Trisha Easto
USA TODAY
March 1, 2026, 3:28 p.m. CT
Homage has released a new collection of MLB satin starter jackets.
The jackets feature a nostalgic design with ’90s-era colors and logos.
This new apparel line celebrates the start of the baseball season.
The officially-licensed jackets are available for all 30 MLB teams.
March is here, which is officially baseball season and truly, I don’t think anyone is more excited than I am. From spring training and the World Baseball Classic to Opening Day later this month, I’m ready for my days to revolve around what time the New York Yankees are going to be on my TV. For the ultimate fans, Homage just released new MLB satin starter jackets and I am fighting not to buy one for myself, my husband and my dad.
These officially-licensed satin starter jackets pull straight from the closet of baseball nostalgia, with snap-button fronts, the classic oversized fit that fans love and ’90s-era colors and logos. I’m getting true throwback vibes from teams like the Diamondbacks, Marlins, Devil Rays and Phillies. But, you absolutely cannot go wrong with the Yankees, because what’s more ’90s-era baseball than the Bronx Bombers?
Here’s a look at the Homage MLB satin starter jackets collection:
Shop Homage x MLB satin starter jackets
Homage releases MLB satin starter jackets to celebrate the start of the season
HOMAGE X Starter Yankees Heavyweight Satin Jacket
A 90’s throwback for all of my fellow Yankee fans who want to feel like it did when the Core Four were the center of our team. Shop now at Homage
HOMAGE X Starter Dodgers Heavyweight Satin Jacket
The Dodgers are having a lot of success in the modern era but a throwback to when your fandom started never hurts! Shop now at Homage
HOMAGE X Starter Diamondbacks Heavyweight Satin Jacket
We can hardly call this a 90’s throwback since the team wasn’t founded until 1998, but I’m a total sucker for the Diamondbacks color wave and this purple starter is a top tier example. Shop now at Homage
HOMAGE X Starter Astros Heavyweight Satin Jacket
This one screams 90’s with the color block on the collar and cuffs. Shop now at Homage
HOMAGE X Starter Rays Heavyweight Satin Jacket
Another incredible 90’s throwback, they’re not the Devil Rays anymore but this is such a cool tribute to the former mascot. Shop now at Homage
Shop all 30 teams at Homage
Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you purchase through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.

The San Diego Padres are assembling quite the collection of former rivals.
San Diego is signing veteran MLB outfielder Alex Verdugo in free agency, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported on Sunday. Acee notes that Verdugo is getting a minor-league deal from the Padres and will be in minor-league camp.
Verdugo, the 29-year-old lefty hitter, began his MLB career with the rival Los Angeles Dodgers from 2017-19. He was a member of the Dodgers’ NL pennant-winning teams in 2017 and 2018 (though he was left off the playoff roster both times) and had a standout year in 2019 when he batted .294 with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs.
The Dodgers would trade Verdugo to the Boston Red Sox in 2020, and he has also since played for the New York Yankees (featuring on their AL pennant-winning team in 2024) and the Atlanta Braves. Last season for the Braves though, Verdugo was a negative WAR player, batting .239 with zero home runs and 12 RBIs through 56 games.
But at his price tag, Verdugo is a very low-risk flier for the Padres. With experience at all three outfield positions, Verdugo could end up as a situational guy behind San Diego’s projected outfield quartet of Ramon Laureano, Jackson Merrill, Fernando Tatis Jr, and the newly-signed Nick Castellanos.

