The Opener News & Rumors

With baseball officially back for all 30 clubs, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on as we head into the weekend:

1. Players in DFA Limbo:

In the run-up to Opening Day, a number of players — many of them out of minor league options — were designated for assignment to clear space for prospects or veteran non-roster players who won an Opening Day job in spring training. MLBTR’s Anthony Franco took a look yesterday at the 23 players who were DFA’d ahead of Opening Day, including a former consensus top-100 prospect in Oscar Colas.

The window during which players can remain in limbo following a DFA lasts one week, during which time clubs must either work out a trade involving the player or place him on waivers to be claimed by any interested club. Should they clear waivers, some players (i.e. those with three-plus years of service or a prior outright assignment) will be able to elect free agency and pursue an opportunity elsewhere on their own terms. Others will simply be assigned outright to the minor leagues and serve as non-roster depth for their current clubs.

2. Flaherty returns to Los Angeles:

The Tigers are in Los Angeles facing the Dodgers, and right-hander Jack Flaherty (3.17 ERA in 2024) is poised to take the mound today for Detroit. It’s a homecoming for the right-hander, who was traded from the Tigers to the Dodgers last summer and pitched well down the stretch before being part of their postseason rotation as they stormed to their second World Series championship in five years. In his first start of the season, he’ll now face many of those teammates with whom he celebrated a World Series win just a few months ago. On the bump opposite Flaherty for the Dodgers today is righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who pitched five innings of one-run ball against the Cubs in the Tokyo Series earlier this month to kick off his own regular season. The game is set to begin at 7:10pm local time in Los Angeles.

3. Sugano to make MLB debut, others to make team debuts:

On Sunday, the Orioles will wrap up a four-game set against the Blue Jays with right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano on the mound opposite veteran righty Chris Bassitt (4.16 ERA in 2024). Sugano, 35, is a veteran of 12 seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. He’s been sensational in NPB play throughout his career, with a lifetime 2.43 ERA across more than 1800 innings of work with the Yomiuri Giants. Sugano enjoyed a vintage final season in NPB last year, posting a 1.67 ERA in 156 2/3 frames despite a strikeout rate of just 18.3%. Now that he’s in his mid-30s, Sugano will get the opportunity to test himself against MLB players for the first time, facing a lineup that features noted sluggers like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Anthony Santander in a game scheduled for 1:37pm local time in Toronto.

Sugano is the only “rookie” scheduled to start a game this weekend, but we’ll get the first true glimpse at a number of players in their new environs. Among them are Max Fried with the Yankees, Charlie Morton with the Orioles, Nestor Cortes with the Brewers (in New York against his former Yankee teammates), Max Scherzer with the Blue Jays, Justin Verlander with the Giants, Jesus Luzardo with the Phillies and Walker Buehler with the Red Sox.

Here are three things we’ll be following around baseball as the 2025 season gets underway:

1. Opening Day has arrived:

The 2025 MLB regular season technically began in Tokyo earlier this month with a two-game set between the Dodgers and Cubs. Yet, today marks the first game of the season for 26 of the league’s 30 teams. The Yankees and Brewers will kick things off with the first matchup of the day at 2:05 pm CT, and games will continue throughout the afternoon and evening, ending with contests between the Cubs and Diamondbacks and the Athletics and Mariners at 9:10 pm CT. Only the Rays and Rockies will have to wait one more day to get their seasons started, as the Rays have been given some extra time to prepare their new, temporary stadium, George M. Steinbrenner Field.

2. Roster spot for Livan Soto?

Livan Soto does not have a spot on the Orioles’ 40-man roster, nor has he been informed he’s breaking camp. However, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports that the young infielder has a locker in the visiting clubhouse at the Rogers Centre ahead of today’s Opening Day matchup between the Orioles and Blue Jays.

