• Just read/analyze this whole article that is full of lineup information and potential closers.

American League

Angels

• Carlos Estévez is not guaranteed to be the closer.

Angels manager Phil Nevin indicated to reporters (including Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register) that the club would not be naming right-hander Carlos Estevez as the closer to open the season, instead opting for a committee approach to open the season. Estevez signed with the Angels earlier this offseason on a two-year deal and was expected to step into the closer role to open the season, but that does not appear to be the plan, at least for the start of the 2023 campaign.

Still, Nevin told reporters that Estevez “is definitely going to get some big outs late in the game most of the year for us,” leaving the door open to the right-hander remaining the conversation to close games for the Angels this season. The Angels have a fairly deep group of pitchers with late inning experience at the back of their bullpen in addition to Estevez that includes Ryan Tepera, Matt Moore, Aaron Loup and Jimmy Herget.

Athletics

• Aledmys Díaz will face righties and Nick Allen will face lefties as the team’s shortstop.

It appears one key decision has been made, with the shortstop position described as a platoon between Díaz and Allen.

“I think the way we’re going to start the season, the projection right now is to have Aledmys at short against right-handed pitching and Nick will play at short against left-handed pitching,” Kotsay said.

Orioles

• Jorge Mateo played some centerfield but it seems to for an in-season emergency.

In the sixth inning of a home Grapefruit League win over the Yankees, Jorge Mateo moved from shortstop — where he played all 1,257 1/3 of his defensive innings for Baltimore last season — to center field. Then, the 27-year-old started back in center again in Sunday afternoon’s 4-2 win over the Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium.

…

“The more flexibility you can create with your roster, the better,” Hyde said. “It’s not like Jorgie’s never been out there before, so we just wanted to kind of give him a look, just in case it did happen in the season where we did need some coverage in center field.”

National League

Cubs

• Jameson Taillon finally likes how his sweeper is performing.

Taillon believes he found a sweet spot with the sweeper. He felt he was executing it well in bullpens but was struggling to bring that form into games. But he figured out some cues with the pitch heading into his last start.

“I was kind of out in front too much with it,” Taillon said. “So I started thinking about a little closer to my ear and then trying to backdoor it. It’s a weird cue, it’s almost curveball-y. It feels like I’m releasing it back (by my ear) instead of (out front) like my fastball, cutter and changeup. The key is create topspin and it catches the seams.”

Diamondbacks

• Drey Jameson will be a multi-inning reliever with the possibility of being used in high-leverage spots.

Jameson, though, was also impressive and earned a spot.

“Knowing where the pitch counts [for starters] is going to be, [it] felt like having a long guy in the ‘pen that could give us some length was of some benefit,” Hazen said. “Look, we felt like he was one of our 13 best pitchers, and at the end of the day, we just made that decision.”

Just because he’s opening the season in the bullpen, don’t rule out the possibility that Jameson will start this year or in the future. The D-backs will look to keep him stretched out early in the season, pitching multiple innings so that he can jump into the rotation if needed.

Jameson has the stuff to be a late-inning reliever, so it could turn out that he pitches so well in that role that he stays in it, like Archie Bradley did in 2017. But that remains to be seen.

“We are mindful of the stuff he brings to the table and what we are looking for in our ‘pen, and he has the stuff to do that,” Hazen said. “He also has the stuff to do that as a starting pitcher.”

• Kyle Lewis made the roster because the team faces several lefties to start the season.

The D-backs’ Opening Day roster became clearer Sunday when the team made six roster moves, optioning Pavin Smith and Emmanuel Rivera to Triple-A Reno and reassigning Phillip Evans, P.J. Higgins, Jake Hager and Peter Solomon to Minor League camp.

…

The D-backs like Smith a lot, and he was their only true backup first baseman. He also had a very nice spring, but Lewis’ performance was too good to ignore.

Another factor is that Arizona will see a number of left-handed starters early in the season, and Lewis allows them to use a right-handed batter in the designated hitter spot.