Konnor Griffin, the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, homered once again Sunday to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-1 spring-training victory over the host St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter, Fla.
Griffin, who turns 20 on April 24, is making a strong case to be the Pirates’ Opening Day shortstop. His first-inning two-run homer was his third in six games and 14 at-bats this spring, accounting for all three of his hits.
Jhostynxon Garcia also homered for Pittsburgh, which opened a 4-0 lead in the second inning. Pirates pitcher Hunter Barco, also a top-100 overall prospect, threw three no-hit innings with two walks and three strikeouts in his start.
Yohel Pozo had the lone hit for the Cardinals, who scored their only run on a double play and had just two at-bats with a runner in scoring position.
Tigers 4, Blue Jays 4
Visiting Toronto roughed up two-time defending Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal in an eventual tie in Lakeland, Fla.
Skubal, who coasted through his spring debut, was tagged for two runs on four hits over three innings. Detroit got nine hits from nine different batters, with Riley Greene providing the only extra-base hit, an RBI double.
Jonatan Clase delivered a game-high three hits for the Blue Jays, including a third-inning two-run double off Skubal. Grant Rogers delivered three perfect innings on the hill for Toronto.
Mets 4, Astros 3
Tyrone Taylor and Chris Suero homered and Cristian Pache had a double to lead host New York past Houston in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
The Mets managed just six hits but three of them were of the extra-base variety in a largely prospect-led lineup. Clay Holmes struck out four over four frames of one-run work in his second spring start.
Jose Altuve and Joey Loperfido each had a hit for the Astros, who plated their runs on a sacrifice fly, a walk and a wild pitch before Yonatan Henriquez lifted New York with a walk-off single.
Yankees 5, Phillies 3
Duke Ellis tripled and Yanquiel Fernandez doubled in a four-run seventh, which broke a 1-1 deadlock and paved the path to New York’s win over host Philadelphia in Clearwater, Fla.
Will Warren set the tone for the Yankees, delivering 3 2/3 one-hit innings on the mound with three strikeouts. He’s allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings (1.42 ERA) through two starts as he looks to build upon his first full major league season last year.
Bryson Stott hit his second spring homer for the Phillies, but the top three of the lineup (Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto and Alec Bohm) were a combined 0-for-9 with three Ks. Zach Pop took the loss, allowing four runs in 2/3 of an inning of relief work.
Braves (ss) 5, Rays 3
Austin Riley and Ben Gamel’s home runs in consecutive innings proved to be the difference as Atlanta’s split squad beat visiting Tampa Bay in North Port, Fla.
Gamel, a journeyman pushing for a roster spot with the Braves, has three home runs in 11 at-bats this spring, while Riley has homered twice. Michael Harris II added a two-run single for Atlanta, which got three runs of one-hit shutout work from Reynaldo Lopez.
Yandy Diaz and Jacob Melton each hit their second spring homers for the Rays, who got three perfect innings for Drew Rasmussen. He’s allowed just one hit in five shutout innings to start spring.
Braves (ss) 2, Twins 2
Brewer Hicklin and John Gil homered for the prospect-laden Atlanta road squad to force a tie against Minnesota in Fort Myers, Fla.
The Twins got an excellent start from Mick Abel (six strikeouts, one hit over three scoreless innings) after acquiring him from Philadelphia in the Jhoan Duran trade at last year’s trade deadline. Minnesota scored its runs on sixth-inning sac flies by Kody Clemens and James Outman.
Atlanta starter Grant Holmes allowed one unearned run over 2 2/3 innings, striking out two.
Orioles 8, Red Sox 7
Heston Kjerstad had three hits and top prospect Samuel Basallo cranked a two-run double to lead Baltimore to a narrow win over host Boston in Fort Myers, Fla.
No. 4 prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. had a single, a walk and a pair of runs for the Orioles, who saw offseason acquisition Chris Bassitt surrender two runs in two innings in his spring debut.
Key Red Sox acquisition Willson Contreras smashed his second spring homer, a three-run shot, as part of his two-hit, two-run showing in the designated hitter role. Allan Castro added a two-run single for Boston, which blew an early 6-1 lead.
Marlins 3, Nationals 0
Miami used a trio of extra-base hits to pull away with a shutout victory over Washington in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Christopher Morel had an RBI triple, Daniel Johnson an RBI double and Heriberto Hernandez his first spring homer for the Marlins. Offseason signee Chris Paddack sparked a stellar combined pitching performance with three strikeouts over two shutout innings.
Washington managed just four hits, all singles, and was hitless in four at-bats with runners in scoring position. Brad Lord, who made his major league debut last season, allowed two runs on five hits over 2 1/3 innings.

JUPITER, Fla. — Top prospect Konnor Griffin homered for the third time this spring in the first inning of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.
The Pirates have won eight of their 10 spring games.
The 19-year-old Griffin, ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 prospect, started at shortstop for the Pirates and hit a two-run shot off Kyle Leahy to give Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead.
Griffin went deep twice against Boston on Tuesday.
The Pirates drafted Griffin in the first round in 2024. He reached Double-A last year, where he hit .337 with a .960 OPS in 21 games for the Altoona Curve.
Jared Triolo went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs for the Pirates, and Jhostynxon Garcia went 2-for-2 with a solo home run.
Hunter Barco tossed three scoreless innings.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol signed a two-year contract extension through at least the 2028 season. The deal that was announced Sunday includes a club option for 2029.
On Saturday, Oneil Cruz hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning as the Pirates defeated the Houston Astros, 5-2, in a game called in the sixth inning due to rain.
Braxton Ashcraft started for Pittsburgh and allowed just one hit in three scoreless innings, and Marcell Ozuna went 2-for-3.

There are a few questions surrounding the Tampa Bay Rays entering the 2026 MLB regular season.
Likely the biggest question is their lineup, specifically where offensive production will come from. With All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe now with the Pittsburgh Pirates, there are only three hitters in the lineup who produced at an above-average level in 2025: third baseman Junior Caminero, designated hitter Yandy Diaz and first baseman Jonathan Aranda.
Questions and concerns will persist, but the Rays have to feel great about the foundation being built on the corner of their infield. Caminero is already a household name, making the American League All-Star team in 2025.
Aranda certainly has the skills to do the same, as he is on the cusp of being a top 10 first baseman in the MLB. In fact, had he not suffered an injury last year, MLB insider Buster Olney would have had him somewhere in the top 10 in his positional rankings.
Jonathan Aranda making name for self
“He finished about 80 plate appearances short of qualifying for a batting title, but the only hitter with at least 400 plate appearances who had a higher average than Aranda’s .316 was Judge. Aranda had a wRC+ of 153, and among first basemen, only Kurtz was better,” Olney wrote.
Missing nearly two months of action, Aranda played in only 106 games last year. He was incredibly productive with a .316/.393/.489 slash line with 14 home runs and 22 doubles. 59 RBI were recorded with a 146 OPS+.
With a 3.5 bWAR, he is one of the most productive first basemen in baseball with the bat. There may be a little regression because a .409 batting average on balls in play isn’t likely sustainable, and he doesn’t swing incredibly hard.
But he has all the tools to be a reliable middle-of-the-order producer. Aranda hits the ball hard with regularity, is willing to take a walk and his Baseball Savant page is full of elite, red numbers.
What also helps his standing amongst first basemen is that he is a solid fielder. Aranda had 1 Outs Above Average in 2025, which was in the 67th percentile. And he had +7 Defensive Runs Saved, which is sixth amongst first basemen and tied for 28th amongst all infielders.
It won’t be long until the Tampa Bay infielder becomes a household name, just like his teammate across the infield diamond. He is off to a wonderful start in spring training with a .385/.467/.462 slash line through his first 15 plate appearances.

