Garrett Crochet) after parting with significant prospect talent to acquire him. But, Perdomo’s extension serves as a reminder that many long-term deals for players still approaching or just entering arbitration come to fruition without virtually any buzz beforehand. As can be seen in MLBTR’s Contract Tracker, there were 25 spring extensions hammered out from 2022-24: six in 2024, 11 in 2023 and another eight in 2022.

3. MLBTR Chat:

Spring training is now officially underway, though a handful of of MLBTR’s Top 50 Free Agents remain unsigned and some clubs still have more work to do before the start of the season. Whether you have a trade proposal in the back of your mind or questions about an upcoming camp battle this spring, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be here to answer your questions during a live chat scheduled for 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.

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

1. Full-squad workouts for late arrivals:

The majority of clubs have already fully reported to Spring Training, but the handful that have not yet done so are set to host their first full-squad workouts today. In Florida’s Grapefruit League, that group of stragglers consists of the Braves, Orioles, Astros, Blue Jays, and Nationals. Meanwhile, the Guardians, Rockies, Brewers, and Mariners are the last teams to get Spring Training fully underway in Arizona’s Cactus League. A handful of notable position players will be appearing on the field in their new uniforms for the first time in Florida, including Jurickson Profar with Atlanta, Anthony Santander with Toronto, and Christian Walker with Houston.

2. Nats, Sims close to deal?

Right-hander Lucas Sims is reportedly nearing a deal with the Nationals as the right-hander looks to rebound from an up-and-down season with the Reds and Red Sox last year. The 30-year-old was coming off the best season of his career in 2023, where he pitched to an excellent 3.10 ERA (151 ERA+) in 61 innings of work while striking out 27.9% of opponents. In the first half with Cincinnati last year, Sims took a step back from those lofty numbers but remained effective with a 3.57 ERA (124 ERA+) and a 26% strikeout rate in 35 1/3 innings of work. The wheels came off after a midseason trade to Boston, however, and Sims was torched to the tune of a 6.43 ERA in 15 innings. Should he reach a deal with the Nationals, he’ll look to turn things around as a veteran relief option for a young D.C. club alongside Jorge Lopez after the Nats non-tendered longtime closer Kyle Finnegan back in November.

3. Rotation help back on the menu in New York?

In an offseason where the Mets landed Juan Soto and brought back Pete Alonso to alter the complexion of their lineup, they did relatively little to augment their starting pitching this winter. After watching Luis Severino walk in free agency, the club brought back Sean Manaea on a new contract and added Frankie Montas, Clay Holmes, and Griffin Canning to its rotation mix. At first glance, it appeared a largely unproven rotation mix with plenty of question marks. That’s even more true now that Montas is dealing with a lat strain that will shut him down beyond Opening Day, which will cause him to miss at least a month to open the season.

It’s not hard to imagine the loss of Montas spurring the Mets to further augment their rotation mix, and a handful of interesting options remain available in free agency. A reunion with Jose Quintana could still come together, and other players like Kyle Gibson, Andrew Heaney, and Spencer Turnbull are also still available on the market. A poll of MLBTR readers last week characterized Quintana as the best starting pitcher remaining on the market, though both Heaney and Turnbull also received significant support as well.

As spring training rolls along, here are four things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:

1. Vlad’s extension window closing:

Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a free agent following the season, has set a report-date deadline in extension talks with the Blue Jays. Guerrero and the rest of the Jays’ position players will arrive in camp tomorrow. That leaves Monday as the final full day for the two parties to work out a long-term deal. While it’s always possible a long-term arrangement will come together in the wee hours of the morning or in the eleventh hour tomorrow as Guerrero arrives at camp, the Jays will surely spend the day trying to bridge any gaps with their lineup cornerstone. Guerrero, 25, agreed to a $28.5MM deal to avoid arbitration in his final season of eligibility. He’s coming off a massive .323/.396/.544 batting line (165 wRC+), the third 30-homer of output of the past four seasons, and a career-low 13.8% strikeout rate. Toronto put forth an offer in the $340MM range earlier this winter, which would be in the same vein as Fernando Tatis’ 14-year deal in San Diego, but that didn’t get a deal across the finish line.

2. Trout addresses the media:

As noted by Sam Blum of The Athletic, Angels manager Ron Washington spoke to reporters yesterday and revealed that he met with Mike Trout and the club’s front office to discuss their plans for the club’s outfield alignment this year and how best to keep Trout healthy this season. Washington didn’t reveal the contents of those discussions, but Trout is expected to do so when he addresses the media today. The possibility of moving Trout, now 33, out of center field and getting him playing time either at an outfield corner or as a DH has long been bandied about as a way to keep the future Hall of Famer healthy.

After standing out as the best player in the sport throughout most of the 2010s, Trout has appeared in just 266 games total over the past four seasons due to a variety of injury woes. He’s remained elite when healthy during that time, slashing .276/.376/.575 with 40-homer pop, but after playing more than 82 games just once in the past five seasons it seems prudent to consider changes that could keep Trout healthy. Of course, the presence of Jorge Soler as the club’s likely regular DH for the 2025 and ’26 seasons could complicate efforts to get Trout off his feet more regularly.