“He had an incredible spring,” Hazen said. “I think we’re going to get a lot of lefties out of the chute based on how we think the rotations are lining up against us. I think [his] power element is something that we talked about not necessarily having, and he can represent that for us in a lot of ways.”

Giants

• Casey Schmitt is making the transition over to shortstop.

Notably, they’ll be watching him play just as much shortstop as third base in Sacramento.

“The fact that Casey Schmitt can play shortstop … is a really, really good development for our organization,” Kapler said. “The fact that we’re already talking about him spending 50 percent of his time at the minor-league level at shortstop is a huge step forward for all of us.”

• Bryce Johnson made the team.

They don’t have another viable center fielder behind Mike Yastrzemski, who is having a terrible spring at the plate and must be protected from left-handed starters.

Johnson is not just capable of playing center field. He’s a potential asset out there. And his 12-for-12 showing on the basepaths in exhibition games demonstrated the value he can provide off the bench in a game with rule changes instituted to incentivize range and athleticism.

Johnson isn’t merely on the roster as an extreme role player. He’s “making a push to be a significant part of the roster,” Zaidi said.

“Talent … doesn’t predict performance, necessarily,” Kapler said. “But the talent is undeniable.”

I don’t think the at-bats will be there for him to show value to start the season but if the playing time increases, he’s a great source of steals.

Marlins

• If the team needs a starter, Daniel Castano is likely to get the call.

Miami also needs to determine the order of its rotation following Opening Day starter Alcantara. One thing we do know is Castano, who allowed just one run in 12 2/3 innings this spring, would be the next man up. The Marlins would have to make space for him on the 40-man roster.

…
“Castano did everything he was supposed to do to warrant a spot in the rotation or in the bullpen,” Schumaker said. “The fact is that we have a lot of really good pitchers right now, and sometimes you have to go down [to the Minors] and get built up in case something happens — and he’s that guy that unfortunately was squeezed out, because we need him to be built up and be in the rotation-type thing if anything happens up here. He’s a really good insurance piece — depth piece — to have, and we’re confident that when he does come up, that he’s going to help us right away.”

In 85 MLB innings, he has a 3.89 ERA, 4.3 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, and a 45% GB%. He won’t be on my priority add list.

Padres

• Xander Bogaerts is always dealing with wrist pain.

Xander Bogaerts received a cortisone shot in his left wrist, and isn’t expected to play again until Sunday. As Melvin told Sanders and company, “there’s no concern, [Bogaerts] has one of these a spring,” due to periodic soreness in his wrist. The prized signing of San Diego’s offseason, Bogaerts is in no danger of missing his first Opening Day in a Padres uniform.

Phillies

• The team is looking into Nick Castellanos playing first base…

Right fielder Nick Castellanos has been taking ground balls at first base following the season-ending injury to Rhys Hoskins. Thomson said it was Castellanos’ idea and it shows the skipper that “he’s trying to help the team any way he can. … That’s a good sign, and I’m all for it.”

“I’ll talk to him about it and see where he’s at with it,” said Thomson, who added it’s too early to draw any conclusions from it. “There’s more to it than just fielding the ball. There’s positioning, cuts and relays — a whole bunch of stuff that you’d have to cover.”

…or possibly Alec Bohm.

Another first-base option is to slide over third baseman Alec Bohm, a right-handed batter, against lefties. The Phillies could then cover third with versatile platoon players, such as Edmundo Sosa or Josh Harrison.

“I think we’re open to a lot of things at this point,’’ Dombrowski said. “[Hoskins’ injury] just happened last night, so we haven’t even had a chance to talk to our players about some of the scenarios that could exist.’’

Pirates

• Johan Oviedo has tabled adding a sinker.

Oviedo came into camp wanting to add a sinker to his pitch mix. However, he shelved the pitch a couple of weeks ago to focus on his four-seamer and changeup. He still expects to use the sinker at some point this season.

“I’m definitely going to need that pitch, especially when I need a groundball,” Oviedo said. “The season is almost here and I need to perform. It’s a long season, so I can’t show (the hitter) everything right away anyway.”

