The Athletics took another step Friday toward securing their potential opening-day Las Vegas lineup in 2028 by reaching an agreement with All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson on a seven-year, $70 million contract.
That contract takes Wilson through the 2032 season with a club option for 2033.
By signing him now, the A’s avoid salary arbitration after the 2027, 2028 and 2029 seasons. Wilson also would have been eligible for free agency after the 2030 World Series.
Wilson and A’s management scheduled a news conference for Monday in Las Vegas to sign the deal.
The 22-year-old is the fourth player the A’s have signed through at least 2028 when the ballpark is scheduled to open on the Strip.
The usually economical A’s have signed some notable deals going back to last offseason. Those include a seven-year, $86 million contract for left fielder Tyler Soderstrom, a five-year, $60 million contract with designated hitter/outfielder Brent Rooker and a seven-year, $65.5 million deal with outfielder Lawrence Butler. Soderstrom’s deal is the richest in team history.
Manager Mark Kotsay signed an extension that takes him through 2028 with a club option for 2029.
This offseason, the A’s traded with the New York Mets for veteran second baseman Jeff McNeil.
The A’s will play at least the next two seasons at a Triple-A stadium in West Sacramento, California.
Wilson hit .311 with 13 home runs and 63 RBI last season and was the first fan-elected rookie All-Star starting shortstop. He finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting behind teammate Nick Kurtz, who was a unanimous selection.
The A’s selected Wilson sixth in the 2023 amateur draft.
Oct 3, 2017; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher David Robertson (30) reacts as catcher Gary Sanchez (not pictuted) is hit by a foul tip against the Minnesota Twins during the sixth inning against the Minnesota Twins during the 2017 American League wildcard playoff baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Earlier today, former Yankees reliever David Robertson took to his social media platforms to officially announce his retirement from baseball. At 40 years old entering what would have been his age-41 season, this news hardly comes as a surprise, especially considering how the past few years went for the former Olympian. Still though, for anyone that’s familiar with me, this news is devastating.
Robertson was first drafted by the Yankees in the 17th round of the 2006 MLB Draft and worked his way through the minors before eventually making his MLB debut in 2008. The next year wass when he truly made his mark, as during that playoff run, he pitched out of a bases-loaded-nobody-out jam in the 11th inning of the ALDS Game 2 against the Twins. I remember telling someone then “this guy’s going to be good.” And my love affair had begun.
From that playoff run onward, I was D-Rob’s No. 1 fan and maintain that title to this day. His best season came two years later in 2011 when he finished with a 1.08 ERA across 70 appearances, earned his only All-Star nod, and received down-ballot Cy Young and MVP votes. He was the heir apparent to Mariano Rivera, the greatest closer ever, and he served that role well for one year before the 2014-15 offesason, when Brian Cashman ruined my life. He finished his first stint with the Yankees with a 2.81 ERA across 402 games, and then joined the White Sox in his first dalliance with free agency.
D-Rob spent two and a half seasons on the South Side before Brian Cashman made attempted to make amends with me personally and brought him back alongside third baseman Todd Frazier and bullpenmate Tommy Kahnle for the 2017 playoff push and run. That postseason we saw something truly remarkable out of Robertson when he came in and pitched 3.1 scoreless innings as the Yankees clawed their way back to steal victory out of Luis Severino’s hands in the one-and-done Wild Card game. His second stint in the Bronx ended after the 2018 campaign when Brian Cashman once again ruined my life; he signed with the Phillies in free agency.
D-Rob’s initial foray in Philadelphia would also be quickly forgotten, as injury forced his two-year deal down to just seven games in 2019 before he was shut down due to Tommy John surgery and unable to return to the mound until 2021, missing the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign completely. However, he had an opportunity to suit up for Team USA at the Olympics, where he appeared in three games and helped Team USA earn a silver medla after losing to Japan in the finals.
The Olympics stint and overall resume was enough to earn D-Rob a flyer from the Rays to help bolster their bullpen for their own playoff push and run. Unfortunately, that Rays stint did not go great for him, but he was able to secure a free agent contract for his second stint in the city of Chicago, just this time he’d pitch for the Cubs. They eventually traded him to the Phillies for his second stint there, and he got to return to the World Series for the first time since facing Philly with New York in 2009. D-Rob saved the Game 1 win in Houston and threw scoreless ball across four appearances, but the Astros won it in six. From 2023 onward, he bounced around to the Mets, Marlins, and Rangers until ultimately signing a midseason contract with the Phillies in 2025, which we now know would end up being his final season as a major leaguer.
The tail end of D-Rob’s career might soil some memories of him for some, but he really should be remembered fondly for a truly impressive career. It’s not often that someone gets drafted with the pedigree of a reliever and actually makes it to have a 15-year career. Not only that, but he’s a World Series champion, a World Baseball Classic gold medalist, and an Olympic silver medalist. He finishes his career with a 2.93 ERA, an ERA+ of 143, 179 saves, and 1,176 strikeouts across 881 games. He’s not going to be a Hall of Famer (though he’d have my vote….which is only partially why I don’t have a vote), but he’s the pinnacle of what a truly good and stable relief pitcher should be.
Sure, there were some bumps, but overall more good than bad and again a 15-year career as solely a relief pitcher is something truly remarkable in my books. That’s the most volatile position in the game and for him to have done that for as long as he did should be remembered fondly. I wrote his entry into PSA’s Top 100 Yankees series as well, and every year I’d show back up to plead my case to Brian Cashman to either sign him in free agency or trade for him at the deadline. This is why, even though I don’t show up often around here anymore, I jumped at the chance to write his retirement post. He helped me fall in love with the game when I was just getting into it, and he’s why relief pitchers are my favorite players and why I’ve been obsessed with them.
Thank you, D-Rob, for letting this one baseball fan fall in love with you. I’ll cherish the memories of wearing my socks high during those playoff runs you were part of, and sometimes even channeling your spirit for the ones you weren’t a part of as well. I’ll miss my annual tradition. Congratulations on an amazing career and I wish you nothing but the best in retirement and on your next venture.
I knew this day would come, but I still think back to just commenting about D-Rob in the old PSA comments section before I even joined the staff year. Age comes for us all, I guess. But today we wear our socks high with pride for this Yankee that was, and tomorrow, we hang them up even higher.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Espanyol was stunned by visiting Alaves 2-1 to extend its run of winless games to five in La Liga on Friday.
Lucas Boyé finished from close range a counterattack to complete a comeback by the visitor.
Roberto Fernandez headed in the opening goal for Espanyol and Alaves captain Antonio Blanco equalized with a deflected left-foot shot from outside the area.
Espanyol was fifth but the loss was a blow for its European hopes with Real Betis and Celta Vigo trailing by two points.
Alaves was previously just a point outside the relegation zone and has jumped to 10th in the table.
The Nintendo Switch and the Switch 2 are pretty user-friendly devices, but sometimes, that can be a bit more of a hindrance than a help. It’s easy to jump right into a game, but if you want to toggle on a feature like dark mode or, say, even make a Mii, you have to jump through a lot of hoops in the settings menus.
That’s a shame, because if you’re willing to learn the ins-and-outs, there’s a lot you can do on these systems, whichever version of the Switch you own. Over the past few years, I’ve spent more time playing around in the Switch ecosystem than anyone reasonably should, and along the way, I’ve picked up a handful of tips, tricks, and hacks that every Nintendo gamer would do well to learn.
Turn on dark mode on your Switch
Nintendo might like a bright and fun aesthetic, but if you’re feeling a bit more sleek, both the original Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 have dark modes. On either system, you can turn this on by navigating to System Settings (the cog in the taskbar, which you can either tap or select with a controller), then scrolling down to Themes and selecting Basic Dark. This will turn your home screen and menu pages black, which could even save you some battery life if you have a Nintendo Switch OLED. (Note that games themselves will be unaffected.)
Remap the buttons on your Joy-Cons
Whether it’s for accessibility or just personal preference, you can completely change what your buttons do on both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, although how you’ll do this differs across the two systems.
Remapping buttons on the original Nintendo Switch
On the original Switch, you’ll need to go to System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Change Button Mapping. From here, select a connected controller (you can remap both the Joy-Cons and the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, as well as some third-party options) and start reassigning buttons to your heart’s content. Make your B button into the right trigger. Make up go down. Go nuts!
Remapping buttons on the Nintendo Switch 2
On the Nintendo Switch 2, you can do the same thing, but it’s under System Settings > Accessibility > Button Mapping. Here, you can remap the Joy-Con 2 controllers, a Nintendo Switch Pro or Pro 2 controller, and Joy-Con 2 that are connected via the charging grip. Some third-party controllers may also work.
But wait, there’s more. Back on the Accessibility menu, you can also toggle on Button Mapping in Quick Settings, so you can edit your button mapping on the fly by holding down the physical Home button and selecting Edit Mapping.
Finally, the Switch 2 has some additional button customizations you can make under System Settings > Controllers & Accessories. Here, if you have the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller or Joy-Con 2 charging grip, you can set what the extra GL/GR buttons do using GL/GR Button Settings. Or, if you scroll down a bit, you can also disable or enable Joy-Con 2 Mouse Controls, as well as set your sensitivity for them. Finally, if you’re tired of Nintendo using a different A and B button placement from Xbox, you can select Swap A and B and enable the toggle on the following page. This will remap just those two buttons.