Uncertainty is already hovering over the New York Mets’ revamped clubhouse, and it all centers on the status of cornerstone shortstop Francisco Lindor. It’s the kind of development that could create added tension as this reshaped Mets core tries to find its footing.
Reportedly, Lindor had surgery on February 11 to fix a stress reaction in his left hamate bone. The good news? He’s back in action and has reportedly started doing some light workouts. Still, when Mendoza was asked about a clear timeline for Lindor’s full return, especially whether he’ll be ready by Opening Day!
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And that’s where the concern comes in. With the Mets not having the same offensive core of Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, or Jeff McNeil this time around, Lindor’s presence in the lineup feels even more important. Hence, Mendoza’s update on Lindor’s return would determine whether the Mets’ offense would be at its best by Opening Day.
“I think we’re still too early; it’s hard to tell right now, especially knowing Lindor,” Mendoza said on Sunday as quoted by MLB.com. “This is a guy that I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes in a week before we have to break and he says, Hey, I’m ready to go.”
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So, in a word? It’s all uncertain around Lindor’s return!
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As per Mendoza, the Mets don’t have a concrete timeline for Francisco Lindor’s return, and that’s definitely a concern. With the regular season just about a month away, there’s a real chance they could open the year without their clubhouse leader. Sure, Mendoza is confident in Lindor’s work ethic, but expecting him back within a week when he’s only just starting to take swings and make throws feels overly optimistic.
And honestly, what’s the rush?
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Well, the Mets brought in big names like Juan Soto and Bo Bichette, but Lindor is still the steady engine of this lineup. Notably, over the last three seasons, he’s averaged around 31 HRs and 30 stolen bases, and that kind of production doesn’t just get replaced. He’s the guy who helps anchor everything in this new-look batting order.
Also, let’s not forget what the old core looked like. It was Lindor, Alonso, McNeil, and Brandon Nimmo. If you remember, Alonso was the main power source, averaging close to 40 homers a season, while Nimmo brought elite on-base ability with an OBP north of .324. That group had both identity and experience.
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Now? This revamped core is talented, but it’s also unproven as a unit. And with Lindor’s status still up in the air, the Mets suddenly feel a little vulnerable before the season even begins. Considering how instrumental Lindor has been in stabilizing the infamous Mets clubhouse culture, it’s completely fair for fans to feel uneasy.
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The Mets’ clubhouse resurrection depends on Lindor
The Mets clubhouse became a huge talking point in 2025, and that’s surely not in a good way. There were several reports of dysfunction and internal tension that many believe played a role in the team’s late-season collapse.
Back in June, for example, Lindor and McNeil reportedly got into a heated verbal exchange after a defensive error in a loss to the Phillies. That moment only fueled the narrative that things weren’t exactly smooth behind the scenes. Then there were reports about a chilly dynamic between Lindor and Soto, particularly regarding leadership and the idea of naming a team captain. Soto was said to have publicly opposed Lindor holding that title, which added another layer to the clubhouse storyline.
However, in the absence of the old core’s stability, Lindor took on responsibility for resetting the internal tone. More recently, he even publicly acknowledged owner Steve Cohen’s decision not to name a team captain under his ownership. That’s another sign of him putting the bigger picture first.
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So at this point, Francisco Lindor’s return isn’t just about what he brings at the plate. It’s also about presence, leadership, and maintaining a steady clubhouse environment.

Konnor Griffin continues to prove he belongs.
The 19-year-old Pirates phenom — MLB Pipeline’s top overall prospect — wasted no time in slugging his third home run of Spring Training in Sunday’s 6-1 win over the Cardinals in Jupiter, Fla.
On just the second pitch he saw in his first at-bat of the day, the young shortstop hammered a hanging sweeper from St. Louis starter Kyle Leahy 408 feet to center field. The two-run dinger left Griffin’s bat at 107.8 mph, according to Statcast.
Griffin, the Pirates’ first-round pick at No. 9 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, keeps showing prodigious power throughout Grapefruit League play, even against established Major Leaguers. He homered off new Red Sox starter Ranger Suárez on Feb. 24, then added a second dinger in the same game before his two-run clout off Leahy on Sunday.
In fact, all three of Griffin’s hits so far this spring have left the ballpark — a rarity for a player his age. That trio of homers are the most by a teenager in a single MLB Spring Training in at least the past 20 years. The Mississippi native won’t turn 20 years old until April 24, by which point he might already have several weeks of regular-season MLB experience under his belt.

