It’s time to dust off those ball bags — MLB spring training has commenced.
Pitchers and catchers are starting to report to both Arizona and Florida for all 30 teams with Opening Day on March 25. Rosters are getting finalized and every team’s new offseason additions are getting their reps in – not to mention the much anticipated World Baseball Classic that will see the world’s best players compete on the international stage.
Here are all the notable news and dealings as teams ramp up to Opening Day:
Feb. 10
Kris Bryant on 60-Day IL; Rockies Sign Tomoyuki Sugano
The Rockies will continue to be without one of their oft-injured big signings through at least two months.
Colorado placed infielder/outfielder Kris Bryant on the 60-day injured list due to a degenerative lumbar disc disease (lower back). The slugger has appeared in just 170 games with the Rockies since agreeing to a $182 million, seven-year contract in March 2022.
In addition to playing Bryant on the IL, the Rockies added Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano to their rotation on Tuesday, agreeing to a $5.1 million, one-year contract with the right-hander.
Sugano, 36, went 10-10 with a 4.64 ERA in 30 starts with Baltimore last year. He pitched in Japan before agreeing to a $13 million, one-year contract with the Orioles in December 2024. Sugano played for the Yomiuri Giants for 12 seasons, winning three MVP awards in Nippon Professional Baseball’s Central League.
Juan Soto changing positions
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns announced that Juan Soto will be shifting from right field to left field next season. Soto has extensive experience at both corner outfield positions but has primarily started in right field over the last two years. Last season was Soto’s first with the Mets and saw him total -7 defensive runs saved in right field. At the same time, the six-time Silver Slugger totaled a career-high 43 home runs, 105 RBIs, a National League-high 38 stolen bases and 6.2 wins above replacement, while posting a .263/.396/.525 slash line.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns revealed that Francisco Lindor is being evaluated for a stress reaction in his left hamate bone and could need surgery. If the four-time Silver Slugger indeed needs surgery, it could keep the shortstop off the field for roughly six weeks. The 32-year-old Lindor had elbow surgery in October. Last season, Lindor, a five-time All-Star, totaled 31 home runs, 86 RBIs, 31 stolen bases and 5.9 wins above replacement, while posting a .267/.346/.466 slash line.
It’s come full circle as the 43-year-old future Hall of Famer returns to the club where he became a breakout star. Justin Verlander, the three-time Cy Young winner, inked a one-year deal for $13 million. Verlander has 266 victories are tied with Bob Feller and Eppa Rixey for 34th on baseball’s career list, while his 3,553 career strikeouts are eighth and closely trailing Don Sutton with 3,574.
Verlander now bolsters an already stacked rotation that includes two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez, who also signed with Detroit in free agency. Verlander was traded to Houston in August 2017 and helped the Astros win the World Series that same year and again in 2022. Now he gets an opportunity to chase a third championship with the Tigers, who are looking for the franchise’s first title since 1984.
Feb. 9
Phillies desperately trying to trade outfielder
Philadelphia president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said that the team is “doing everything” it can “to make a move” regarding outfielder Nick Castellanos. The 33-year-old Castellanos is entering the final season of a five-year, $100 million contract and coming off a 2025 campaign that saw him post a career-low -0.8 wins above replacement, while posting a .250/.294/.400 slash line.
He also posted -11 defensive runs saved in right field (138 starts/143 appearances).
Ketel Martel: ‘Happy’ to stay with D-Backs
Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte said he remains happy staying with Arizona despite an offseason of speculation that the All-Star could be traded.
“We talked a lot and hashed some things out, talked it all through and everything is great,” Marte said ahead of reporting to spring training early. “[GM] Micro [Hazen] Sé que amo al defensor D, amo a mis compañeros de equipo. Todo el mundo sabe qué tipo de jugador soy y estoy feliz de que haya funcionado y [that] Estoy aquí.”
Hazen dijo que ha escuchado ofertas pero que un posible acuerdo “nunca ha terminado tan bien”.
“Siento que tengo que hacer mi trabajo simplemente para escuchar lo que la gente tiene que decir. Es un jugador superestrella para nosotros, lo ha sido durante mucho tiempo y seguirá siéndolo”, dijo Hazen.
Durante sus nueve temporadas con los Diamondbacks, Marte formó parte de tres equipos All-Star, ganó dos premios Silver Slugger, terminó tercero (2024) y cuarto (’19) en la votación del Premio MVP de la Liga Nacional y fue nombrado MVP de la Serie de Campeonato de la Liga Nacional 2023. Marte participará en el Clásico Mundial de Béisbol por República Dominicana.
Saalfrank se pierde en 2026
Diamantes de Arizona lanzador zurdo Andres Saalfrank Se perderá la temporada tras una operación de hombro, confirmó el equipo el lunes.
Se espera que el jugador de 28 años sea una parte clave del bullpen del equipo después de compilar una efectividad de 1.24 en 28 apariciones la temporada pasada. Los Diamondbacks no dijeron cómo se lesionó Saalfrank, y agregaron que el manager Torey Lovullo abordaría la lesión el martes.
Es otro golpe para el cuerpo de lanzadores, que ya se queda sin relevistas AJ Puk Y Justin Martínezjunto con el as inicial Corbin ardedurante los primeros meses de la temporada. Los tres se están recuperando de una operación de codo y esperan regresar en verano.
Saalfrank calificó la cirugía como una “píldora difícil de tragar” en las redes sociales y agregó que “el juego de béisbol puede ser brutal, pero también me ha brindado algunos de los mejores momentos de mi vida, y no espero que eso cambie en el futuro”.