Use GameShare to share Switch games locally, and GameChat to share them online
Credit: Nintendo
There are two features in this one, both of which allow you to play multiplayer games with your friends with just one copy of the game you want to play.
Using GameShare
Let’s start with GameShare. This is a Nintendo Switch 2 feature, but it impacts the original Switch as well. Essentially, GameShare allows Switch 2 owners to share copies of their games with Switch 2 and original Switch owners nearby, for local multiplayer play. If you ever used Nintendo DS Download Play, it’s kind of like that, except it streams games from the host system instead.
It’s convenient, but the catch is that GameShare is only available in certain titles (you can find a list of some compatible games here). How you’ll access it also differs from game to game. For instance, in Super Mario Odyssey, GameShare is available when starting or resuming a two-player game, where you can start a session by selecting GameShare + Local Play.
You’ll then have to wait for others to join your GameShare session, and then you can start playing by selecting Start from the on-screen menu. This part is the same across all GameShare-compatible titles, at least. To join a GameShare session that someone else has started, open your Switch or Switch 2 to the main menu, then select GameShare from the taskbar (the icon that looks like a TV receiving a wireless signal), and under Join GameShare, find your friend’s session.
Note that even if a game is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, original Switch systems may still be able to play it using GameShare. For instance, Donkey Kong Bananza supports GameShare.
Using GameChat
Now, let’s talk about sharing games via GameChat. This is a lot like GameShare, but is exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 systems and works online. It’s also limited to certain games, and takes a bit more setup. To share a game using GameChat, you’ll first need to be in a GameChat session with someone from your friend list, which you can start by pressing the physical C button on your controller or the C icon from the console’s main menu. This will allow you to talk with each other over the internet, see each other’s gameplay, and if you have cameras, even see feeds from them. Now, you can open your game and start sharing it with people in your chat through that game’s menu. In Super Mario Odyssey, you’ll also see the option for this when starting or resuming a two-player game. Whoever else is in your chat will then be able to start playing with you then and there, without having to join the session from a separate menu like in GameShare.
Note that GameChat is free for Nintendo Switch 2 owners until March 31, 2026, after which it will require a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
Archive Switch games you don’t play to save storage space, or move them to a microSD card
Neither the original Switch or Switch 2 are especially generous with storage space, and downloading fancy AAA games can eat into it quickly. Luckily, on both of these consoles, you can quickly delete games from the internal storage or any inserted microSD cards to save space, while keeping them in your library and maintaining your save data.
Archiving games on the Original Nintendo Switch
On the original Switch, you can delete a game by hovering over it on the main menu or in your library, pressing the physical + button, and selecting Manage Software > Archive Software. Alternatively, you could select Delete Software instead, which will largely do the same thing, but will make redownloading the game a little more annoying, since it’ll remove it from your home menu and you’ll need to go to the eShop to do it.
To more quickly delete games, you can navigate to System Settings > Data Management > Quick Archive. From here, you can see how much space each game takes up and how much you’ll save by getting rid of it. You can also delete stored screenshots and videos for games here, either by selecting a game in Quick Archive and pressing the physical X button, or selecting Manage Screenshots and Videos under Data Management. For more detailed control over your game deletion, you can also select Manage Software under Data Management instead, but Quick Archive is a bit snappier and has most of the same controls.
Archiving games on the Nintendo Switch 2
On the Switch 2, the steps are mostly the same as on the original Switch, except Deleting now does the same thing as Archiving by default (you can uncheck Keep HOME Menu Icon if you really don’t want one), so the standalone Archive option has been removed. Regardless, neither console will delete your save date during these steps, as the size it takes up is usually pretty negligible. That said, if you really want to delete a game’s save data, on either console, head over to System Settings > Data Management > Delete Save Data and pick it from the list.
To get a game back after deleting it, simply redownload it. If you kept your game’s home menu icon, you can do this from either your main menu or your library. If you didn’t, you’ll need to navigate to that game’s store page in the eShop to redownload it.
While you’re in Data Management, you can also move games from the internal storage to a microSD card or back. This is under System Settings > Data Management > Move Data Between System / microSD Card. On Switch 2, the final step is called Move System / microSD Express Card Data instead, as that console requires a special type of microSD card.
Send your Switch gameplay screenshots to your phone
Like most modern consoles, the Switch and Switch 2 are both capable of capturing screenshots and video that you can later share online. Back before Twitter was named X and started charging for the API, it used to be easier to share directly from the console. Now, you’ll probably need to share screenshots and videos from your console to the Nintendo app to send them to most social media sites.
Sending screenshots on the original Nintendo Switch
On the original Switch, you have to do this manually. First, go to your Album from the taskbar on the console’s main menu (the icon that looks like a painting). Then, select a screenshot or video you want to send to the app and press the physical A button to bring up the Sharing and Editing menu. Select Send to Smartphone, and then choose Only This One to send just that photo or video to the app, or select Send a Batch to choose more.
Sending screenshots on the Nintendo Switch 2
On the Switch 2, you can upload screenshots and videos to the app automatically or manually.
To upload manually, once again select Album from the taskbar on the console’s main menu. Then, to upload just a single item, select it, press the physical A button, and choose Upload to Smart Device. To batch upload, instead choose Quick Actions from the sidebar on the left, select Upload to Smart Device, and choose as many items as you’d like before continuing.
To upload automatically, open Album from the taskbar on the console’s main menu, select Upload Settings from the sidebar on the left, and toggle on Automatic Uploads.
To see your uploads, open the Nintendo Switch App on your phone and tap the Album icon in the bottom-right corner. Then, simply download them to share them to your favorite social media site as usual. Note that uploaded items don’t actually take up space on your phone, and are instead stored in Nintendo’s servers. You can keep up to 100 files uploaded for 30 days each, and any new items over that limit will delete the oldest entries first. If this happens, your original screenshot or video will still remain on your console.
Transfer your Switch game data between systems
Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt
On both the original Switch and Switch 2, there are a number of ways to transfer save data between systems. This is especially helpful when upgrading from the original Switch to the Switch 2, although the easiest way to transfer data when upgrading is through a system transfer.
A system transfer is only available during Switch 2 setup, and will be available on the screen that says To Nintendo Switch Console Owners. For the easiest experience, select Begin System Transfer on this page and ensure your original Switch and Switch 2 are near each other. You’ll be able to transfer over your games and saves, while keeping your games installed on your original console (specific games might need to be deleted to be transferred, but the console will warn you about this, and you can get them back later). If you absolutely need to, you can also perform a system transfer without your original Switch present, but it’s not advised, as it will factory reset that device. Note that you’ll also need to do some setup on your original Switch in-person first, so if you already have your Switch 1 and Switch 2 in-hand, you might as well go with the more straightforward option above.
If a system transfer isn’t an option, you can also transfer games and save data over on a case-by-case basis. This can be useful if you still plan to play on your original Switch every once in a while, too. To transfer physical games, simply remove them from one console and place them in another. To transfer digital games, select the Virtual Game Cards icon on either your Switch or Switch 2’s main menu (the icon that looks like a game card), then choose a game and select Load on Other System to send it to another system on your account. You can move a virtual game card between systems as often as you’d like.
To transfer save data, on either the Switch or Switch 2, navigate to System Settings > Data Management > Transfer Your Save Data. You’ll be able to send it to another nearby console for free from this menu, but to send save data online, you’ll need a Nintendo Switch Online membership. If that’s not an issue, you can manage your cloud save data under System Settings > Data Management > Save Data Cloud. Or, if a game already has save data in the cloud, you can download it simply by hovering over its icon, pressing the physical + button, and selecting the data under Save Data Cloud.
Make Miis on the Nintendo Switch
Miis did not die with the Nintendo Wii! You can still create one on both the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, and it’s as simple as navigating to System Settings > Mii > Create/Edit a Mii. On the original Switch, this will take you right to the Mii creation menu, but on the Switch 2, you’ll also be able to choose if you want to start from a preset or get a Mii based on an amiibo instead. Either way, make your choice, and you’ll also be taken to the familiar Mii creation menu.
From here, customizing your Mii is pretty much identical to how it worked on the Wii, except you can now choose any hair color you’d like.
As for why you’d want a Mii when they don’t show up in the main menu at all, aside from making one being fun in and of itself, some games will be able to put your Miis to use. For instance, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate can let you fight as your Mii.
Keep your friends from seeing when you’re online on your Switch
Sometimes, you want to game without others knowing what you’re up to. You can do this on both the original Switch and the Switch 2.
On either the Switch or Switch 2, from the main menu, select your profile icon in the top left corner. Then, in the sidebar on the left, scroll down to User Settings. From here, scroll to Friend Settings, under Friend Functions. Then, on the Switch 1, select No One under Display online status to:. On the Switch 2, Display online Status to: will instead say Online-Status Display, but changing this to No One will do the same thing.
This will hide your online status from your Friends List, but your friends will still be able to see your recently played games. To stop them from seeing this, on either console, back out from Friend Settings and scroll up to Play Activity Settings (under your profile icon > User Settings > Profile Settings). In the first option on this screen, which again has different names depending on which console you’re on, select No One.