LAKELAND, FL – Detroit Tigers top prospect Kevin McGonigle has a new advocate for his MLB debut in the 2026 season, possibly as soon as Opening Day.
His name is Tarik Skubal.
Skubal – the reigning two-time American League Cy Young winner – watched from the mound as McGonigle showcased smooth actions at shortstop with several highlight-reel defensive plays Sunday, March 1, in a 4-4 tie against the Toronto Blue Jays at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Actually, MLB Pipeline’s No. 36 prospect overall and the No. 1 White Sox prospect should have his target set on getting to the Majors as soon as possible. General manager Chris Getz already has stated the switch-hitting outfielder will start the 2026 season in the Minors.
But after homering and tripling during a 5-1 victory over the Cubs at Sloan Park Sunday, the White Sox second intracity win in two tries in Arizona, Montgomery listed a more grandiose baseball goal in line with his meticulous preparation and abundance of talent. The 22-year-old eventually wants to be a Hall of Famer.
“I’ll take it a day at a time,” a smiling Montgomery said after hitting one of four White Sox home runs. “We’ll see what happens at the end of it. We’ll see what happens when you’re goal-oriented and you take a pitch at a time, a second at a time.”
Montgomery connected off a 1-1 sweeper from Shota Imanaga with two outs in the second, one of three long balls hit against the Cubs southpaw. The drive to left traveled 375 feet with a 107.7 mph exit velocity, according to Statcast.
His triple in the sixth against Luke Little seemed even harder hit, although Statcast listed the exit velocity at 101.9 mph. The ball carried over the head of right fielder Michael Conforto, and Montgomery glided around the bases to third.
“Those triples always feel better because you get to go off to the races,” Montgomery said. “All eyes on you and you get to see what you can do.
“Being able to see these guys on the diamond that you’ve been seeing on TV and on videos all over, it’s really cool. It’s even cooler to compartmentalize. I’m part of that now. But it’s still a little bit of an adjustment. … Obviously I’m not going to look at myself in any different way because I’ve been me forever.”
Training for Montgomery comes in very detailed form, as he explained looking at different hitting situations and specific pitches in different hitting situations beyond the normal every day Cactus League work. After coming from the Red Sox as part of the four-player trade return for Garrett Crochet, Montgomery slashed .270/.360/.444 with 12 homers, 34 doubles, 68 RBIs and 14 stolen bases across three Minor League stops during the ‘25 season.
He added another home run, 11 RBIs and three stolen bases during an impressive 12-game stint with Glendale in the Arizona Fall League. It’s all work and production getting him closer to the Majors — or in Montgomery’s case, getting him closer to that ultimate goal.
“Ever since I watched Derek Jeter play, I knew I wanted to be in the big leagues,” Montgomery said. “Probably around 10 or 11 years old, I knew I wanted to be the best to play baseball.
“Obviously it’s not even day one of my big league career yet, but I take it day by day. If I can stack good days on good days, I’m sure the results at the end of it will be something I can live with.”

Talk of a potential salary cap is picking up steam as Major League Baseball’s current collective bargaining agreement nears its expiration. With negotiations on the horizon, team owners and the players’ union remain far apart on the issue.
Team owners, along with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, are advocating for the implementation of a salary cap. However, MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer has made the union’s opposition clear. In an interview with Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, Meyer suggested that a lockout in 2027 is highly likely.
Following a meeting with Detroit Tigers players, Meyer said, “The league has already pretty much said there’s going to be a lockout. I think the commissioner (Rob Manfred) more or less guaranteed it. I would be shocked if they didn’t lock out when the agreement expires. Having said that, as I’ve said many times in the past, we’ll start negotiating not long after Opening Day, and we’ll be ready to meet wherever and whenever and bargain in good faith. If there’s a way to avoid it and get a fair deal for the players, we’re always looking to do that. I think the expectations of a lockout upon the expiration of this agreement are very high — almost guaranteed.”
According to Meyer, a lockout appears increasingly likely, much to the disappointment of MLB fans. Still, he emphasized that the MLBPA remains prepared to negotiate on behalf of its players whenever necessary.
And this standoff over a salary cap is nothing new.
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In fact, MLB has been down this road before. The 1994–95 MLB strike remains one of the most significant labor stoppages in sports history. It began in August 1994 and lasted 232 days, largely fueled by owners’ efforts to implement a salary cap and expand revenue sharing, proposals the MLB Players Association strongly opposed.
The fallout was historic. The remainder of the 1994 season, including the World Series, was canceled, marking the first time since 1904 that no champion was crowned. The strike stretched into the start of the 1995 season and left lasting damage to the sport’s popularity and labor relations.
With that history in mind, the current tensions feel even more serious. Meyer reiterated that the union’s top priority is protecting players’ interests, while remaining open to finding common ground with MLB to avoid another lockout if possible.
MLBPA and Meyer are against salary cap implementation
The MLBPA and its executives have historically maintained a firm stance against a salary cap. They believe a salary cap is harmful to players and primarily benefits team owners.
“Our position, both historically and now, is pretty clear. This union, and every executive director of this union, has always been of the view that it’s bad for players, and for that reason, historically, we’ve been opposed to it. I don’t see any reason to change our view on that subject. It’s a subject I can and have gotten into at great length, but at the end of the day, the owners want it — not because it’s good for players, but because it’s good for them. The fundamental nature of a salary cap is bad for players on multiple levels, so that’s always been our view,” Meyer said.
Owners have proposed a salary cap to create parity among MLB team payrolls. The proposal also includes a salary floor. Reportedly, the cap would range from $240 million to $260 million, with a floor of $140 million to $160 million.
Such a cap would primarily impact high-spending teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, and Toronto Blue Jays, all of whom have projected payrolls exceeding $300 million.
The Dodgers, in particular, are frequently at the center of salary cap discussions because of their aggressive spending and high-value contracts. This year, attention has turned to Kyle Tucker’s four-year, $240 million deal. If a salary cap were implemented, teams like the Dodgers would need to reduce payroll, potentially limiting future player earnings.
As the MLBPA’s executive director has emphasized, players would ultimately bear the financial consequences.
The proposed salary floor also raises questions about true parity. Even within the suggested cap and floor range, a gap of nearly $100 million would remain between the highest and lowest payrolls. In leagues like the NBA and NFL, salary caps function differently because the gap between the cap and the floor is significantly smaller. Under the proposed MLB structure, that wide margin may not deliver the competitive balance that owners claim to seek.
As Meyer has repeatedly stated, the union believes a salary cap would primarily serve owners by giving them greater financial control. The MLBPA remains firmly opposed to its implementation, continuing to describe it as “bad for the players.”
While fans hope to avoid another lockout, the outcome will ultimately depend on whether MLB and the MLBPA can reach a mutual agreement during negotiations.