Rockies

• Daniel Bard’s fastball velocity is still down but “hopefully” it will head up soon.

In the ninth inning of Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Guardians, Bard hung his second pitch — a 93.6 mph sinker — for a David Fry solo homer before chalking up a strikeout and two grounders.

“A 93 mph fastball — Daniel’s not there yet, but he’s getting there,” Black said. “He threw one 96, which is good, so the velocity is not there, but hopefully in the next week it shows up.”

American League

Angels

• Ben Joyce could end up being the closer this season.

Carlos Estévez looks to be the likely closer for the Angels, but what odds would you give Ben Joyce to take over the role this year? Is there someone we aren’t paying attention to who could steal saves?

Estévez has had a brutal spring training. Normally, that wouldn’t matter much. But the numbers are truly gaudy. Still, the job is likely his at this point. Joyce is a wild card. He has just about 50 competitive innings above the high school level. That includes college and pro ball. He throws 104 miles per hour. He seems to have solid command. The question is how often the Angels could use him, and how durable he’d be over a full season. The odds are good that he’s pitching for the team this year. And he has closer-type stuff.

Read the rest of this entry »

American League

Athletics

• Aledmys Díaz should get plenty of playing time, especially at shortstop.

“You could see Díaz at shortstop. That’s kind of been a trend this Spring Training. That’s not set in stone,” Kotsay said. “Aledmys can play in left, we have the opportunity to DH as well. So there’s a ton of combinations that we can put together that we feel good about. We’re still evaluating and nothing is set in stone. And even when we open the season with the Opening Day lineup, things can change.”

With a late ADP (423 in Main Events), 15 HR power, and several qualified positions, he’s a nice bench bat. When he has started this Spring Training, he has hit in the top third of the lineup. Read the rest of this entry »

For the next few days, I’m going to have limited time to write each morning so here are my thoughts.

The Braves option Bryce Elder and Ian Anderson to the minor league camp.

I didn’t see this one coming as I have several shares of both in draft-and-holds. The two pitchers still in the major league camp are Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd who were completely off my radar. Here is the information I have on them from the Baseball America Handbook and the BaseballHQ Minor League Analyst. Read the rest of this entry »

American League

Angels

• Griffin Canning is back to his old self and in the battle for the team’s sixth rotation spot.

But that’s behind him — at least for now — and Canning’s fastball velocity is up from what he’s shown in the past. His fastball averaged 93.5 mph in 2021, and over his first two Cactus League starts this spring (in which he’s given up one run over five innings), it’s been consistently hitting 95 mph.

Canning’s secondary stuff — a slider, a changeup and a curveball — has been playing well in his return, too. One of his sliders in the second inning Sunday led to Chicago’s Seby Zavala lunging at the pitch while the bat flew out of his hands toward third base, capping the second of three strikeouts Canning had on the afternoon.

…

While Canning has looked good so far this spring, he does face some headwinds in his quest to fill the role — he has Minor League options remaining, whereas others in the group competing for the same job are out of them. That group includes left-hander Tucker Davidson and right-hander Chase Silseth.

Read the rest of this entry »

American League

Angels

• Chase Silseth added a cutter.

Silseth, ranked as the club’s No. 4 prospect by MLB Pipeline, is competing for the sixth spot in the rotation and made his second start of the spring in Wednesday’s 4-3 walk-off win over the Rockies, striking out five and allowing one run over four innings. He’s added a new pitch to his arsenal this year — a cutter — which he believes will especially help him against left-handed hitters.

Read the rest of this entry »

American League

Angels

• Brett Phillips revamped his swing this offseason.

“I went through a full swing revamp this offseason, so this is all kind of new to me,” Phillips said. “But, it feels really good. I’m confident and feeling very encouraged with where I’m at, especially this early in Spring Training. I know we’ve got some time to iron out all the flaws with timing and mechanical stuff, but I feel like I’m in a good direction to be as successful as I can for this team.”

Mariners

• Logan Gilbert added a splitter.