3. Means, Guardians nearing deal?

Longtime Orioles southpaw John Means is among the more interesting free agent starters left on the market given his career 3.68 ERA and status as a former All-Star and Rookie of the Year finalist. As attractive as he looks as a potential rotation addition on paper, he comes with substantial risk. The lefty underwent the second Tommy John surgery of his career back in June, and it’s uncertain whether he’ll be able to contribute to an acquiring club in 2025. Those question marks don’t seem to have deterred a Guardians club that often struggled to fill out its rotation mix last year, however. The sides have reportedly had “advanced” talks about a deal, and further details — or perhaps even a contract announcement — could be coming down the pipe in the near future.

4. Full-squad workouts begin for most teams:

After the Cubs and Dodgers hosted their first full-squad workouts over the weekend, the majority of clubs are doing the same today. In Florida’s Grapefruit League, the Red Sox, Tigers, Marlins, Twins, Mets, Yankees, Phillies, Pirates, Cardinals, and Rays are all poised to begin full-squad workouts today. Meanwhile, Arizona’s Cactus League plays host to nine teams that will start their full-squad workouts today: the Diamondbacks, Athletics, White Sox, Reds, Royals, Angels, Padres, Giants, and Rangers. For many teams the start of full-squad workouts doubles as the scheduled report date for position players, though some clubs such as the Yankees set their report date earlier than that. A number of the offseason’s notable free agent signings are set to participate in their first workouts (and, perhaps, first media availability) of the spring, including Juan Soto and Willy Adames.

With Spring Training now underway for all 30 teams, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world headed into the weekend:

1. Full-squad workouts begin:

With pitchers and catchers all around the league having already reported to camp, the Cubs are set to kick off the first full-squad workout of the year today as the club’s position players report to camp. That’s followed by the first full-squad workout of the spring for the Dodgers this weekend. While the report date for position players isn’t attached to a notable roster change like the return of the 60-day injured list, it still gives fans a first chance to get a glimpse of the hitters their club added during the offseason. In Chicago’s case, the highlight is star outfielder Kyle Tucker. L.A. doesn’t have a new star hitter on that level, but Hyeseong Kim and Michael Conforto are both notable offseason additions.

2. Lowe arbitration hearing:

The final arbitration hearing of the winter is set to begin today, with new Nationals first baseman Nathaniel Lowe requesting an $11.1MM salary while the Nats counter with $10.3MM. A decision figures to be announced over the weekend, and that decision will serve as a tiebreaker between teams and players for this cycle of arbitration after an even 4-4 split between the sides across the first eight decisions. Pirates right-handers Johan Oviedo and Dennis Santana, Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan, and Yankees righty Mark Leiter Jr. all lost their cases against their clubs, while Angels infielder Luis Rengifo, Angels outfielder Mickey Moniak, Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar, and Cardinals right-hander Andre Pallante all emerged victorious from their own hearings.

3. Veterans accepting minor league deals?

With camp underway for all 30 clubs, some veterans still lingering in free agency have begun to accept minor league deals in order to get into camp with a club and get to work. Slugger Joey Gallo signed a non-roster deal with the White Sox yesterday, while veteran reliever Luis Garcia reportedly signed a minor league pact with the Dodgers. Those veterans, as Article XX(B) free agents under the current collective bargaining agreements, will have uniform opt-out opportunities headed into Opening Day and throughout the first half of the season. That makes it a bit easier for players in their situation to find big league playing time even after accepting a minor league deal. It’s likely we’ll see some of the other lingering free agents on the market begin to follow suit in the coming days, though there are still a handful of players who’ll surely command major league contracts as well (e.g. David Robertson, Kyle Gibson, Andrew Heaney). You can check out an up-to-date list of the remaining unsigned free agents here.

After a busy day where the winter’s best remaining hitter and pitcher came off the board in free agency, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:

1. Pitchers and catchers continue reporting:

After today, all 30 clubs’ pitchers and catchers will have reported for their first official team workout. The Guardians, Rockies, Brewers, and Mariners in the Cactus League as well as the Grapefruit League’s Orioles, Astros, Twins, and Blue Jays are all set to kick things off today. Those teams all unlock access to the 60-day injured list today, meaning any of them with a player suffering a long-term injury will have more 40-man roster flexibility going forward. Team officials figure to be in camp answering questions from the media as well, and as always it’s possible that previously-unreported injuries could crop up as players trickle into camp.

2. What’s next for Arenado?

The trade market for Nolan Arenado has long appeared unlikely to develop until after top infield free agent Alex Bregman signed somewhere. He finally did so last night, however, agreeing to a three-year deal with the Red Sox worth $40MM annually before factoring in deferred money. That’s bad news for Arenado and the Cardinals, as Boston was widely expected to pivot toward Arenado in the event that they came up short in the Bregman bidding. The other failed suitors for Bregman seem to be unlikely destinations. Arenado already blocked a trade to the Astros. A trade between the Cardinals and their archrival Cubs is all but impossible to imagine, and it’s unclear if Arenado would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to approve a deal to the Tigers or the Blue Jays.