AUBURN, Calif. — Former MLB pitcher Daniel Serafini was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the 2021 shooting of his wife’s parents during a burglary at their home near Lake Tahoe, authorities said.
Serafini, 51, was convicted in July 2025 of first-degree murder of his father-in-law, Gary Spohr, attempted murder of his mother-in-law, Wendy Wood, and first-degree burglary. Spohr was killed and Wood survived, though she died a year after the shooting.
Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire said in a Friday statement that Spohr and Wood were loving grandparents and that Serafini’s crimes greatly affected family members and friends.
“The impact of this attack has extended far beyond the immediate victims, deeply affecting family members and the broader community, and highlighting the lasting harm caused by deliberate violence,” Gire said.
Serafini’s attorney did not return requests for comment.
During his sentencing hearing, Serafini addressed the court and maintained his innocence, according to MyNews4. He said he was out partying with his wife the night of the shooting and described himself as a “broken, imperfect man that makes mistakes.”
Serafini was drafted in 1992 by the Minnesota Twins. In a career spanning 11 years, the left-hander played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies.
Serafini pitched in 42 games (four starts) for the Cubs in 1999, going 3-2 with a 6.93 ERA and one save. In 104 career appearances, he was 15-16 with a 6.04 ERA.
Prosecutors said Serafini hated his wife’s wealthy parents and was heard saying he was willing to pay $20,000 to have them killed, according to the Sacramento Bee. Prosecutors showed jurors transcripts of angry emails and text messages between Serafini and his in-laws.
During the six-week trial, Serafini’s attorney David Dratman argued there was no physical evidence linking his client to the crime scene. He told the jury that although Serafini had a rocky relationship with his in-laws, he did not have motive to kill them.
Following his conviction, Serafini filed multiple motions for a new trial, but those were denied.
Serafini will serve his sentence at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, according to the Placer County District Attorney’s Office.
Serafini pitched in Japan from 2004-07 before returning to the U.S. He was suspended for 50 games in 2007 for using performance-enhancing drugs that he blamed on medication he took in Japan. He also pitched for Italy in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
On June 28, 2015, Serafini’s bar in Sparks, Nev., was featured on an episode of Bar Rescue. The bar’s named was changed from The Bullpen Bar to The Oak Tavern as part of the makeover, but not before his financial woes were described as blowing through $14 million in career earnings and taking a $250,000 loan from his parents.

Former MLB pitcher Dan Serafini will spend the rest of his life behind bars for shooting his in-laws in their California home, killing one of them in a twisted plot to inherit their fortune.
Serafini, who played for six major league teams over 22 years, was slapped with two life sentences Friday for murdering his father-in-law, Gary Spohr, 70, and shooting his mother-in-law, Wendy Wood, in the head after ambushing them in their Lake Tahoe home on June 5, 2021, according to multiple outlets.
“He is a monster who knows no moral boundaries and has zero reservations about taking the lives of others to benefit himself,” the victims’ daughter, Adrienne Spohr, said at his sentencing, KCRA reported.
“He thought he had gotten away with murder. He thought that he’d be cashing out my parents estate with his wife in the months afterwards. He was happy while my dad lay deceased and my mom laid bleeding out on her couch clinging to life. Dan destroyed my sense of safety, my health and my family.”
The devastated daughter blasted the 52-year-old killer as a man who “embodies true evil.”
Prosecutors said the disgraced athlete broke into the couple’s home while they were out boating with family – including wife Erin Spohr – and hid in a closet with a .22-caliber gun for three hours. When they returned, he opened fire and shot them both in the head, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Wood survived the shooting but died by suicide in 2022 at 69, with her grief-stricken family reportedly blaming her death on the depression and trauma she suffered from the heinous attack.
The deadly ambush stemmed from a $1.3 million loan intended for his wife’s horse ranch business, prosecutors argued at his six-week trial last year, the outlet reported.
They alleged Serafini murdered his in-laws to claim their $23 million fortune through his wife’s inheritance, according to People.
The pitcher-turned-killer – arrested with his mistress nanny, Samantha Scott, in 2023 – was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and first-degree burglary.
He was handed life sentences for the murder charges and 25 years to life for burglary – all to be served consecutively, the outlet reported.
Serafini’s estranged wife did not appear in court but asked the judge to show leniency in his sentencing.
The former baseball player also addressed the court, rejecting the charges against him and claiming he had been wronged by the justice system.
“Justice is fragile. I am just a man,” he pleaded, KCRA reported.
“I am far from perfect, but I am no murderer. We live in a society that lacks compassion and empathy. A society that sadly thrives on hearing the misfortunes of others. I sit before you today, a broken man, humiliated, embarrassed, angry, and sad. But I am not a murderer. I am a survivor, but I am no murderer.”
Scott reportedly pleaded guilty to an accessory charge in February 2025.
Serafini, a No. 26 draft pick by the Twins in 1992, debuted four years later and finished his MLB career with the Rockies in 2007, when he was suspended 50 games for performance-enhancing drugs.
During a “Bar Rescue” episode showcasing the Nevada bar he opened in 2013, Serafini revealed he had lost $14 million through bad investments and a divorce settlement.