Specifically, and ironically given how effective it is, Gilbert’s fastball felt the least functional within his arsenal. He also unveiled the new split-changeup that’s been all the talk among his teammates, including Ray, who is also toying with it.
…
Last spring, it was the harder, firmer slider Gilbert added with consultation from Jacob deGrom that was all the rave. But Gilbert wound up taking a little off that pitch as the season went on. He recognizes that the split could be the same work in progress into the regular season.

Rays

• Luis Patiño is throwing 96 mph (94.5 in ’22, 95.7 in 21) and has added a sinker.

The 23-year-old right-hander held Philadelphia hitless through 1 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out one while leaning on his mid-80s slider and 96 mph fastball in Tampa Bay’s 7-3 win. Even better for the Rays was that Patiño’s velocity didn’t dip from his first inning to the second, something that plagued him last year.

…

Along with a new sinker, Patiño said he’s working on throwing two types of sliders this year — one that acts like a cutter and another that breaks like a sweeper. Thirteen of his 29 pitches Tuesday were sliders, and according to Cash, some of them were giving Snyder flashbacks.

• The Rays are looking to extend Curtis Mead.

Among the many long-term extension conversations being had this spring, one worth noting: Top third-base prospect Curtis Mead and the Tampa Bay Rays. Mead ended last season at AAA and is a candidate to arrive in the big leagues this season, regardless of whether a deal happens.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 7, 2023

I might consider Mead in the last round or two of a redraft league to see if he signs and starts the season in the majors.

Royals

• Nick Loftin added weight and hit a new career-high Exit Velocity.

After one month of “more,” Loftin crushed his goal of 190 pounds. He kept going and reached 205 before settling at 200, which he’s maintained since the start of big league camp. He also made a small change to his swing, getting rid of his toe tap and adopting a small leg kick, which helps him simplify the load in his swing and be on time with pitchers more consistently.

The results have been eye-opening.

On Saturday, Loftin hit his first spring homer to the left-field berm at Surprise Stadium, with an exit velocity of 107 mph. Loftin can’t remember a time he’s hit a ball that hard, if ever.

Loftin isn’t in play in the outfield just yet, but he could be once the other candidates start to struggle.

Tigers

• The team has decided to enter the 21st century by creating individualized throwing plans and focusing on injury prevention.

In a broad sense, the goal of the changes was to modernize the Tigers’ performance department. This spring, there are glimpses of what’s new. You see players training with metaballs or water balls and other new gadgets. There’s a host of nutrition staffers roaming around the complex. Throwing programs have supposedly become more individualized.

Those changes hint at what the Tigers are trying to accomplish in this realm. It is less about overhauling a specific training method or revamping throwing programs. Instead, the Tigers are trying to create a greater level of connectivity between all their departments.

That’s where they were lagging behind before. The Tigers’ training methods focused largely on treating the symptoms of injuries. Missing was a greater emphasis on injury prevention or incorporating data and science to identify injury risks before they happen.

Twins

• Jose Miranda’s repaired shoulder is still an issue and won’t be able to play third base. The list replacement options are suboptimal.

He spent the offseason getting into better shape in preparation for the switch, but Miranda has been held back from throwing until the shoulder soreness is sorted out. In the meantime, he continues to be in the Twins’ lineup at DH.

“We’re still quite hopeful that he’s going to be ready to go Opening Day,” Baldelli said.
…
If the shoulder soreness isn’t resolved by the end of camp, it’s possible Miranda could begin the season on the active roster in a role similar to 2022, playing first base and DH to keep his bat in the lineup, especially if Alex Kirilloff still needs more time to return from August wrist surgery. Potential fill-in options at third base include Solano, Kyle Farmer, Nick Gordon and Willi Castro.

• Joe Ryan perfected his sweeper and learned a split-change.

“He’s got the perfect (arm) slot for a sweeper,” Driveline director of pitching Chris Langin said of Ryan. “The main modification was an alteration to the grip. It was a spike on the index finger and it allowed him to stay in front of the ball when he threw it, which basically makes it when you’re in a game environment you’re not backing it up too much. … It was just pretty clear that if he can just develop some 50-grade secondary stuff, that’s going to help you a ton.”