Make the most of mouse mode on the Switch 2 (including using a USB-C mouse)
Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt
One of the coolest additions to the Nintendo Switch 2 is mouse controls, which allow you to remove a Joy-Con 2 controller and use it on its side like a mouse. Usually, you’ll only use one controller at a time this way, but some games might actually want you to use both Joy-Con 2 as mice at once. Mouse controls let you navigate around the main menu like a PC, and in certain games, will even open up new modes of play. For instance, Cyberpunk 2077 lets you use mouse controls to aim like you’re playing a first-person shooter on PC.
That’s all pretty self-explanatory, but did you know that you can also plug in a USB-C mouse to play with instead? Not every mouse will work in every game, but if the Joy-Con 2 on its side isn’t comfortable enough for you, it’s worth trying out the mice you have laying around. Alternatively, you could get a mouse shell to place the Joy-Con 2 into, for more grip.
Finally, it’s worth noting that some games on the original Switch also support mouse controls, although the selection is more limited than on Switch 2, and you won’t be able to use a Joy-Con as a mouse. Instead, you’ll have to plug in a USB-C mouse.
Ping your lost Switch controllers
Want to game, but your Joy-Con, Joy-Con 2, or Pro Controller is trapped underneath a couch cushion somewhere? The Switch or Switch 2 can make them vibrate to help you find them. From the main menu, select Controllers from the taskbar (the icon that looks like a Joy-Con). Then, select the second option from the top, called Find Controllers on the original Switch and Search for Controllers on the Switch 2. Select a connected controller to make it vibrate.
The Los Angeles Dodgers may not begin the 2026 MLB season with Blake Snell in their Opening Day starting rotation.
Snell, 33, delayed the start of his offseason throwing program due to his left arm feeling “tired” and “exhausted” following six postseason appearances (five starts) that totaled 34 innings, the California Post’s Jack Harris reports. That included a 1 1/3-inning scoreless relief outing in the Dodgers’ Game 7 World Series win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
“You want to ramp up, but I gotta take my time and get healthy,” Snell told Harris while appearing at a team charity event.
“I feel like I’m doing the right thing. I feel good. I’ve been throwing. It feels better,” he added. “In the postseason, I gave everything I had for that. But on the front end of spring, I’ll have to be patient and let my body get to 100%.”
Snell said that the team is encouraging him to take a patient approach, preferring that he’s completely healthy before pitching regular-season innings.
The Dodgers presumably have enough depth in their starting rotation to wait for Snell. World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki and Shohei Ohtani will be part of the starting staff, in addition to River Ryan, Gavin Stone and Emmet Sheehan being expected to contribute.
However, nearly all of those pitchers carry their own injury concerns.
The Dodgers may take a similarly cautious approach with Yamamoto, who had a spectacular postseason in which he shockingly pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief in Game 7, one night after throwing six innings in a Game 6 start. Altogether, he pitched 37 1/3 innings in six postseason appearances (five starts).
Glasnow is typically injury-prone, limited to 18 regular-season starts in 2025 due to right shoulder inflammation. In 2024, he made only 22 starts because of back tightness and elbow tendonitis throughout the season.
Sasaki struggled with a shoulder injury that forced the Dodgers to move him from the rotation to the bullpen during the postseason (during which he was an effective closer). And Ohtani’s innings must be monitored closely, sometimes with six or seven days between starts, while he balances turns in the rotation (following 2023 elbow surgery) with playing in the everyday lineup as the team’s designated hitter.
Among the hopeful reinforcements, Ryan missed all of last season while working his way back from Tommy John surgery in 2024. Stone also missed the 2025 campaign following shoulder surgery. Sheehan also returned from reconstructive elbow surgery, but made 14 appearances (12 starts) last season.
Other options for the Dodgers include Justin Wrobleski, Ben Casparius, Kyle Hurt, Landon Knack and Bobby Miller. All of those arms will likely be needed after 2025’s deep postseason run, with another one expected for 2026.
The Los Angeles Dodgers may not begin the 2026 MLB season with Blake Snell in their Opening Day starting rotation.
Snell, 33, delayed the start of his offseason throwing program due to his left arm feeling “tired” and “exhausted” following six postseason appearances (five starts) that totaled 34 innings, the California Post’s Jack Harris reports. That included a 1 1/3-inning scoreless relief outing in the Dodgers’ Game 7 World Series win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
“You want to ramp up, but I gotta take my time and get healthy,” Snell told Harris while appearing at a team charity event.
“I feel like I’m doing the right thing. I feel good. I’ve been throwing. It feels better,” he added. “In the postseason, I gave everything I had for that. But on the front end of spring, I’ll have to be patient and let my body get to 100%.”
Snell said that the team is encouraging him to take a patient approach, preferring that he’s completely healthy before pitching regular-season innings.
The Dodgers presumably have enough depth in their starting rotation to wait for Snell. World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki and Shohei Ohtani will be part of the starting staff, in addition to River Ryan, Gavin Stone and Emmet Sheehan being expected to contribute.
However, nearly all of those pitchers carry their own injury concerns.
The Dodgers may take a similarly cautious approach with Yamamoto, who had a spectacular postseason in which he shockingly pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief in Game 7, one night after throwing six innings in a Game 6 start. Altogether, he pitched 37 1/3 innings in six postseason appearances (five starts).
Glasnow is typically injury-prone, limited to 18 regular-season starts in 2025 due to right shoulder inflammation. In 2024, he made only 22 starts because of back tightness and elbow tendonitis throughout the season.
Sasaki struggled with a shoulder injury that forced the Dodgers to move him from the rotation to the bullpen during the postseason (during which he was an effective closer). And Ohtani’s innings must be monitored closely, sometimes with six or seven days between starts, while he balances turns in the rotation (following 2023 elbow surgery) with playing in the everyday lineup as the team’s designated hitter.
Among the hopeful reinforcements, Ryan missed all of last season while working his way back from Tommy John surgery in 2024. Stone also missed the 2025 campaign following shoulder surgery. Sheehan also returned from reconstructive elbow surgery, but made 14 appearances (12 starts) last season.
Other options for the Dodgers include Justin Wrobleski, Ben Casparius, Kyle Hurt, Landon Knack and Bobby Miller. All of those arms will likely be needed after 2025’s deep postseason run, with another one expected for 2026.
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 27: Logan Evans #73 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Saturday, September 27, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Mariners’ starting pitching depth took a hit today, as the Mariners announced starter Logan Evans had UCL reconstruction surgery with the internal brace procedure. The surgery was performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Texas.
Evans, 24, made his debut last year and pitched in 16 games for the Mariners, accruing 81.1 innings. He started 15 of those 16 games, filling in for a Mariners rotation that suffered a spate of injuries. While Evans didn’t pitch in the playoff run, his contributions down the stretch helped the Mariners patch together a workable rotation while the regular starters healed, allowing the team to go on a deep playoff run.
The highlight of Evans’ season was a May 27th start against Washington where he went eight innings, the longest start by any Mariners pitcher all season. He surrendered just one run over those eight innings, a solo home run to James Wood. That game was also remarkable because the Nationals ran out an Oops! All Lefties! lineup against the righty Evans, who became the first Mariners pitcher in decades to face an all-lefty lineup.
Evans did spend some time on the IL this past season with right elbow inflammation, missing a month starting in mid-August after being diagnosed with VEO, or “pitcher’s elbow.” However, imaging at the time did not show structural damage. Evans first felt the pain on an August 14th start against Baltimore; he was moved to the IL and underwent a treatment plan of rest and cortisone injections. Evans returned to the club late in the season and threw three innings in a game on September 27th against the Dodgers, but was left off the playoff roster as the team progressed into October.
The timeline for recovery for an internal brace procedure is closer to 12 months than the 18 months of traditional Tommy John surgery, so if all goes well in recovery Evans could return as soon as spring training 2027. That doesn’t ease the sting of losing him for this year, though; Ryan just did Evans’s 40 in 40, dissecting the curious nature of Evans the first time vs. second time through the order, and what adjustments could be made to bridge the two performances. Now we will have to wait an extra year to find out the answer to that question.
The Mariners have done an admirable job building depth so far this season, with the addition of Cooper Criswell as well as some stalwart minor-league signings like Dane Dunning and Randy Dobnak. But Evans was a known quantity and proven performer, and the loss stings. This shifts pressure to Emerson Hancock to continue figuring it out at the big-league level, and also turns up the temperature somewhat on top prospect Kade Anderson, who is yet to throw a professional pitch but is almost certain to be a quick mover once he does. In the meantime, we wish Logan Evans well in his recovery, and hope to be back to two Big Logans soon.
Just 13 months after its precursor officially emerged from bankruptcy, time is running out for Main Street Sports. A cash crunch and the flight of nine MLB partners has put the owner/operator of the FanDuel-branded RSNs on a collision course with insolvency.
As Main Street execs scramble for a financial lifeline, it appears increasingly unlikely the company will be able to secure a game-saving infusion of cash before an in-house deadline of Feb. 1. While the date isn’t necessarily binding—the discretionary target may present an opportunity for Main Street to continue its fundraising efforts into next week—the situation is a source of great concern for the 29 MLB, NBA and NHL franchises whose local TV rights are tied to the RSN group.
While there’s been some chatter about the possibility of a zero-hour reprieve, as talks with potential investors are ongoing, the recent cancellation of the nine MLB contracts is said to have made the unmistakable sound of the other shoe dropping. On Jan. 8, the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays terminated their legacy deals with Main Street, a split precipitated by a series of missed payments.