AUBURN, Calif. (AP) — Former MLB pitcher Daniel Serafini was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the 2021 shooting of his wife’s parents during a burglary at their home by Lake Tahoe, authorities said.
Serafini, 51, was convicted in July 2025 of first-degree murder of his father-in-law, Gary Spohr, attempted murder of his mother-in-law, Wendy Wood, and first-degree burglary. Spohr was killed and Wood survived, though she died a year after the shooting.
Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire said in a Friday statement that Spohr and Wood were loving grandparents and that Serafini’s crimes greatly impacted family members and friends.
“The impact of this attack has extended far beyond the immediate victims, deeply affecting family members and the broader community, and highlighting the lasting harm caused by deliberate violence,” Gire said.
Serafini’s attorney did not return requests for comment.
During his sentencing hearing, Serafini addressed the court and maintained his innocence, according to MyNews4. He said he was out partying with his wife the night of the shooting and described himself as a “broken, imperfect man that makes mistakes.”
Serafini was drafted in 1992 by the Minnesota Twins. In a career spanning 11 years, the left-hander played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies.
Prosecutors said Serafini hated his wife’s wealthy parents and was heard saying he was willing to pay $20,000 to have them killed, according to the Sacramento Bee. Prosecutors showed jurors transcripts of angry emails and text messages between Serafini and his in-laws.
During the six-week trial, Serafini’s attorney David Dratman argued there was no physical evidence linking his client to the crime scene. He told the jury that although Serafini had a rocky relationship with his in-laws, he did not have motive to kill them.
Following his conviction, Serafini filed multiple motions for a new trial, but those were denied.
Serafini will serve his sentence at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, according to the Placer County District Attorney’s Office.

AUBURN — Former MLB pitcher Daniel Serafini, who was a star at San Mateo’s Serra High, was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the 2021 shooting of his wife’s parents during a burglary at their home near Lake Tahoe, authorities said.
Serafini, 51, was convicted in July 2025 of first-degree murder of his father-in-law, Gary Spohr, attempted murder of his mother-in-law, Wendy Wood, and first-degree burglary. Spohr was killed and Wood survived, though she died a year after the shooting.
Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire said in a Friday statement that Spohr and Wood were loving grandparents and that Serafini’s crimes greatly affected family members and friends.
“The impact of this attack has extended far beyond the immediate victims, deeply affecting family members and the broader community, and highlighting the lasting harm caused by deliberate violence,” Gire said.
Serafini’s attorney did not return requests for comment.
During his sentencing hearing, Serafini addressed the court and maintained his innocence, according to MyNews4. He said he was out partying with his wife the night of the shooting and described himself as a “broken, imperfect man that makes mistakes.”
Serafini graduated from Serra High in 1992 and was drafted shortly thereafter by the Minnesota Twins. In a career spanning 11 years, the left-hander played for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies.
Serafini pitched in 42 games (four starts) for the Cubs in 1999, going 3-2 with a 6.93 ERA and one save. In 104 career appearances, he was 15-16 with a 6.04 ERA.
Prosecutors said Serafini hated his wife’s wealthy parents and was heard saying he was willing to pay $20,000 to have them killed, according to the Sacramento Bee. Prosecutors showed jurors transcripts of angry emails and text messages between Serafini and his in-laws.
During the six-week trial, Serafini’s attorney David Dratman argued there was no physical evidence linking his client to the crime scene. He told the jury that although Serafini had a rocky relationship with his in-laws, he did not have motive to kill them.
Following his conviction, Serafini filed multiple motions for a new trial, but those were denied.
Serafini will serve his sentence at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, according to the Placer County District Attorney’s Office.
Serafini pitched in Japan from 2004-07 before returning to the U.S. He was suspended for 50 games in 2007 for using performance-enhancing drugs that he blamed on medication he took in Japan. He also pitched for Italy in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
On June 28, 2015, Serafini’s bar in Sparks, Nev., was featured on an episode of Bar Rescue. The bar’s named was changed from The Bullpen Bar to The Oak Tavern as part of the makeover, but not before his financial woes were described as blowing through $14 million in career earnings and taking a $250,000 loan from his parents.