…

Driveline also offers a strength and conditioning assessment and provides ideas on pitch design. With Ryan, Driveline also suggested he develop a split-changeup.

National League

Braves

• Kyle Wright is still on track to miss just one start.

Going back to the start of Spring Training, the Braves have said they expect Wright to start during one of the regular season’s first two series. Progress over the past three weeks has only strengthened that opinion. The right-hander will throw live batting practice on Friday, and then possibly make his spring debut next week.

Cubs

• Adrian Sampson 샘슨 is having issues differentiating his sinker and four-seamer.

Sampson said a main issue he is ironing out is creating more separation between his sinker and four-seam fastball. When those pitches are not functioning properly, the result is too many left over the middle. In a preseason setting, a pitcher has the luxury to work on such things.

“I’m very lucky it’s Spring Training — that’s the biggest thing right now,” Sampson said.

Dodgers

• Noah Syndergaard’s fastball velocity was down for his first appearance after it averaged 94 mph last season.

Syndergaard’s first pitch was clocked at 91 mph. So was his next one. After a couple of heaters, his velocity did tick up to 92 mph, flashing 93 a few times. It was just his first start of the spring, but the lack of velocity was a bit surprising, even for Syndergaard himself.
…
The key for Syndergaard might be his ability to mix in his slider and changeup. In his first spring outing, his changeup was his best pitch, helping him toss two scoreless innings.

And was still down in his next start.

Noah Syndergaard retired all nine he batters he faced in three scoreless innings today against the Padres

He had two strikeouts and his fastball ranged from 91-94 mph on the stadium gun, a tick up from his max velo last week

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) March 6, 2023

• Daniel Hudson will probably not be ready by the start of the season.

That positions Hudson for a potential high-leverage relief role, though he might not ready right out of the gate. Skipper Dave Roberts told reporters this afternoon that Hudson’s availability for Opening Day is in question (relayed by Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times). While he’s seemingly past his ACL rehab, the 13-year veteran was delayed in camp after battling ankle tendinitis over the winter.

Padres

• Ryan Weathers has a new windup.

Weathers has debuted a new over-the-head windup, along with crisper stuff.

American League

Athletics

• Paul Blackburn is expanding the usage of his changeup.

The changeup was always a pitch that Blackburn felt he didn’t use enough. In ’22, he threw just 43 changeups to right-handed batters. While last season was a breakout year, upping the usage of his changeup is something Blackburn thinks can help him reach a higher level as a pitcher.

“It gives me another weapon,” Blackburn said. “If I’m able to throw sinkers and changeups in, that’s going to open up everything for me. It’s another weapon that I can use. Going forward, being able to throw more changeups to righties will open up a cutter and curveball for me. It’s not just, as soon as I get two strikes, here comes the curveball.”

Blue Jays

• Kevin Gausman, who had to get a new windup, is still not comfortable with the new pitch clock.

The good news is, he made it through his five-out spring debut Friday without being called for a single balk. The bad news is, he said he felt as if he was rushing his delivery at times throughout a messy 30-pitch first inning. And that’s something his team is watching, because if this creeps into Gausman’s head, getting it out of there could be a lot more challenging than writing up any rule change.

“I think like anyone, you don’t want to be the guy that’s the poster boy for it,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider, “where it’s like, ‘Oh, why are they attacking me? Why are they singling me out?’ But he’s been good (about it).”

Orioles

• The Orioles rotation currently consists of Kyle Gibson, Cole Irvin, Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, and Grayson Rodriguez.

Locks: Kyle Gibson, Cole Irvin

Gibson realizes his place in the starting five is assured, “barring a Spring Training meltdown.” Irvin didn’t make that type of proclamation earlier this week, when the 29-year-old left-hander said he feels his 81 games of big league experience isn’t enough to just be handed a spot.