Baltimore acquired Soto from the Reds ahead of the trade deadline last summer. The 24-year-old came with limited big league experience (23 games, 74 PA), but the O’s took advantage of his optionability and defensive versatility to use him as an up-and-down depth piece for the bench. He went 3-for-10 with an .862 OPS in 12 games, taking reps at second base, third base, and shortstop. The Orioles DFA’d Soto in January but invited him to big league camp this spring. Whether or not he makes the Opening Day roster likely depends on the status of fellow utility man Jorge Mateo. Mateo underwent elbow surgery last season and has been slowly building up this spring. It remains unclear if he’ll need to start the year on the IL, but if he does, Soto would presumably take his spot on the active roster. For what it’s worth, Kubatko points out that Mateo does not currently have a locker in Toronto.

3. The Orioles’ final bullpen spot:

Orioles right-hander Bryan Baker finds himself in a similar position to Soto. As Kubatko notes, Baker has not yet been informed if he has made the Opening Day roster, but he too has a locker at the Rogers Centre. Unlike Soto, however, Baker is already on Baltimore’s 40-man and is out of minor league options. In other words, it would be bigger news if Baker didn’t make the Opening Day roster, as the Orioles would have to designate him for assignment. What’s more, Kubatko reports that neither Matt Bowman nor Roansy Contreras, Baker’s biggest competitors for the final bullpen spot, has a locker in Toronto. It certainly seems like the job is his.

The 30-year-old Baker pitched well for Baltimore in his rookie season two years ago, putting up a 3.49 ERA and 3.35 SIERA in 66 games. He followed that up with a solid sophomore campaign (3.60 ERA, 4.14 SIERA in 46 games) but spent most of the final two months of the season at Triple-A after the trade deadline. This past year, he was optioned and recalled five times throughout the campaign. While his 5.01 ERA in 19 games was poor, his underlying numbers (3.48 SIERA, 3.59 xERA) remained solid.

Happy Opening Day eve! With just one more day to go before 2025 regular season begins, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on today:

1. NRIs to be added:

As teams finish finalizing their Opening Day rosters, plenty of 40-man roster churn should be expected. Brendan Rodgers, Cam Smith, Sean Newcomb, Brad Keller, Randy Dobnak, and Cavan Biggio are all expected to be added to their respective club’s 40-man after making the Opening Day roster as non-roster invitees to Spring Training, and those are just the names reported yesterday. Teams with full 40-man rosters will need to make corresponding moves to clear space for their new additions. For many clubs, that will be as simple as transferring an injured player to the 60-day injured list. Others already have an open 40-man spot after passing a player through waivers or returning a Rule 5 pick. Still, some will need to designate a player for assignment in order to make room for their newly-rostered players, which creates the possibility for further turnover.

2. Other roster moves incoming:

Other moves not involving NRIs should be expected, as well. For example, the Diamondbacks are reportedly poised to sign southpaw Jalen Beeks and will need to make a 40-man roster move before that becomes official. While Beeks is slated to join the roster in Arizona, there are some expected outgoing roster moves as well. The Mets are expected to place outfielder Alexander Canario on waivers, for instance. The recent influx of free agents available after the weekend’s Article XX(B) opt outs could lead to more signings besides Beeks, and there will likely be a few more out-of-options players squeezed off their clubs’ Opening Day rosters over the next day or so. Astros outfielder/first baseman/catcher Cooper Hummel is reportedly one such player.

3. Last minute opt-out opportunities:

While the majority of opt-out opportunities in players’ minor league deals coincided with the uniform Article XX(B) opt outs that occurred over the weekend, a handful of stragglers have come through in the days since. Right-hander Dan Altavilla opted out of his minor league deal with the White Sox and was granted his release yesterday. Aside from more straightforward opt-out opportunities, players could have upward mobility clauses they could trigger to force their clubs to offer them up to rivals willing to offer them a major league roster spot such as the one utilized by right-hander Nick Anderson earlier this week.