Some of the teams are said to have entertained the notion of reuniting with Main Street in the event it can cut a deal with an investor/buyer, but with pitchers and catchers due to report for the first of their spring workouts in three weeks, time is tight. On the most quotidian level, advertising commitments must be procured ahead of the 2026 MLB campaign, and while many sponsors have multiyear deals in place, the RSNs cannot afford to stagger into the coming baseball season with anything less than a 90% sell-through rate.
Earlier this month, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said the league would backstop the teams that elected to cut ties with their RSNs. “We are prepared,” Manfred said. “Even if all nine end up without an alternative, MLB will have them. They will be available on cable in the markets, and there will be a digital alternative.”
MLB’s in-house media arm currently handles local TV and streaming distribution for seven clubs: the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Washington Nationals. While the prospect of taking responsibility for another nine teams isn’t necessarily ideal, MLB has the infrastructure in place to provide a seamless transition. (Any such emergency measures would be temporary, as Manfred plans to bring MLB’s local rights to market ahead of the expiration of its national deals in 2028.)
“No matter what happens, Major League Baseball is in a position to put all of the games on locally and to make a digital streaming product available in-market for those fans,” Manfred said a few weeks ago. “They will never miss a game.”
Barring a last-minute reprieve, Main Street could find itself in full-on liquidation mode as early as next week—or well into the second halves of the current NBA and NHL seasons. The NBA is said to have begun war-gaming for such a scenario even before Main Street missed payments to a number of its teams at the top of the year, while the NHL also has fleshed out a backup plan. Both leagues are eyeing a mix of in-market TV arrangements with local station owners and streaming via their respective subscription platforms.
Unlike the Diamond Sports Group bankruptcy saga, which spanned 20 months and erased more than $9 billion in debt, another drawn-out reorganization effort isn’t in the cards for Main Street. Should the company fail to find a buyer, the next stop is Chapter 7.
Unfortunately for the RSNs and the teams under contract to Main Street, the endemic conditions that derailed Diamond haven’t abated. Subscribers continue to flee the legacy pay-TV bundle, and at last count the total number of U.S. homes paying for a traditional cable/satellite package had fallen to 43.2 million, bringing penetration down to just 34%. Even when virtual MVPDs are thrown in along with the old-school providers, the overall tally (64.8 million subs) represents just 51% of homes that use television.
As it happens, the Diamond court proceedings made it clear that a post-reorg cash crunch was all but inevitable. In one projection, Diamond estimated that total linear TV revenue would decline 19% in 2025 from $2.17 billion to $1.75 billion, while this year’s haul was expected to drop to $1.65 billion. According to an unaudited projected income statement filed in April 2024 with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Houston, Diamond anticipated that carriage fees would plummet 28% in the next two years, resulting in a net loss of $498 million in distribution revenue.
In spite of that steady drumbeat of subscriber churn, the FanDuel RSNs in 2025 saw their MLB ratings improve by 18%, with in-game coverage averaging 1.5 million viewers across all platforms. Per internal Main Street estimates, MLB games last season accounted for more than 2.8 billion minutes of consumption, good for twice the engagement earned in 2024.
The fact that MLB deliveries grew in the face of the steady exodus from the pay-TV model certainly would seem to indicate that sports fans are keeping the bundle from disintegrating altogether, but that and $3 gets you a ride on the F train. When cable was at the height of its powers in 2010, approximately 105 million Americans bought into the bundle. But for ESPN, the RSNs commanded the highest carriage fees on the dial; thus, tens of millions of consumers who only flipped past their local RSN while on their way to a non-sports destination were passively subsidizing the channels they never watched.
But that was 16 years ago, an eternity in media time. Unless a deep-pocketed savior arrives within the next couple of days, the Main Street RSNs are about to go the way of the infield shift.
Toronto Blue Jays: The quest for another World Series appearance begins
The Blue Jays did everything right in 2025. They secured their young superstar on a long-term extension, delivered a strong regular season and enjoyed a magical run to the World Series. Unfortunately for Toronto, it ended in heartbreak in Game 7 against the Dodgers.
The Blue Jays go into 2026 as one of the best teams in baseball. And even though they again finished as runners-up for the top free agent of the winter, they’re well-positioned for success going forward. Plus, assuming they have a strong first half, they’ll have the resources to make a splash at the trade deadline.
New York Yankees: Similar team, similar results?
The Yankees had a clear vision for what they wanted their offseason to look like, and for the most part, general manager Brian Cashman followed through on those objectives. It was clear that re-signing free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger was a top priority. And while it took longer than some expected, Bellinger signed a five-year, $162.5 million deal to stay with the Yanks for the foreseeable future.
Now the Yankees go into spring training with what is very close to the same roster they had in 2025. Did they do enough to improve this winter? And will the 2026 version of the Yankees be better than the Toronto Blue Jays, who improved a roster that reached the World Series?
Any team that has a healthy Aaron Judge is going to have an opportunity to succeed. But for the Yankees to be the AL’s best, continuing to build around Judge and finding enough starting pitching until Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón get healthy will be key.
Boston Red Sox: Roster construction problems
The Red Sox are an enigma. It’s not like they don’t have talent, but their moves this offseason have left a lot to be desired. They brought in Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals, as well as signing Ranger Suárez to a long-term deal. But allowing Alex Bregman to walk and sign with the Cubs feels like a big miss. Not to mention, the logjam in Boston’s outfield still exists, as Roman Anthony, Ceddane Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Masataka Yoshida and Jarren Duran are all still on the roster.
There’s time left to sort these things out before the season starts, but it’s difficult to say the Red Sox’s offseason has gone as planned. After all, they still have a hole left by Bregman at third base that they have to fill.
Is this a bad baseball team? Certainly not. But roster construction, as we saw last season, is extremely important to a team’s success, and the Red Sox haven’t figured theirs out. If they truly want to compete in a strong AL East, they have to solve that puzzle.
Tampa Bay Rays: Getting Shane McClanahan back healthy
When Shane McClanahan is healthy, he’s one of the best starting pitchers in baseball. The Rays’ ace was an All-Star in two of his first three seasons, and he has the stuff every team wants at the top of the rotation. But the road to get back to being that player has been a challenge for Tampa’s southpaw. McClanahan underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2023 and hasn’t pitched since, as his recovery has been delayed by nerve issues in his arm, including surgery to address those issues in August.
Just getting healthy is step one for McClanahan and the Rays. And the team will be extremely careful as he works his way back to pitching in the big leagues full-time. But the Rays are significantly better with McClanahan pitching and having him back in the fold will be a huge part of the 2026 plans in Tampa.
Baltimore Orioles: The time is now
The story for the Orioles for the past three seasons has been that their time is coming, and with a young nucleus of talent, their window is wide open. But Baltimore learned last season that just because you have a young core doesn’t mean development will follow a linear path. The Orioles were arguably the most disappointing team in baseball last season, losing 87 games and missing the postseason after back-to-back 100-win seasons.
This offseason, Orioles GM Mike Elias and ownership finally did what many had been begging them to do: Open the checkbook and add talent to a promising but flawed roster. Adding first baseman Pete Alonso on a five-year, $155 million deal was significant, giving Baltimore some much-need thump from the right side and a veteran presence for a young group. The O’s also added closer Ryan Helsely, starter Shane Baz and outfielder Taylor Ward, making a statement to the rest of the AL East that they’re ready to compete. The Orioles’ core of Gunnar Henderson, Samuel Basallo, Adley Rutchman and Jackson Holiday still have upside on their side, and now it’s time to start seeing that upside come to fruition in the toughest division in baseball.
Cleveland Guardians: Travis Bazzana watch
Let’s be honest. Beyond José Ramirez and Steven Kwan, the Guardians’ lineup could really use some more juice. And who better to provide it than the Aussie sensation Travis Bazzana? The Guardians’ top prospect was drafted No. 1 overall in 2024 and viewed as a foundational piece of Cleveland’s future. And 2026 could be the year he makes his debut at Progressive Field.
Bazzana reached Triple-A last season and recorded an .858 OPS in 26 games. He’ll likely start the season there, but if he shows he can hold his own, it won’t be long before people are calling for the second baseman to make his long-awaited arrival in Cleveland.
Detroit Tigers: The Skubal saga
The $400 million question this season: Will 2026 be the last season Tarik Skubal wears a Tigers uniform? That question has swirled around Detroit for some time, and it won’t be going away anytime soon. The world’s best starting pitcher has gotten only better over the past three years, and his looming free-agent price has continued to rise.
Beyond the arbitration hearing, the Tigers are at a crossroads. After making back-to-back postseason appearances, they’ve made very few additions to their roster this winter. At some point, the Tigers’ front office is going to have to be honest with itself about Skubal’s future and whether the team’s direction includes him or not.
Kansas City Royals: A fresh start for Jac Caglianone
We sometimes get spoiled in baseball by young players who take off and become stars right away. One example of that is Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr., who quickly became one of baseball’s best players. Witt’s young teammate Jac Caglianone did not have that immediate impact. Caglianone’s arrival came with plenty of hype and anticipation, as the Royals’ 2024 first-round draft pick tore up the minor leagues in his short time there. But in 62 games in the majors last year, he struggled mightily, with a .157/.237/.295 slash line and just seven homers.