The O’s are paying the 35-year-old Gibson $10 million this year and gave up talented shortstop prospect Darell Hernaiz to acquire Irvin from the A’s. They’re both in the Opening Day rotation.
…
In (as of now): Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, Grayson Rodriguez

These three right-handers came to camp as apparent front-runners, and they’ve each shown why. Bradish and Rodriguez (MLB Pipeline’s No. 7 overall prospect) each pitched two hitless innings in their Grapefruit debuts. Kremer allowed one run in five innings over his two outings before his imminent departure to go pitch for Israel in the World Baseball Classic.

Rangers

• Cole Ragans’s fastball is up about 3 mph.

Ragans averaged 92.1 mph last year on his four-seamer, hitting 94 mph or above only 15 times in the big leagues. Now, he’s sitting around 94-96 mph — and even topped out at 99 a couple times — in Cactus League play, raising more than a few eyebrows in Rangers camp.

To say the Rangers staff is injury prone would be an understatement, so Ragans will see some starts this year.

• With Leody Taveras likely to miss a few starts, Bubba Thompson will likely start the season as the team’s centerfielder.

The most likely solution is to have Thompson seize control of the position, and simply plug the second-year outfielder into Taveras’ spot in the lineup. Before Taveras’ injury, Thompson was expected to either serve as the fourth outfielder on the big league squad, due to his speed and defensive capabilities, or get every day at-bats back with Triple-A Round Rock.

Twins

• Last year, Sonny Gray was not ready for last season’s start leading to his injuries.

But his plans drastically changed two days later. Gray was en route to Reds camp in Arizona when he was traded to the Twins on March 10.

“I was extremely behind,” Gray said. “I was kind of under the impression the whole time we were going to get like two weeks because that’s kind of what we were told. I was under the impression, like, ‘OK, I’ll be OK.’ But then the lockout ended on Thursday and we had to report on Monday. I was like, ‘F—.’ I hadn’t thrown.”
…
The Twins knew Gray was behind. Everybody would be because of the lockout. But Gray never asked the Twins if he could miss the start of the season.

He made his regular-season debut in the Twins’ second game on April 9. During his second start a week later, Gray exited with a right hamstring strain after only 1 2/3 innings and was later placed on the injured list, one of three IL stints he’d endure in 2022.

White Sox

• Oscar Colas might be looking to steal more bases.

He showed the ability to hit the other way, which Colas worked on during the offseason, but also picked up a stolen base, which might be a new addition to his 2023 repertoire.

“I feel comfortable stealing,” Colas said. “The past couple of years, I didn’t have the chance to do it often. But ever since I came here, the manager told me, ‘You have good legs. Good speed. We want you to run.’ They’ve been giving me the chance and I’ve been taking advantage of it.”

“Colas can be an opportunistic basestealer,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “He’s got a lot of work to do on the bases.

National League

Cardinals

• Andre Pallante is not being stretched out as a starter.

A few items of particular note include that righty Drew VerHagen and lefty Zack Thompson, both of whom have been rotation options in the past, have been brought along on reliever schedules this spring. Sophomore righty Andre Pallante started 10 games for the Cards in 2022, but it seems the team is monitoring his workload even as he preps to pitch for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic; the Cards have asked that Team Italy not push him beyond 45 pitches in any outing. Pallante is likely ticketed for a relief role in 2023, given the presence of Wainwright, Miles Mikolas, Steven Matz, Jordan Montgomery and Jack Flaherty in the rotation (with Matthew Liberatore, Dakota Hudson, Jake Woodford and top prospect Gordon Graceffo all on hand as depth options).

Cubs

• Nico Hoerner will bat leadoff.

Hoerner has batted leadoff in all four games he has played this spring, the result of a plan manager David Ross had coming into camp.

“I think when I look at Nico, it’s about setting a tone for our group to start a game,” Ross said. “He’s as ready to go as anybody I’ve ever been around. Something about the way he plays, I think, sets a great tone for our team. So I like him starting things off.”