3. Lower levels of free agency moving:

While most of the attention was on the major deals signed by Bregman and Nick Pivetta yesterday, they were just two of the seven players who signed big league free agent deals yesterday. All corners of the market have begun to move, with relievers like right-hander John Brebbia, starters like righty Cal Quantrill, and position players like center fielder Michael A. Taylor all agreeing to deals. A number of noteworthy free agents still remain on the market, including Justin Turner, Anthony Rizzo, Alex Verdugo, Paul DeJong, Andrew Heaney, Jose Quintana, and David Robertson. Who will be the next one to land a contract?

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

1. Pitchers and catchers continue reporting:

The Cubs and Dodgers have already gotten started on Spring Training ahead of next month’s early start to the regular season in Tokyo, but the rest of the league is beginning to catch up to them today with many clubs hosting their first workout for pitchers and catchers. In Florida’s Grapefruit League, the Braves, Red Sox, Tigers, Marlins, Mets, Yankees, Phillies, Pirates, Cardinals, Rays, and Nationals all host their first official workout today. The same is true for the Diamondbacks, Athletics, White Sox, Reds, Royals, Angels, Padres, Giants, and Rangers in Arizona’s Cactus League. With the start of Spring Training, these clubs also unlock access to the 60-day injured list for roster maneuvering purposes, while club officials figure to offer health updates on players as they begin to trickle into camp.

2. Cardinals arbitration results expected:

As noted by the Associated Press, utilityman Brendan Donovan went to an arbitration hearing against the Cardinals yesterday, asking for a $3.3MM salary while St. Louis countered at $2.85MM. Decisions on the cases of both Donovan and his teammate Lars Nootbaar, who went to a hearing against the Cards last week, are expected today. Nootbaar filed at $2.95MM and the club countered with $2.45MM. Teams have won a slim majority of cases to this point in the process, taking home victories against right-handers Johan Oviedo, Dennis Santana, and Mark Leiter Jr. while outfielder Mickey Moniak and infielder Luis Rengifo emerged victorious. Nathaniel Lowe of the Nationals and Andre Pallante of the Cardinals are expected to go to hearings later this week, though it’s theoretically possible an agreement could be reached before then to avoid arbitration.

3. Kershaw move to be made official?

The Dodgers finally reached their long-awaited agreement with future Hall of Famer and franchise face Clayton Kershaw yesterday, though the deal is pending a physical. Notably, Kershaw was already in camp with the club yesterday, which suggests that the southpaw’s physical could be squared away in relatively short order to make way for an official announcement of the deal. Terms of the agreement should come to light soon. The physical isn’t a completely meaningless step in the process given the soon-to-be 37-year-old’s injury history, but considering the longstanding expectation of a deal, it’s reasonable to expect the sides will work out some sort of agreement regardless of what the physical may reveal.

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

1. Dodger pitchers and catchers report:

Today is the report date for Dodgers pitchers and catchers, making them the second team to officially kick off spring training after the Cubs did so on Sunday. A number of notable new faces will be in Dodgers camp after a busy offseason, including Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, and Kirby Yates. Aside from the Dodgers’ preseason activities officially getting underway, the start of camp also means that the 60-day IL will open for the Dodgers today. That opens the door for the club to finalize Enrique Hernandez’s one-year deal and hammer something out with veteran southpaw Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers started to suffer from a major 40-man roster crunch late in the offseason, but they have a whopping five 60-day IL candidates with each of Gavin Stone, River Ryan, Emmet Sheehan, Kyle Hurt and Brusdar Graterol on the mend from elbow surgery (Ryan, Sheehan, Hurt) or shoulder surgery (Stone, Graterol).

2. DFA resolutions expected today:

Cubs southpaw Rob Zastryzny and Blue Jays right-hander Michael Petersen were both designated for assignment last week as their clubs made room on the 40-man roster for the additions of Ryan Brasier and Max Scherzer, respectively. Both players’ seven-day DFA windows expire this afternoon, so we should find out today what’s next for both players.

Zastryzny, 33 in March, has a 4.30 ERA in 67 MLB innings across parts of six seasons since he debuted with Chicago in 2016. Petersen, meanwhile, made his big league debut for the Dodgers back in June and pitched to a 5.95 ERA in 16 appearances between L.A. and Miami. If Zastryzny clears waivers, he’ll have the opportunity to elect free agency rather than be outrighted to the minors by Chicago. The same cannot be said for Petersen, who has never cleared outright waivers before in his career and would be available to Toronto as non-roster depth should he go unclaimed.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

Spring training is now officially underway, though seven of MLBTR’s Top 50 Free Agents remain unsigned and plenty of clubs still have more work to do before the start of the season. Whether you have a trade proposal in the back of your mind or questions about an upcoming camp battle this spring, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be here to answer your questions during a live chat scheduled for 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.