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

1. Red Sox in Monterrey:

The Red Sox began a two-game exhibition set in Monterrey, Mexico against los Sultanes de Monterrey yesterday. The Red Sox won 10-1 as right-hander Richard Fitts tossed six shutout innings while top prospects Kristian Campbell (3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI) and Marcelo Mayer (2-for-4, 2B, HR, 5 RBI) both enjoyed big games. Game 2 of the exhibition series is scheduled for 6:10pm local time (7:10pm for fans in Boston), and the Red Sox announced yesterday that the club will be hosting a free watch party for the community in East Boston for this evening’s game, which will also feature a photo opportunity with a World Series trophy among other festivities. Click here for more information on the event via MLB.com.

2. Cubs weighing fifth starter job:

The Cubs play their final Spring Training game today, and young right-hander Ben Brown is scheduled to take the mound opposite Atlanta righty Zach Thompson. Brown’s start today is particularly notable as he remains in competition with veteran swingman Colin Rea for the fifth starter job in the Chicago rotation. Rea, 34, signed a big league deal with the Cubs during the offseason and is guaranteed a spot on the roster whether that be in the rotation or the bullpen. He’s struggled to a 7.36 ERA in three appearances this spring.

Brown, by contrast, has options remaining and could be sent down to Triple-A to open the season if he does not begin 2025 in the rotation. Chicago leaned on Brown for 2 2/3 innings of relief following Shota Imanaga‘s start against the Dodgers during the Japan Series last week. He surrendered two earned runs but also managed to punch out five of the 15 Dodgers he faced, including Shohei Ohtani. The 25-year-old threw 55 1/3 innings for the Cubs last year, posting a 3.58 ERA and 3.11 FIP before being sidelined by a neck injury that ultimately ended his season.

3. MLBTR chat today:

Opening Day 2025 is just a few days away, and teams have already begun to finalize their rosters in preparation for the start of the season. Whether you have questions about one of the final remaining roster battles, how your favorite team stacks up in their division ahead of the regular season, or a look back at the offseason, 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.

After a busy weekend, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:

1. Veterans return to free agency:

While the free agent market was largely picked clean as recently as last week, Article XX(B) free agents (as well as a selection of other players) had opt-out clauses this weekend. Many of those players took those opportunities, and those who did not get added to their club’s 40-man roster are now back on the open market. Among the names to return to free agency are infielder Brandon Drury, southpaw Ryan Yarbrough, infielder Nick Ahmed, and right-handers Adam Ottavino and Jake Woodford. It’s possible many of the players who returned to free agency over the weekend could find new clubs in relatively short order, as outfielder Manuel Margot did when he was released by the Brewers, only to sign with the Tigers less than 24 hours later. In Margot’s case, he managed to garner a major league offer, but most players will likely be limited to minor league deals.

2. Hand surgeries out west:

The clubs that previously shared the Bay Area both have position players going under the knife today, as Giants outfielder Jerar Encarnacion is set to undergo surgery on his fractured left hand later today. In West Sacramento, meanwhile, A’s second baseman Zack Gelof is scheduled to undergo hamate surgery to repair a fracture of his own after he was hit by a pitch on his right hand last week. Both players are tentatively expected to be out until May, although more specific timetables for their returns to action are expected at some point after the procedures are completed. A’s top infield prospect Max Muncy (no relation to the former Athletic and current Dodgers third baseman) figures to fill in for Gelof at the keystone while he’s out of commission, while the Giants could rotate players through the DH slot in the lineup while Encarnacion is out.

3. Extension season is heating up:

It’s been a busy few days on the extension front, with multiple players landing long-term deals with their club over the weekend. Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk agreed to a $58MM pact that will keep him in Toronto for five more seasons, while Guardians righty Tanner Bibee landed a five-year deal of his own that guarantees him $48MM. Earlier last week, Diamondbacks right-hander Justin Martinez and Reds catcher Jose Trevino both reached deals of their own that will keep them in town long-term. As Spring Training winds down, will any other players and clubs use the last few days before Opening Day to hammer out a long-term agreement?