Former major-league pitcher Dan Serafini was sentenced Friday to life in prison without parole in the shooting of his wife’s parents during a burglary in 2021 at their home near Lake Tahoe.
Serafini, 52, was convicted in July of first-degree murder of his father-in-law, Gary Spohr, attempted murder of his mother-in-law, Wendy Wood, and first-degree burglary. Spohr was killed, and Wood survived, though she died a year after the shooting.
Serafini, who was born in San Francisco, was drafted in 1992 by the Twins. Besides Minnesota, the left-handed pitcher played for the Cubs, Padres, Pirates, Reds and Rockies in his 11-year career.
Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire said in a Friday statement that Spohr and Wood were loving grandparents and that Serafini’s crimes greatly impacted family members and friends.
“The impact of this attack has extended far beyond the immediate victims, deeply affecting family members and the broader community, and highlighting the lasting harm caused by deliberate violence,” Gire said.
During his sentencing hearing in Auburn, Serafini addressed the court and maintained his innocence, according to MyNews4 and KCRA 3. He said he was partying with his wife the night of the shooting and described himself as a “broken, imperfect man that makes mistakes.”
During sentencing, Judge Garen Horst read victim impact statements and the court heard from Adrienne Spohr, the daughter of Spohr and Wood.
“He thought he had gotten away with murder,” Adrienne Spohr said, according to KCRA 3’s Michelle Bandur. “He thought that he’d be cashing out my parents’ estate with his wife in the months afterward. He was happy while my dad laid deceased and my mom laid bleeding out on her couch clinging to life.”
She asked that Serafini be put in solitary confinement because she was worried he would have someone kill her, according to Bandur.
“He is a monster that knows no moral boundaries and has zero reservations about taking lives to benefit himself,” Adrienne Spohr said Friday. “Finally, I want the court to remember who my parents were, not just what happened to them. They were adventurous people who love their community.”
Serafini decried the justice system.
“Justice is fragile. I am just a man,” he said, according to Bandur. “I am far from perfect, but I am no murderer. We live in a society that lacks compassion and empathy. A society that sadly thrives on hearing the misfortunes of others. I sit before you today, a broken man, humiliated, embarrassed, angry and sad. But I am no murderer. I am a survivor, and I am no murderer.”
He also said he “was exposed to cross-examination about my character but never once was I questioned about my innocence in this court.”
The case included a second defendant: Samantha Scott, who pleaded guilty to an accessory charge in February 2025, per ABC10.com.
Scott was described as a close friend of Serafini’s wife and his lover, per ABC10.com, and Nevada police arrested the pair in separate cities in October 2023.
Serafini will serve his sentence at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, according to the Placer County District Attorney’s Office.