But here’s the good news for Royals fans: Plenty of All-Stars, MVPs and even Hall of Famers struggled in their first cup of coffee in the big leagues. Caglianone’s early struggles are not uncommon, and the Royals’ slugger has plenty of tools to be a cornerstone with Witt and Vinnie Pasquantino for years to come. Give him time.
Minnesota Twins: Star trade watch
The Twins have gone through quite the rebrand over the past year. Minnesota traded superstar Carlos Correa back to the Houston Astros, fired manager Rocco Baldelli and now looks like a team about to go through some type of rebuild. But even in what will likely be a down year, the Twins still have two talented players on the roster: starter Joe Ryan and center fielder Byron Buxton.
Ryan’s name has come up in conversations since the trade deadline. But with two years until he hits free agency, the Twins are not going to give up their ace easily. Buxton is coming off the best season of his career and is the type of offensive player several teams would love to get their hands on. The center fielder has stated that he has no desire to leave Minnesota and would use his no-trade clause to veto a potential trade. But you wonder if a daunting start to what will likely be a down 2026 in the Twin Cities will change his mind.
Chicago White Sox: Fun times coming to the South Side
Believe it or not, the White Sox had one of the better offseasons in the entire sport. Their biggest move was signing Japanese star Munetaka Murakami on a two-year deal to play first base, but they didn’t stop there, adding veteran reliever Seranthony Domínguez to be the team’s closer and lefty starters Sean Newcomb and Anthony Kay. They also acquired young utility man Luisangel Acuña in their trade of Luis Robert Jr.
The White Sox showed last season that while they’re still young and rebuilding, they have some young talent to be excited about. Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero got valuable big-league experience last season, and there’s plenty more talent in the farm system getting closer to arriving in Chicago. They might not be a playoff team yet, but in 2026, the White Sox will be a fun watch for fans all summer.
Seattle Mariners: Can they build on 2025?
Almost everything went right for the Mariners last season. They won the AL West for the first time since 2001 and took the Toronto Blue Jays to Game 7 of the ALCS. And while they finished a game short of reaching the World Series for the first time in franchise history, they proved that they could compete with the very best in the American League.
The Mariners didn’t do much this offseason in terms of transactions, but their biggest move was keeping trade-deadline acquisition Josh Naylor in Seattle long-term. The team re-signed the first baseman on a five-year, $92.5 million deal. And while we can’t expect another 60-homer season out of superstar Cal Raleigh, the Mariners know they have an MVP-caliber catcher who can lead them. Plus, they have another star in Julio Rodríguez, who has also shown he can play at an MVP level.
Sometimes special seasons have to be cherished, and they’re difficult to replicate. But the AL West is again as wide open as it’s ever been, so the Mariners should go into 2026 expecting to build on what they accomplished last year.
Alex Bregman’s impact on the Cubs, the Mets’ new linup featuring Bo Bichette and the Tigers’ arbitration saga with Tarik Skubal are among the top storylines to watch this spring.
Bruno Rouby/Yahoo Sports
Houston Astros: The health of Yordan Alvarez
The Astros didn’t have a splashy offseason, and much of their hope for 2026 will hinge on members of their current roster having better campaigns than they did in 2025. Most notably, that includes Yordan Alvarez, who missed the majority of last season while dealing with a nagging right-hand injury that limited him to 48 games.
When Alvarez is healthy, he’s one of the most feared hitters in baseball. Getting him back in the every-day lineup is a must if Houston wants to again be in contention in the AL West. Before last season, the Astros hadn’t missed the postseason since 2016 before last season, and getting back to October will be the main priority in 2026. A healthy Alvarez will be key to achieving that goal.
Texas Rangers: Getting back to contention in the AL West
Last year was not the season the Rangers thought they would have. The team finished 81-81 as a combination of injuries and underperformance caused the Rangers to finish third in the AL West. This winter, there have been plenty of changes in the Lone Star State. Skip Schumaker is now at the helm as the manager, leading a new era after three seasons under Bruce Bochy. Marcus Semien departed, as his trade to the Mets brought the arrival of Brandon Nimmo, and most recently, MacKenzie Gore was added to the rotation via trade with the Nationals.
Getting younger was a goal for the Rangers this offseason, and their moves followed through on that, with incumbent young players such as Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Josh Jung all expected to be key contributors. But with veterans such as Nimmo, Corey Seager, Jake Burger, Joc Pederson and Jacob deGrom still on the roster, it’s clear that Texas is still looking to win and get back in the conversation in the American League.
Athletics: What’s in store in Year 2 in Sacramento?
After a strong finish to the 2024 season, the 2025 A’s left a lot to be desired in the first year in their temporary home in West Sacramento. While a team’s home ballpark is usually where it has most of its success, the opposite was true for the A’s, who struggled mightily at Sutter Health Park last season. In particular, A’s pitchers struggled with the offensive environment, recording a 4.96 ERA that was the worst by any home team in the American League.
With the A’s in West Sacramento for the foreseeable future, they’re going to have to find a way to remedy that and help their pitchers have more success in Year 2. Their lineup features a fun core of talented players such as Brent Rooker, Nick Kurtz, Lawrence Butler, Tyler Soderstrom, Shea Langaliers and Jacob Wilson. But needing to score seven runs on a nightly basis just to stay in games is a tall task for any offense.
Los Angeles Angels: What will they get from Mike Trout?
There is no question that Mike Trout is one of the best players in MLB history, yet it’s unfair to hold him to that standard. Father Time waits for no one, and unfortunately for the three-time MVP, injuries have become a permanent part of his story. While his 130 games last season were the most Trout had played since 2018, there was a big drop-off in his production. Trout hit just .232 with 26 homers and 64 RBI, and he had the lowest full-season OPS of his career (.797).
Going into his age-32 season, the days of Trout being the world’s best player are behind him. That doesn’t mean that he can’t still be productive for the Angels. Even with his struggles last season, he still got on base at a strong clip and hit for power, two things that can help any team. If his body holds up and keeps him on the field, history shows Trout will produce. But that’s still a big if.
Philadelphia Phillies: Keeping up in an improving National League
The Phillies are clearly talented and have a roster of established stars who, when healthy, could make any team a contender. But with the National League improving and their NL East competitors getting stronger, it’s not unfair to ask if the Phillies still have a roster that can be one of the National League’s best or if their window has closed.
New York Mets: New-look roster makes its debut
The 2025 season was a huge disappointment for the Mets, who missed the playoffs after signing Juan Soto to the largest contract in the history of professional sports. So going into this offseason, something drastic needed to happen in Queens. For a while, things looked bleak, as it seemed the Mets would be left without major free-agent dance partners. But sometimes it takes just a few days to make a lot happen in the offseason, and president of baseball operations David Stearns made his presence felt this winter in a short amount of time.
The National League improved significantly this winter, and the Mets were a big part of that with their acquisitions. Now we’ll wait to see just how far those moves get them.
Miami Marlins: Taking another step
If you weren’t paying attention, you probably didn’t realize that the Marlins won 79 games last season — a 17-game improvement from 2024. Manager Clayton McCullough clearly made an impact in his first season, and even with a roster that doesn’t move the needle in terms of payroll, the Marlins have quietly built a young team with quality starting pitching and struck gold in outfielder Kyle Stowers.
The NL East has continued to improve this offseason, and the Marlins are not close to being contenders, but their improvement last year shouldn’t be discounted. Their ability to consistently develop young starting pitching is an area of strength, one that helped them acquire top prospect Owen Caissie, who will likely be their starting right fielder on Opening Day.
Atlanta Braves: The core needs to bounce back
Just a few seasons ago, the Braves were the team many wanted to be. They had a young core secured long-term, a superstar in Ronald Acuña Jr. and a rotation led by Spencer Strider. But in baseball, that doesn’t always guarantee success, and the Braves’ 2025 season was characterized by serious underperformance from stars such as Austin Riley, Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies.
This season, they get a fresh start with new manager Walt Weiss taking over for Brian Snitker. The Braves still have plenty of talent on their roster, including several All-Stars around the diamond. If those players stay healthy and play to their potential, Atlanta has an opportunity to turn the tide after a disappointing 2025. It certainly won’t hurt to have a healthy Acuña and Chris Sale to lean on, either. Both will be crucial to get the Braves where they want to go.
Washington Nationals: CJ Abrams trade watch
The Nationals are once again in a full rebuild, and after new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni turned over the coaching staff, he’s starting to turn the roster over as well. Toboni crossed his first major order of business off the list by dealing left-hander MacKenzie Gore to the Rangers for a five-player prospect package. The next domino to fall will likely be shortstop CJ Abrams.
Abrams has plenty of tools and has shown All-Star ability, but it remains to be seen if the Nationals’ asking price will be met before the start of the season. Beginning the 2026 season with Abrams as the team’s starting shortstop isn’t the worst possible outcome, especially if he plays well leading up to the trade deadline.
Milwaukee Brewers: The post-Freddy era begins
The Brewers have made a habit of moving players in their final year before free agency, and this offseason was no different, with ace Freddy Peralta traded to the New York Mets. In past years when Milwaukee traded stars such as Corbin Burnes or Josh Hader, they were able to backfill the lost production at close to equivalent levels. Can they do that again?