With stateside Opening Day less than a week away, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today headed into the weekend:

1. Door not closed on Guerrero deal?

Blue Jays CEO Mark Shapiro made some interesting comments yesterday as he discussed the state of talks between superstar slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the club. Shapiro indicated that he feels “optimism” about the club’s chances of keeping Guerrero in the fold and went on to plainly state he expects to sign their superstar long-term, be it in an extension or free agency. Guerrero and the Jays did not come to terms on an extension before his original deadline. At the time, he noted that while he no longer planned to continue back-and-forth negotiations, he would “not close the door” on listening to a new offer if the Jays presented one.

Guerrero doubled down on that thinking yesterday, repeating that he’s “not going to shut the door” on the Blue Jays, even as he turns his attention to the season. Little time remains to hammer out a deal before the season, but extensions signed after Opening Day are hardly unheard of. Cubs left fielder Ian Happ stands out as a notable recent example of a player who signed an extension after his final season of team control was already underway. The first long-term deals for both Xander Bogaerts (2019) and Stephen Strasburg (2016) with the Red Sox and Nationals, respectively, were also reached after Opening Day with free agency just months away. Could Guerrero become the latest and most prominent example?

2. Veterans to opt out of minor league deals:

A slew of veteran talent will have the opportunity to opt out of their minor league deals and return to free agency this weekend. Article XX(B) free agents have a uniform opt-out opportunity that comes five days before stateside Opening Day, which falls on March 27. That means a number of veterans will be able to opt out tomorrow, and still others who don’t fall under Article XX(B) may have opt out opportunities or upward mobility clauses negotiated into their contracts that trigger at a similar point in the calendar. MLBTR’s Steve Adams took a look yesterday at 36 such veterans, including notable names like Mark Canha, Jose Iglesias, Eloy Jimenez and Carlos Carrasco, who will have the opportunity to opt out of their deals this weekend if not added to their club’s 40-man roster.

3. Rule 5 decisions looming:

Teams that made Rule 5 draft selections are now facing the decision of whether to carry those players on their Opening Day roster or send them back to their previous club. Some of those decisions have already been made, with the White Sox expected to carry right-hander Shane Smith on their roster to open the season while Atlanta sent both picks they made back to the Guardians and Marlins, respectively. The Nationals and Reds have also returned their Rule 5 picks to their previous clubs already, while decisions still loom for the Marlins, Angels, Athletics, Blue Jays, Rays, Twins, Cubs, Padres, and Brewers.

As Spring Training once again becomes the league’s main focus in the aftermath of the Tokyo Series, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:

1. Phillies facing rotation questions:

Lefty Ranger Suarez is dealing with some stiffness in his back, as noted by The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. Imaging fortunately revealed no structural damage, but Suarez missed a month of the 2024 season with back issues and could begin the year on the injured list. Manager Rob Thomson said the club will know more about the southpaw’s availability for the start of the season within the next day or two. If Suarez were to open the season on the shelf, that would seem to leave right-hander Taijuan Walker ticketed for a return to the rotation to begin the year. The 2024 season was disastrous for Walker, who posted a 7.10 ERA in 83 2/3 innings of work last year. The 32-year-old Walker pitched well through three spring starts before being torched for six runs in 3 2/3 innings his last time out.

2. Gelof to undergo x-rays:

The A’s suffered a bit of a scare during yesterday’s game when second baseman Zack Gelof was hit by a pitch on his right hand. MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos relays that manager Mark Kotsay believes Gelof “will be fine,” but the 25-year-old was sent for x-rays nonetheless. The results of those tests could come back as soon as today and provide clarity on whether Gelof avoided an injury. He’s the club’s everyday second baseman and will try to improve upon last year’s sophomore slump, when he hit just .211/.270/.362 (after batting .267/.337.504 as a rookie in ’23). If Gelof were to miss time, Luis Urias is on the 40-man roster and appears to be the most likely candidate to fill in at second base.