Ross informed Hoerner of his idea prior to Spring Training. While the manager isn’t ready to anoint the second baseman as his everyday No. 1 hitter for the regular season, it seems as though it’s Hoerner’s job to lose.

Dodgers

• David Peralta will start in left field against righties with Jason Heyward getting some time in center.

Peralta will pretty much be the everyday left fielder against right-handers, and it seems Jason Heyward has all but locked up a spot for himself as a left-handed bat who can play center field.

• The team will have a closer by committee until they don’t.

This season, Evan Phillips is the team’s best reliever, but the Dodgers are in no rush to take him out of the “fireman” role they value even more than a closer. Yency Almonte, Daniel Hudson, Brusdar Graterol and Alex Vesia could all close out games, but the team is in no rush to name a closer.

“I don’t think it’s a necessity,” Friedman said. “I think the most important question to answer is whether you think our bullpen is going to be really good, and we do. Then it’s about the mindset of each one of those guys, keeping them in the best headspace to go out and have a lot of success.”

Marlins

• Jordan Groshans is getting some reps at first base.

The Marlins are giving youngster Jordan Groshans time at first base this spring, as Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports. Groshans typically handled the other infield spots coming up through the minors, and spent just 40 previous innings at first. Groshans is on the fringes of cracking Miami’s opening day roster, but if he can show he can handle first adequately it would certainly provide a boost to his chances.

Mets

• The rotation is ailing with José Quintana and David Peterson hurt …

Two days before he was set to leave spring training for the WBC, José Quintana announced Sunday that he wouldn’t be suiting up for Colombia — the fallout of left side tightness that cut Quintana’s outing short Sunday. Quintana’s post on Instagram mentioned that he had experienced the tightness before Sunday and had hoped to pitch through it. He added that he is “trying to be ready for the start of the 2023 MLB season.”
…
After being hit in the left foot by a comebacker Saturday, David Peterson is day-to-day with a contusion.

… and Carlos Carrasco and Tylor Megill seeing reduced fastball velocity.

Phillies

• Contrary to previous reports, Brandon Marsh will not be in a platoon with Edmundo Sosa.

Edmundo Sosa: His center field experiment is more an insurance policy than a potential platoon scenario. The Phillies want to be sure they are covered if Brandon Marsh needs a day off, or if there is a particularly tough lefty on the mound. Sosa’s value is on the infield — especially if Alec Bohm or Rhys Hoskins is the DH on a given day.

• Trea Turner will bat leadoff with Kyle Schwarber hitting second.

Though Schwarber performed well in the leadoff spot last season, Thomson plans to use Turner at No. 1 and Schwarber at No. 2 to begin the season. As for Hoskins, Thomson isn’t yet set on him at the regular No. 3 spot — or on how the rest of the lineup will unfold in the absence of Bryce Harper, for that matter.

• Taijuan Walker is adding a splitter.

Phillies newcomer Taijuan Walker said at his introductory press conference in December that he was excited to showcase his splitter more in 2023 and to work with J.T. Realmuto, whom Walker called the “best catcher in the game.”

American League

Blue Jays

• Cavan Biggio will play half his games in the outfield.

Biggio knows right field well. He started 13 games there in 2021 and six last season, but John Schneider is expecting more of a 50-50 split for Biggio between the infield and outfield this season, adding that he’ll play “a ton” of outfield. That should tell you all you need to know about the Blue Jays’ plans for their fourth outfield spot, and this assignment is something he plans to grab with both hands.

Read the rest of this entry »

• Anyone with an Athletic subscription, read this entire article. Great stuff from the beat writers on fantasy-relevant topics for each team. I included a couple of them below.

American League

Angels

• Patrick Sandoval plans on throwing his change more.

Sandoval said he plans to use the changeup more this season, as he still believes it’s his best offering when he has a feel for it.

“It’s huge,” Sandoval said. “It’s my best pitch, and I need it every outing. It’s something that really works with the fastball and the slider.”

His change is one of the best in the game with a career 25% SwStr% and 48% GB%. Read the rest of this entry »