The Brewers were the youngest team in MLB last year and managed to go on an incredible run. They won 97 games en route to an NL Central championship and a run to the NLCS before they were swept by the Dodgers. The Cubs have improved their roster this offseason and look like the team to beat in the NL Central going into spring training. But the Brewers usually have some surprises up their sleeve. We’ll see if they can once again pull a rabbit out of their hat in 2026.
Chicago Cubs: The Alex Bregman effect
The Cubs made a big statement when they signed Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal, and the three-time All-Star’s arrival brings an excitement not seen on the North Side for quite some time. Bregman’s arrival also gives the Cubs something they haven’t had since their World Series-winning core, which is a clubhouse leader who has won at the highest level. The impact of Bregman’s leadership during his one season in Boston can’t be understated, and it’s something that should be extremely valuable in Chicago.
On the field, the addition of Bregman brings Chicago’s entire infield together, making it one of the strongest in baseball and maybe the best defensively with Dansby Swanson, Michael Busch and Nico Hoerner. Plus, the Cubs needed some right-handed firepower in the middle of their lineup, and now they have it.
Fans in Chicago have been begging for a big move for a while, and after the departure of Kyle Tucker, not adding to the team wasn’t an option this winter. Having gotten a second chance with Bregman, Chicago could be on the precipice of a run of dominance in the NL Central.
Cincinnati Reds: Who is this team?
The Reds are in an interesting position. Last fall, they made it to the postseason for the first time since 2020 in their first season under manager Terry Francona. They’re young, and they have talented players such as shortstop Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene leading their offense and rotation. But a significant portion of the jump they need to make in 2026 will have to come from some young players taking another step.
Cincinnati is one of those teams that has to develop players to drive its success since they aren’t often in the market to make additions via free agency. De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Noelvi Marte and Spencer Steer have to be the driving force behind the Reds’ success. If that quartet can improve on their 2025 performance, Cincinnati could be in position to make some noise in the National League.
St. Louis Cardinals: Brandon Donovan trade watch
In an offseason featuring plenty of changes, including trading the likes of Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras, the Cardinals still haven’t found a home for arguably their most talented player available, Brandon Donovan. Donovan, who has two more years of club control, is an intriguing talent not only because of his defensive ability as a Gold Glove winner but also because of his offensive talent. The Cardinals’ second baseman has elite bat-to-ball skills and was a first-time All-Star in 2025 while playing all across the diamond.
It’s not unrealistic to think that Donovan could be moved over the next few weeks ahead of spring training or even during camp. But clearly teams have not been able to meet St. Louis’ asking price for the second baseman. We’ll see if that changes or if the Cardinals wait to try again at the trade deadline.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Making the most of Paul Skenes
From now until the last day Paul Skenes is in Pittsburgh, every move the Pirates make has to be about maximizing his time with the organization. Skenes won the NL Cy Young Award in just his second major-league season, cementing his status as one of the two best pitchers in the world. With an ace who is more than ready to take the ball for Game 1 of a postseason series, getting him there should be the priority.
The Pirates were aggressive this offseason in an attempt to add, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, as they made a push for both Josh Naylor and Kyle Schwarber before signing first baseman Ryan O’Hearn. Looking forward, with most of this winter’s free-agent business concluded, allowing baseball’s top prospect, Konnor Griffin, to break camp as the Opening Day shortstop could help raise the talent level and boost the offense in Pittsburgh.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Embarrassment of riches on full display
Maybe this is the year Seattle’s 116-win record gets challenged; maybe it’s not. But this Dodgers team has more than enough talent to make a run at it. Of course, chasing regular-season greatness isn’t really this team’s style or priority. But trying to become the first team to three-peat since the 1998-2000 Yankees is definitely their speed.
San Diego Padres: Navigating new financial constraints
Since the death of longtime owner Peter Seidler, the Padres have been going through a very public battle for control of the franchise between Seidler’s widow and his brothers. And late in 2025, the Seidler family announced it was exploring a potential sale of the team. Typically, when a team announces the exploration of a sale, budgets get tightened. For Padres president of baseball operation A.J. Preller, that means trying to compete with a strict budget and a roster that already has lots of money allocated.
In recent years, San Diego has been one of the most aggressive teams when it comes to player acquisition, and the Padres still have plenty of top-end talent. But can they continue to be aggressive with so much uncertainty on the business side? It’s hard to imagine, and this winter has been relatively quiet in San Diego, but Preller is one of the best in baseball when it comes to making unexpected moves. Maybe this situation is one he can navigate.
San Francisco Giants: Avoiding mediocrity
For some time, the Giants have been trying to get out of a rut, and since they won 107 games in 2021, that has been a challenge. San Francisco finished with records of 81-81, 80-82, 79-83 and 81-81 the past four seasons. One of the major reasons behind the team’s decision to hire Buster Posey as president of baseball operations was to try to bring a winning culture back. But in his second offseason at the helm, Posey hasn’t exactly thrown his weight around.
It’s possible that a full season with Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames and Jung Hoo Lee, along with a usually strong rotation, will see the Giants compete in the National League. But it still feels like this team needs more, and it’ll be on Posey and first-time MLB manager Tony Vitello to figure out what that is. The NL West isn’t getting weaker anytime soon, and the teams in that division have to go through L.A. But for the Giants, 2026 is going to need to be different. For their sake, let’s hope the arrival of Vitello is the spark they need to get away from .500.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Nolan in the desert
Nolan Arenado is back in the NL West, this time as a member of the Diamondbacks after being traded by the Cardinals earlier this month. Arenado, who had long been expected to be dealt, now gets a fresh start on a team that has enough talent to be competitive in a challenging division and improving National League.
It’s no secret that Arenado is on the back nine of his career, and the eight-time All-Star’s numbers have been decreasing since he finished third in NL MVP voting in 2022. That doesn’t mean he can’t still be productive. On a team with plenty of top-tier talent in Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte, Arenado doesn’t have to be the star, but his leadership and defensive ability will still make him a valuable piece of Arizona’s roster in 2026 and beyond.
Colorado Rockies: The Paul DePodesta era begins
For the first in decades, change has come to Colorado, and the Rockies have new voices in the building. And for new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta, this season marks the beginning of what might be one of the toughest challenges in baseball: transforming Colorado’s baseball team from a laughingstock into a winner.
DePodesta has lots of experience in baseball, so it’s not like the game is foreign to him. But it will be interesting to see how he runs the Rockies after having left the game in 2016 to become the Cleveland Browns’ chief strategy officer. There will be plenty of eyes on the Rockies’ new president as he navigates the first year of his rebuild.
Toronto Blue Jays: The quest for another World Series appearance begins
The Blue Jays did everything right in 2025. They secured their young superstar on a long-term extension, delivered a strong regular season and enjoyed a magical run to the World Series. Unfortunately for Toronto, it ended in heartbreak in Game 7 against the Dodgers.
The Blue Jays go into 2026 as one of the best teams in baseball. And even though they again finished as runners-up for the top free agent of the winter, they’re well-positioned for success going forward. Plus, assuming they have a strong first half, they’ll have the resources to make a splash at the trade deadline.
New York Yankees: Similar team, similar results?
The Yankees had a clear vision for what they wanted their offseason to look like, and for the most part, general manager Brian Cashman followed through on those objectives. It was clear that re-signing free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger was a top priority. And while it took longer than some expected, Bellinger signed a five-year, $162.5 million deal to stay with the Yanks for the foreseeable future.
Now the Yankees go into spring training with what is very close to the same roster they had in 2025. Did they do enough to improve this winter? And will the 2026 version of the Yankees be better than the Toronto Blue Jays, who improved a roster that reached the World Series?
Any team that has a healthy Aaron Judge is going to have an opportunity to succeed. But for the Yankees to be the AL’s best, continuing to build around Judge and finding enough starting pitching until Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón get healthy will be key.
Boston Red Sox: Roster construction problems
The Red Sox are an enigma. It’s not like they don’t have talent, but their moves this offseason have left a lot to be desired. They brought in Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals, as well as signing Ranger Suárez to a long-term deal. But allowing Alex Bregman to walk and sign with the Cubs feels like a big miss. Not to mention, the logjam in Boston’s outfield still exists, as Roman Anthony, Ceddane Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Masataka Yoshida and Jarren Duran are all still on the roster.
There’s time left to sort these things out before the season starts, but it’s difficult to say the Red Sox’s offseason has gone as planned. After all, they still have a hole left by Bregman at third base that they have to fill.
Is this a bad baseball team? Certainly not. But roster construction, as we saw last season, is extremely important to a team’s success, and the Red Sox haven’t figured theirs out. If they truly want to compete in a strong AL East, they have to solve that puzzle.
Tampa Bay Rays: Getting Shane McClanahan back healthy
When Shane McClanahan is healthy, he’s one of the best starting pitchers in baseball. The Rays’ ace was an All-Star in two of his first three seasons, and he has the stuff every team wants at the top of the rotation. But the road to get back to being that player has been a challenge for Tampa’s southpaw. McClanahan underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2023 and hasn’t pitched since, as his recovery has been delayed by nerve issues in his arm, including surgery to address those issues in August.