3. Late spring rotation market movement?

Reporting yesterday indicated that the Diamondbacks have received interest on southpaw Jordan Montgomery of late, a notable development given the club’s efforts to trade the lefty (and at least a portion of the $22.5MM guaranteed he’s owed for this year). While it’s rare for trades to come together this close to the start of the season, with two games already in the books and stateside Opening Day just a week away, we’ve seen a handful of late-spring deals in recent years. The White Sox and Padres agreed to last year’s Dylan Cease trade just two weeks before Opening Day. Jon Berti was traded from Miami to New York in a three-team deal on the eve of Opening Day in 2024, just as the Twins and Padres worked out their Taylor Rogers/Chris Paddack deal in the hours before Opening Day 2022.

Plenty of teams, including Montgomery’s former clubs in New York and Texas, have suffered major rotation injuries this spring. Montgomery also isn’t the only player who could at least theoretically be available, as the Cardinals have expressed at least some level of willingness to part ways with either Erick Fedde or Steven Matz this spring.

With two regular season games now in the books, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:

1. Tokyo Series wraps up:

The Dodgers topped the Cubs in Game 2 of the Tokyo Series by a score of 6-3. It was an eventful game, as rookie Roki Sasaki pitched effectively with just one earned run in three innings of work, despite a bout of wildness that saw him walk five against three strikeouts. Aside from Sasaki’s debut, fellow rookie Matt Shaw recorded his first MLB hit, and fans in Japan got to enjoy a homer from Shohei Ohtani. With the Tokyo Series now in the books, the Cubs and Dodgers will return to Arizona to continue spring training as they wait with MLB’s 28 other clubs to continue the regular season next week. The Cubs are scheduled to face the Padres on Friday in their first game back, while the Dodgers will wait until Sunday to resume play against the Angels.

2. Yankees facing more rotation questions:

It’s been a difficult spring for the Yankees’ pitching staff. Reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil is set to miss the early months of the 2025 season due to a lat strain, while veteran ace Gerrit Cole won’t pitch at all this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Things may be getting even more dire in the Bronx now, as right-hander Clarke Schmidt was scratched from his start earlier this week due to shoulder soreness.

While Schmidt has not been ruled out for the Opening Day roster to this point, Greg Joyce of the New York Post noted last night that the Yankees have yet to decide whether the right-hander should join the rotation to begin the season; he’s not fully built up and could open the year on the injured list so that he can continue to finish that process in extended spring training. Will Warren and Carlos Carrasco are presently locked in a competition for the fifth starter job in New York, but an IL stint for Schmidt would open a job for both hurlers for at least the season’s first couple of weeks.

3. Free agents lingering on the market:

With stateside Opening Day just over a week away, some notable veterans who have languished on the market are beginning to find deals. Veteran closer Craig Kimbrel returned to his roots with Atlanta on a minor league pact yesterday, while lefty Patrick Corbin signed a big league contract to join a beleaguered Rangers rotation that recently lost Jon Gray to the injured list. Catcher James McCann also signed on with the Braves on a minor league pact. A few free agents of note still linger on the market, including Alex Verdugo, who reportedly has not received a major league offer this winter. David Peralta, Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn and David Robertson are among the other names still available to sign.

With the 2025 MLB regular season now officially underway, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Tokyo Series continues:

Game 1 of the Tokyo Series is in the books. The Dodgers’ offense got to the Cubs’ bullpen after strong performances from starters Shota Imanaga (four scoreless frames) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (five innings of one-run ball). The Dodgers ultimately came away from the game with a 4-1 victory, and the Cubs will try to leave Japan with a split in Game 2 tomorrow morning. Youngster Roki Sasaki (2.35 NPB ERA in 2024) will make his MLB debut for the Dodgers, pitching opposite Cubs southpaw Justin Steele (3.07 MLB ERA in 2024). As was the case this morning, tomorrow’s game will take place at 5:10am CT (3:10am PT), and will be broadcasted nationally on FS1. Meanwhile, locals in Chicago and Los Angeles can tune into Marquee Sports Network and Sportsnet L.A. for their respective local broadcasts.

