#spring-training

#spring-training

Jonah Heim was a free agent in the first place after he got non-tendered by the Texas Rangers following two underwhelming seasons. He hit .213/.271/.332 with a .266 wOBA and 69 wRC+ last season, which would be an acceptable amount of production for a catcher if their defense was good. Unfortunately for Heim, his defense was not good in 2025 as he graded below average in plenty of defensive catching metrics in 2025.

Seeing how quickly some of the prospects will push decisions to get them to the big leagues. Kevin McGonigle -- the Detroit Tigers' infielder who is compared to everyone from Dustin Pedroia to Alex Bregman -- will be a factor in the big leagues this year ... but when? Will Colt Emerson force his way onto the Seattle Mariners' roster in April, May -- or sooner?

It's crunch time in Major League Baseball, the last days before the start of spring training for teams to make additions to their rosters. While there are still some interesting free agents left on the market -- most notably starting pitchers Zac Gallen, Chris Bassitt and Justin Verlander -- the recent three-team deal involving the Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays showed that trades might still be in the works,

I felt great taking on different roles. And I think for me this year just getting into a more solidified role, whether it's middle relief, whatever it was back of games, but I think just keeping spirits high, keep working, simplify things, and just keep communicating with our coaches about what needs to get done and game planning and everything along those lines,

Still, there's much to be decided during camp. Banda and Dreyer both present options for further lefty depth,

Nittoli is now on the 12th organization of a decade-long professional career. The 35-year-old righty has gotten to the major league level with five of those clubs. His career high in MLB appearances with one team is seven, as he threw eight innings for the Athletics in 2024. Nittoli has had cups of coffee with the Mariners, Phillies, Mets and Orioles as well. He has logged 18 2/3 major league innings, striking out 13 against five walks while allowing five runs.

Stood end to end, the number of baseballs (9,000) being sent to Spring Training would stand over 2,175 ft. in height - or more than five times as tall as the TK Elevator test tower, located in The Battery Atlanta, which is the tallest elevator test tower in North America.

The agreement is a homecoming of sorts for O'Keefe. The veteran catcher made his MLB debut with Seattle back in 2022. He appeared in 10 games with the Mariners from 2022 to 2023. O'Keefe went to Spring Training with the Twins the following year, but was cut in March. He landed in Kansas City as a minor league free agent. He launched 18 home runs with a 130 wRC+ in 72 games with Omaha in 2024.

It has been over three years since Fernandez last pitched in a Major League game. He had a brief stint with the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2024 but his time in Japan was mostly spent recovering from injury. Beyond that cup of coffee in NPB, Fernandez pitched at the Triple-A level with the Blue Jays and Nationals in 2023, and with the Royals' and Mets' top affiliates last season. Over 43 combined Triple-A innings in 2025, Fernandez posted a 4.40 ERA and a very impressive 29.5% strikeout rate, but also an inflated 14% walk rate.

The Angels agreed to re-sign third baseman Yoan Moncada to a one-year deal last week, but that deal still has yet to be made official. It's unclear what's caused the delay, as other clubs with agreements signed at a similar time have officially announced those deals. Regardless, an announcement figures to happen in the near future given that spring training is just around the corner.

It's probably a good thing I'll be traveling tomorrow and may not have time for a Rundown, because the news cycle lately has been nothing but minor league deals. We're still going to talk about some of them, mainly because we'd have so little to discuss otherwise, but I don't think skipping a day will leave anyone with a news void that won't be easily filled. For the Cubs in particular, it feels like we've reached the point of coasting into camp.

Corner outfielder/designated hitter Nelson Velázquez is among the group, indicating they've signed him to a minor league contract. Velázquez, 27, is looking to get back to the majors for the first time in two seasons. He bounced around last year after being outrighted off the Royals' 40-man roster during Spring Training. Kansas City released him in May after he hit .202 across his first 33 Triple-A contests.

Gott's contract included an invitation to Spring Training. If he does make the team, this could be good for the Nationals, maybe not in terms of preventing runs, but in terms of having a veteran presence in the clubhouse. The Nationals are an extremely young team. They have great young talent, but an experienced veteran, who has bounced between the big leagues and minors his whole career, and in between teams too, will help with mental approaches to the game.

The Toronto Blue Jays are putting in the work this offseason to get ready for the new campaign, starting with the signing of Dylan Cease to the largest free agent deal in franchise history. The addition of Cease helps fill a hole that was left in the rotation following the departures of Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer, and brings some strikeout power to a rotation that is arguably one of the top in the American League.

Giants infielder Casey Schmitt underwent surgery on his left wrist Tuesday, but he's expected to be recovered, or very close, when spring training opens in February. Doctors removed Schmitt's carpal boss the bony lump on the back of the wrist near the base of the middle or index finger the team announced Tuesday morning. The team said the procedure typically takes 8-10 weeks of recovery.

Masataka Yoshida, despite a productive two-year stint, faced uncertainty in Spring Training due to a crowded outfield and recovery from shoulder surgery, leading to limited playing opportunities.