Just getting healthy is step one for McClanahan and the Rays. And the team will be extremely careful as he works his way back to pitching in the big leagues full-time. But the Rays are significantly better with McClanahan pitching and having him back in the fold will be a huge part of the 2026 plans in Tampa.
Baltimore Orioles: The time is now
The story for the Orioles for the past three seasons has been that their time is coming, and with a young nucleus of talent, their window is wide open. But Baltimore learned last season that just because you have a young core doesn’t mean development will follow a linear path. The Orioles were arguably the most disappointing team in baseball last season, losing 87 games and missing the postseason after back-to-back 100-win seasons.
This offseason, Orioles GM Mike Elias and ownership finally did what many had been begging them to do: Open the checkbook and add talent to a promising but flawed roster. Adding first baseman Pete Alonso on a five-year, $155 million deal was significant, giving Baltimore some much-need thump from the right side and a veteran presence for a young group. The O’s also added closer Ryan Helsely, starter Shane Baz and outfielder Taylor Ward, making a statement to the rest of the AL East that they’re ready to compete. The Orioles’ core of Gunnar Henderson, Samuel Basallo, Adley Rutchman and Jackson Holiday still have upside on their side, and now it’s time to start seeing that upside come to fruition in the toughest division in baseball.
Cleveland Guardians: Travis Bazzana watch
Let’s be honest. Beyond José Ramirez and Steven Kwan, the Guardians’ lineup could really use some more juice. And who better to provide it than the Aussie sensation Travis Bazzana? The Guardians’ top prospect was drafted No. 1 overall in 2024 and viewed as a foundational piece of Cleveland’s future. And 2026 could be the year he makes his debut at Progressive Field.
Bazzana reached Triple-A last season and recorded an .858 OPS in 26 games. He’ll likely start the season there, but if he shows he can hold his own, it won’t be long before people are calling for the second baseman to make his long-awaited arrival in Cleveland.
Detroit Tigers: The Skubal saga
The $400 million question this season: Will 2026 be the last season Tarik Skubal wears a Tigers uniform? That question has swirled around Detroit for some time, and it won’t be going away anytime soon. The world’s best starting pitcher has gotten only better over the past three years, and his looming free-agent price has continued to rise.
Beyond the arbitration hearing, the Tigers are at a crossroads. After making back-to-back postseason appearances, they’ve made very few additions to their roster this winter. At some point, the Tigers’ front office is going to have to be honest with itself about Skubal’s future and whether the team’s direction includes him or not.
Kansas City Royals: A fresh start for Jac Caglianone
We sometimes get spoiled in baseball by young players who take off and become stars right away. One example of that is Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr., who quickly became one of baseball’s best players. Witt’s young teammate Jac Caglianone did not have that immediate impact. Caglianone’s arrival came with plenty of hype and anticipation, as the Royals’ 2024 first-round draft pick tore up the minor leagues in his short time there. But in 62 games in the majors last year, he struggled mightily, with a .157/.237/.295 slash line and just seven homers.
But here’s the good news for Royals fans: Plenty of All-Stars, MVPs and even Hall of Famers struggled in their first cup of coffee in the big leagues. Caglianone’s early struggles are not uncommon, and the Royals’ slugger has plenty of tools to be a cornerstone with Witt and Vinnie Pasquantino for years to come. Give him time.
Minnesota Twins: Star trade watch
The Twins have gone through quite the rebrand over the past year. Minnesota traded superstar Carlos Correa back to the Houston Astros, fired manager Rocco Baldelli and now looks like a team about to go through some type of rebuild. But even in what will likely be a down year, the Twins still have two talented players on the roster: starter Joe Ryan and center fielder Byron Buxton.
Ryan’s name has come up in conversations since the trade deadline. But with two years until he hits free agency, the Twins are not going to give up their ace easily. Buxton is coming off the best season of his career and is the type of offensive player several teams would love to get their hands on. The center fielder has stated that he has no desire to leave Minnesota and would use his no-trade clause to veto a potential trade. But you wonder if a daunting start to what will likely be a down 2026 in the Twin Cities will change his mind.
Chicago White Sox: Fun times coming to the South Side
Believe it or not, the White Sox had one of the better offseasons in the entire sport. Their biggest move was signing Japanese star Munetaka Murakami on a two-year deal to play first base, but they didn’t stop there, adding veteran reliever Seranthony Domínguez to be the team’s closer and lefty starters Sean Newcomb and Anthony Kay. They also acquired young utility man Luisangel Acuña in their trade of Luis Robert Jr.
The White Sox showed last season that while they’re still young and rebuilding, they have some young talent to be excited about. Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero got valuable big-league experience last season, and there’s plenty more talent in the farm system getting closer to arriving in Chicago. They might not be a playoff team yet, but in 2026, the White Sox will be a fun watch for fans all summer.
Seattle Mariners: Can they build on 2025?
Almost everything went right for the Mariners last season. They won the AL West for the first time since 2001 and took the Toronto Blue Jays to Game 7 of the ALCS. And while they finished a game short of reaching the World Series for the first time in franchise history, they proved that they could compete with the very best in the American League.
The Mariners didn’t do much this offseason in terms of transactions, but their biggest move was keeping trade-deadline acquisition Josh Naylor in Seattle long-term. The team re-signed the first baseman on a five-year, $92.5 million deal. And while we can’t expect another 60-homer season out of superstar Cal Raleigh, the Mariners know they have an MVP-caliber catcher who can lead them. Plus, they have another star in Julio Rodríguez, who has also shown he can play at an MVP level.
Sometimes special seasons have to be cherished, and they’re difficult to replicate. But the AL West is again as wide open as it’s ever been, so the Mariners should go into 2026 expecting to build on what they accomplished last year.
Alex Bregman’s impact on the Cubs, the Mets’ new linup featuring Bo Bichette and the Tigers’ arbitration saga with Tarik Skubal are among the top storylines to watch this spring.
Bruno Rouby/Yahoo Sports
Houston Astros: The health of Yordan Alvarez
The Astros didn’t have a splashy offseason, and much of their hope for 2026 will hinge on members of their current roster having better campaigns than they did in 2025. Most notably, that includes Yordan Alvarez, who missed the majority of last season while dealing with a nagging right-hand injury that limited him to 48 games.
When Alvarez is healthy, he’s one of the most feared hitters in baseball. Getting him back in the every-day lineup is a must if Houston wants to again be in contention in the AL West. Before last season, the Astros hadn’t missed the postseason since 2016 before last season, and getting back to October will be the main priority in 2026. A healthy Alvarez will be key to achieving that goal.
Texas Rangers: Getting back to contention in the AL West
Last year was not the season the Rangers thought they would have. The team finished 81-81 as a combination of injuries and underperformance caused the Rangers to finish third in the AL West. This winter, there have been plenty of changes in the Lone Star State. Skip Schumaker is now at the helm as the manager, leading a new era after three seasons under Bruce Bochy. Marcus Semien departed, as his trade to the Mets brought the arrival of Brandon Nimmo, and most recently, MacKenzie Gore was added to the rotation via trade with the Nationals.
Getting younger was a goal for the Rangers this offseason, and their moves followed through on that, with incumbent young players such as Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Josh Jung all expected to be key contributors. But with veterans such as Nimmo, Corey Seager, Jake Burger, Joc Pederson and Jacob deGrom still on the roster, it’s clear that Texas is still looking to win and get back in the conversation in the American League.
Athletics: What’s in store in Year 2 in Sacramento?
After a strong finish to the 2024 season, the 2025 A’s left a lot to be desired in the first year in their temporary home in West Sacramento. While a team’s home ballpark is usually where it has most of its success, the opposite was true for the A’s, who struggled mightily at Sutter Health Park last season. In particular, A’s pitchers struggled with the offensive environment, recording a 4.96 ERA that was the worst by any home team in the American League.
With the A’s in West Sacramento for the foreseeable future, they’re going to have to find a way to remedy that and help their pitchers have more success in Year 2. Their lineup features a fun core of talented players such as Brent Rooker, Nick Kurtz, Lawrence Butler, Tyler Soderstrom, Shea Langaliers and Jacob Wilson. But needing to score seven runs on a nightly basis just to stay in games is a tall task for any offense.
Los Angeles Angels: What will they get from Mike Trout?
There is no question that Mike Trout is one of the best players in MLB history, yet it’s unfair to hold him to that standard. Father Time waits for no one, and unfortunately for the three-time MVP, injuries have become a permanent part of his story. While his 130 games last season were the most Trout had played since 2018, there was a big drop-off in his production. Trout hit just .232 with 26 homers and 64 RBI, and he had the lowest full-season OPS of his career (.797).
Going into his age-32 season, the days of Trout being the world’s best player are behind him. That doesn’t mean that he can’t still be productive for the Angels. Even with his struggles last season, he still got on base at a strong clip and hit for power, two things that can help any team. If his body holds up and keeps him on the field, history shows Trout will produce. But that’s still a big if.
Philadelphia Phillies: Keeping up in an improving National League
The Phillies are clearly talented and have a roster of established stars who, when healthy, could make any team a contender. But with the National League improving and their NL East competitors getting stronger, it’s not unfair to ask if the Phillies still have a roster that can be one of the National League’s best or if their window has closed.