2. Freeman scratched from Game 1:

Just before the start of Game 1 this morning, the Dodgers announced that star first baseman Freddie Freeman had been scratched from the lineup due to left rib discomfort. Notably, Freeman played through a rib injury during the 2024 postseason. Freeman had previously indicated that his rib issue improved over the offseason with rest, however, and it’s unclear if today’s discomfort is related to that previous injury. The Dodgers figure to provide more details about Freeman’s status, including his availability for Game 2 of the series tomorrow, after the game. The Dodgers tabbed utilityman Enrique Hernandez to cover first base in Freeman’s absence this morning.

3. MLBTR chat today:

The regular season now officially underway, and the 28 teams that have yet to begin playing are sorting out their final roster decisions before stateside Opening Day later this month. Whether you have questions about an ongoing camp battle or a late spring trade proposal in the back of your mind, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be here to answer your questions during a live chat scheduled for 1pm CT later today. 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.

With regular season baseball just over the horizon, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Tokyo Series Game 1:

While it doesn’t actually occur until early tomorrow morning, by this time tomorrow the 2025 campaign will officially be underway! The Tokyo Series, a two-game set between the Dodgers and Cubs hosted at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, will kick off at 5:10am CT (3:10am PT) tomorrow morning. Early risers who want to catch the first regular season game of the year will be able to tune in on FOX tomorrow morning, while locals to Chicago and Los Angeles respectively can find the game on Marquee Sports Network and Sportsnet L.A. as per usual for in-market Cubs and Dodgers broadcasts.

Both the Cubs and Dodgers will send Japanese-born players to the mound in their home country to start Game 1, with Chicago southpaw Shota Imanaga (2.91 ERA in 2024) taking on prized Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3.00 ERA in 2024). Both clubs will be down a key piece of their middle infield for the series as well, with the Dodgers sitting star shortstop Mookie Betts due to illness while Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner has continued rehabbing from offseason flexor tendon surgery at the club’s spring facility in Arizona while the rest of the club is overseas for this week’s series. Tommy Edman and Miguel Rojas are the top candidates to fill in for Betts at short with the Dodgers, while Jon Berti and Gage Workman could both be called upon to take Hoerner’s place in the Cubs lineup.

2. Strider returns to action:

Star right-hander Spencer Strider missed almost the entire 2024 regular season while rehabbing surgery an internal brace surgery on his UCL. While the right-hander will not be ready in time to make Atlanta’s Opening Day roster, he’s far enough along in his rehab to make his Grapefruit League debut in a start against the Red Sox this afternoon. Scheduled to take on left-hander Shane Drohan in a 1:05pm local time game at Atlanta’s spring facility in North Port, if Strider’s start today goes well and he continues on his current track, there now appears to be a good chance he’ll return to action ahead of schedule, perhaps missing only the regular season’s first couple of weeks.

3. Lewis undergoing testing:

Perhaps the most notable news from the weekend was the latest injury suffered by Twins third baseman Royce Lewis. The first overall pick of the 2017 draft has been plagued by frequent and lengthy absences due to injuries over the past half decade, and despite making his big league debut early in the 2022 season he has just 152 career MLB games under his belt. Lewis appeared set to finally have the first mostly normal offseason and Spring Training of his big league career this year, but unfortunately those hopes were dashed yesterday when he was pulled from the club’s game against the Red Sox due to a hamstring issue.

Lewis is set to undergo testing to determine the severity of the issue (and his timetable for return to action) today, but even a mild hamstring strain for a player with his history of lower half injuries will likely be approached with caution. While Lewis is out of commission, Jose Miranda and Willi Castro appear to be the most likely candidates to step in at third base.