New York Mets: New-look roster makes its debut
The 2025 season was a huge disappointment for the Mets, who missed the playoffs after signing Juan Soto to the largest contract in the history of professional sports. So going into this offseason, something drastic needed to happen in Queens. For a while, things looked bleak, as it seemed the Mets would be left without major free-agent dance partners. But sometimes it takes just a few days to make a lot happen in the offseason, and president of baseball operations David Stearns made his presence felt this winter in a short amount of time.
The National League improved significantly this winter, and the Mets were a big part of that with their acquisitions. Now we’ll wait to see just how far those moves get them.
Miami Marlins: Taking another step
If you weren’t paying attention, you probably didn’t realize that the Marlins won 79 games last season — a 17-game improvement from 2024. Manager Clayton McCullough clearly made an impact in his first season, and even with a roster that doesn’t move the needle in terms of payroll, the Marlins have quietly built a young team with quality starting pitching and struck gold in outfielder Kyle Stowers.
The NL East has continued to improve this offseason, and the Marlins are not close to being contenders, but their improvement last year shouldn’t be discounted. Their ability to consistently develop young starting pitching is an area of strength, one that helped them acquire top prospect Owen Caissie, who will likely be their starting right fielder on Opening Day.
Atlanta Braves: The core needs to bounce back
Just a few seasons ago, the Braves were the team many wanted to be. They had a young core secured long-term, a superstar in Ronald Acuña Jr. and a rotation led by Spencer Strider. But in baseball, that doesn’t always guarantee success, and the Braves’ 2025 season was characterized by serious underperformance from stars such as Austin Riley, Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies.
This season, they get a fresh start with new manager Walt Weiss taking over for Brian Snitker. The Braves still have plenty of talent on their roster, including several All-Stars around the diamond. If those players stay healthy and play to their potential, Atlanta has an opportunity to turn the tide after a disappointing 2025. It certainly won’t hurt to have a healthy Acuña and Chris Sale to lean on, either. Both will be crucial to get the Braves where they want to go.
Washington Nationals: CJ Abrams trade watch
The Nationals are once again in a full rebuild, and after new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni turned over the coaching staff, he’s starting to turn the roster over as well. Toboni crossed his first major order of business off the list by dealing left-hander MacKenzie Gore to the Rangers for a five-player prospect package. The next domino to fall will likely be shortstop CJ Abrams.
Abrams has plenty of tools and has shown All-Star ability, but it remains to be seen if the Nationals’ asking price will be met before the start of the season. Beginning the 2026 season with Abrams as the team’s starting shortstop isn’t the worst possible outcome, especially if he plays well leading up to the trade deadline.
Milwaukee Brewers: The post-Freddy era begins
The Brewers have made a habit of moving players in their final year before free agency, and this offseason was no different, with ace Freddy Peralta traded to the New York Mets. In past years when Milwaukee traded stars such as Corbin Burnes or Josh Hader, they were able to backfill the lost production at close to equivalent levels. Can they do that again?
The Brewers were the youngest team in MLB last year and managed to go on an incredible run. They won 97 games en route to an NL Central championship and a run to the NLCS before they were swept by the Dodgers. The Cubs have improved their roster this offseason and look like the team to beat in the NL Central going into spring training. But the Brewers usually have some surprises up their sleeve. We’ll see if they can once again pull a rabbit out of their hat in 2026.
Chicago Cubs: The Alex Bregman effect
The Cubs made a big statement when they signed Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal, and the three-time All-Star’s arrival brings an excitement not seen on the North Side for quite some time. Bregman’s arrival also gives the Cubs something they haven’t had since their World Series-winning core, which is a clubhouse leader who has won at the highest level. The impact of Bregman’s leadership during his one season in Boston can’t be understated, and it’s something that should be extremely valuable in Chicago.
On the field, the addition of Bregman brings Chicago’s entire infield together, making it one of the strongest in baseball and maybe the best defensively with Dansby Swanson, Michael Busch and Nico Hoerner. Plus, the Cubs needed some right-handed firepower in the middle of their lineup, and now they have it.
Fans in Chicago have been begging for a big move for a while, and after the departure of Kyle Tucker, not adding to the team wasn’t an option this winter. Having gotten a second chance with Bregman, Chicago could be on the precipice of a run of dominance in the NL Central.
Cincinnati Reds: Who is this team?
The Reds are in an interesting position. Last fall, they made it to the postseason for the first time since 2020 in their first season under manager Terry Francona. They’re young, and they have talented players such as shortstop Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene leading their offense and rotation. But a significant portion of the jump they need to make in 2026 will have to come from some young players taking another step.
Cincinnati is one of those teams that has to develop players to drive its success since they aren’t often in the market to make additions via free agency. De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Noelvi Marte and Spencer Steer have to be the driving force behind the Reds’ success. If that quartet can improve on their 2025 performance, Cincinnati could be in position to make some noise in the National League.
St. Louis Cardinals: Brandon Donovan trade watch
In an offseason featuring plenty of changes, including trading the likes of Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras, the Cardinals still haven’t found a home for arguably their most talented player available, Brandon Donovan. Donovan, who has two more years of club control, is an intriguing talent not only because of his defensive ability as a Gold Glove winner but also because of his offensive talent. The Cardinals’ second baseman has elite bat-to-ball skills and was a first-time All-Star in 2025 while playing all across the diamond.
It’s not unrealistic to think that Donovan could be moved over the next few weeks ahead of spring training or even during camp. But clearly teams have not been able to meet St. Louis’ asking price for the second baseman. We’ll see if that changes or if the Cardinals wait to try again at the trade deadline.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Making the most of Paul Skenes
From now until the last day Paul Skenes is in Pittsburgh, every move the Pirates make has to be about maximizing his time with the organization. Skenes won the NL Cy Young Award in just his second major-league season, cementing his status as one of the two best pitchers in the world. With an ace who is more than ready to take the ball for Game 1 of a postseason series, getting him there should be the priority.
The Pirates were aggressive this offseason in an attempt to add, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, as they made a push for both Josh Naylor and Kyle Schwarber before signing first baseman Ryan O’Hearn. Looking forward, with most of this winter’s free-agent business concluded, allowing baseball’s top prospect, Konnor Griffin, to break camp as the Opening Day shortstop could help raise the talent level and boost the offense in Pittsburgh.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Embarrassment of riches on full display
Maybe this is the year Seattle’s 116-win record gets challenged; maybe it’s not. But this Dodgers team has more than enough talent to make a run at it. Of course, chasing regular-season greatness isn’t really this team’s style or priority. But trying to become the first team to three-peat since the 1998-2000 Yankees is definitely their speed.
San Diego Padres: Navigating new financial constraints
Since the death of longtime owner Peter Seidler, the Padres have been going through a very public battle for control of the franchise between Seidler’s widow and his brothers. And late in 2025, the Seidler family announced it was exploring a potential sale of the team. Typically, when a team announces the exploration of a sale, budgets get tightened. For Padres president of baseball operation A.J. Preller, that means trying to compete with a strict budget and a roster that already has lots of money allocated.
In recent years, San Diego has been one of the most aggressive teams when it comes to player acquisition, and the Padres still have plenty of top-end talent. But can they continue to be aggressive with so much uncertainty on the business side? It’s hard to imagine, and this winter has been relatively quiet in San Diego, but Preller is one of the best in baseball when it comes to making unexpected moves. Maybe this situation is one he can navigate.
San Francisco Giants: Avoiding mediocrity
For some time, the Giants have been trying to get out of a rut, and since they won 107 games in 2021, that has been a challenge. San Francisco finished with records of 81-81, 80-82, 79-83 and 81-81 the past four seasons. One of the major reasons behind the team’s decision to hire Buster Posey as president of baseball operations was to try to bring a winning culture back. But in his second offseason at the helm, Posey hasn’t exactly thrown his weight around.
It’s possible that a full season with Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames and Jung Hoo Lee, along with a usually strong rotation, will see the Giants compete in the National League. But it still feels like this team needs more, and it’ll be on Posey and first-time MLB manager Tony Vitello to figure out what that is. The NL West isn’t getting weaker anytime soon, and the teams in that division have to go through L.A. But for the Giants, 2026 is going to need to be different. For their sake, let’s hope the arrival of Vitello is the spark they need to get away from .500.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Nolan in the desert
Nolan Arenado is back in the NL West, this time as a member of the Diamondbacks after being traded by the Cardinals earlier this month. Arenado, who had long been expected to be dealt, now gets a fresh start on a team that has enough talent to be competitive in a challenging division and improving National League.
It’s no secret that Arenado is on the back nine of his career, and the eight-time All-Star’s numbers have been decreasing since he finished third in NL MVP voting in 2022. That doesn’t mean he can’t still be productive. On a team with plenty of top-tier talent in Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte, Arenado doesn’t have to be the star, but his leadership and defensive ability will still make him a valuable piece of Arizona’s roster in 2026 and beyond.
Colorado Rockies: The Paul DePodesta era begins
For the first in decades, change has come to Colorado, and the Rockies have new voices in the building. And for new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta, this season marks the beginning of what might be one of the toughest challenges in baseball: transforming Colorado’s baseball team from a laughingstock into a winner.
DePodesta has lots of experience in baseball, so it’s not like the game is foreign to him. But it will be interesting to see how he runs the Rockies after having left the game in 2016 to become the Cleveland Browns’ chief strategy officer. There will be plenty of eyes on the Rockies’ new president as he navigates the first year of his rebuild.