With the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire in 2026, Major League Baseball is already laying the groundwork in case a lockout hits in 2027. The biggest hurdle remains the push for a salary cap, something the MLB Players Association has long rejected. As tensions rise between the league and the union, fans are starting to wonder what it could mean for the game’s future.
Well, MLB has had four lockouts in its history, but without any major damage to the schedule. This time, though, if both sides dig in, the standoff could have much broader consequences. But would taking a hard line really benefit the players in the long run?
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In view of this, NBA legend Charles Barkley recently offered a blunt reality check, urging MLB players to think carefully before escalating the fight with team owners.
“These are businessmen, and businessmen with all the money always win in the long run. So, we always have to be careful because if you cancel a season, it ain’t going to affect the owners… I walked into the room with Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan, still struck twice… I say at some point,
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billionaires are always going to win against millionaires, no matter what people think.” Barkley shared a no-nonsense response to the MLBPA.
Surely, Barkley knows a thing or two about lockouts from his NBA days. Remember, back in 1995, he was one of the NBA union’s loudest critics. Alongside stars like Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing, Barkley even tried to decertify the National Basketball Players Association because they weren’t happy with the proposed revenue-sharing model and salary cap changes at the time.
But if we look at how those NBA lockouts played out, it’s easier to see why Barkley is preaching caution now.
Notably, in most of the league’s major labor standoffs, the owners ultimately came out on top. They managed to push through tighter salary controls and reduce the players’ share of Basketball-Related Income. Sure, the players held on to certain protections like keeping a “soft” salary cap, but overall, they lost billions in potential earnings as their revenue split shrank.
Now, that’s basically the reality check Barkley is offering to the MLB players.
No matter how strongly players feel about their demands, billionaire owners usually have the leverage and, in the long run, they’re the ones running the league. So as MLB players consider digging in over the salary cap issue, there’s a real risk that owners may not lose much at all, while the players could eventually be forced to compromise.
That said, Barkley has shared a slightly different perspective when it comes specifically to the idea of a salary cap.
Barkley calls for better salary negotiations in MLB
Well, Barkley isn’t flat-out against the idea of salary restrictions in MLB. He’s just looking at it from a more balanced angle. Instead of only talking about a cap, he believes there should be both a salary floor and a salary ceiling. “Cap is an interesting word. I think you have to have a floor and a ceiling cause we don’t want the teams at the bottom just making money. We want everybody to be competitive,” Barkley added.
So, a mandatory salary floor would force all 30 teams to spend a minimum amount on their roster. That way, MLB clubs like the Marlins or the Pirates wouldn’t face constant criticism for not investing enough in their squads. And if every team had to meet a standardized spending baseline, it could create a more active and competitive offseason across the league.
At the same time, Barkley supports the idea of a ceiling to prevent big-market teams like the Dodgers and the Mets from spending without limits. The goal isn’t to punish anyone, but to keep the playing field somewhat level. Still, there needs to be a middle ground. Push too hard in either direction, and things could spiral in MLB.
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The 2026 World Baseball Classic is finally here, and with it comes the familiar debate: where should players’ priorities really lie — with their MLB teams or with the WBC?
Well, we’ve already seen a few big names lean toward their MLB commitments. Guys like Cody Bellinger and Roki Sasaki chose to skip the WBC to focus on their club responsibilities. But this time, the momentum might be shifting a bit.
The Yankees’ newest prospect, Elmer Rodríguez-Cruz, is set to miss the rest of spring to suit up for Puerto Rico in the WBC. While it’s obviously a dream-come-true moment for him, not everyone sees it that way. Just like Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay, who thinks it’s the wrong move.
“Please explain to me, it makes sense he’s leaving the Yankees on Sunday so he could play for Team Puerto Rico in the WBC… I love the WBC… But I don’t understand: when you’re a kid who’s trying to make a team, you decide I’m going to leave the team for two weeks. I’m gonna go pitch for my home country doesn’t make sense to me.” Kay shared his no-nonsense take via ESPN.
According to Kay, the WBC might be marketed as baseball’s premier global event, but at its core, he sees it as an MLB-driven business venture. A way to grow the brand internationally, rather than something on the level of the Olympics. From his perspective, that means a player’s top priority should always be MLB!
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Online reaction made one thing clear: fans aren’t buying Kay’s take. One user bluntly told him, “You’re so wrong on this one,” calling the WBC baseball’s version of the World Cup, and one of the only times stars truly play for their country.
Another took a sharper jab, saying, “I get your point, boomer,” while arguing that elite international competition can actually help a young player grow. Bottom line, the flak was real, with plenty of fans pushing back on the idea that MLB should always come before national pride.
Now, Kay’s argument feels even stronger when you look at how Rodríguez-Cruz has opened his spring. The 22-year-old was impressive in the Yankees’ Grapefruit League opener, giving up just three hits across three scoreless innings, striking out one and not issuing a single walk. So, with that kind of start, Kay believes the young right-hander could be setting himself up for a bright future in New York.
So Kay questions why Rodríguez-Cruz would choose to head to the WBC and risk injury, especially when he has a real opportunity to make noise with the Yankees right now. One injury on the international stage could derail all that early momentum.
However, for Rodríguez-Cruz, it’s about something bigger. Representing Puerto Rico on home soil, in front of his family, is a once-in-a-lifetime moment. That kind of emotional pull is hard to ignore.
Kay sees it differently.
In his view, Rodríguez-Cruz should focus on establishing himself with the Yankees over the next few years. Build your career, secure your place, and then one day play in front of your family at Yankee Stadium; that’s the smarter path. After all, while someone like Shohei Ohtani, the face of MLB, could survive a two-year pitching gap following his post-2023 WBC injury, a young prospect doesn’t necessarily have that same safety net.
The Yankees have a mixed ratio of players in the WBC 2026
The Yankees have a mixed participation rate in the WBC. Some of their veterans are all in, even though they’re the faces of the franchise. Others have decided to sit it out.
For example, Cody Bellinger reportedly chose to skip the WBC out of loyalty to the Yankees. After the team showed its faith in him with a five-year commitment, Bellinger made it clear where his priorities lie. From that standpoint, it looks like a calculated and smart decision.
Aaron Judge, though, is a completely different case. For years, he stayed away from the WBC. But this time, even with the Yankees’ World Series hopes heavily resting on his shoulders again, he’s embracing the challenge, and not just participating, but captaining Team USA!
However, according to Kay, the difference is simple: Judge has nothing left to prove. He’s already established himself as one of the biggest stars in baseball, so taking that kind of gamble isn’t as risky for him. If anyone can afford it, it’s Judge. But for a young prospect who’s just getting started, that same gamble could carry much bigger consequences.

MLB has been hit with some deeply troubling news, as former pitcher Daniel Serafini has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his father-in-law. Now, while MLB has unfortunately seen its share of former players run into legal trouble over the years, a case involving homicide at this level is virtually unprecedented.
Given Serafini’s already turbulent reputation during his playing days, it’s a story that brings both his career and his personal struggles back into focus. From his time on the mound to the issues that seemed to follow him off the field, there’s a lot to unpack about his professional journey and how it ultimately spiraled into such a tragic and shocking outcome.
Let’s take a closer look at Serafini’s MLB career and the events that led to this devastating chapter.
Who is Daniel Serafini? Everything to know about the ex-MLB pitcher
Notably, Daniel Serafini was the 26th overall pick in the 1992 MLB Draft by the Twins, and he eventually made his big-league debut in 1996. Then over the course of his career, he suited up for six different teams: the Twins, Cubs, Padres, Pirates, Reds, and Rockies. He even managed to carve out some late-career success overseas in Japan’s NPB.
However, things took a turn in 2007 when he was handed a 50-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. That’s the moment that, in many ways, marked the beginning of his slide away from the game.
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After his MLB days were over, Serafini also tried his hand at several business ventures. But financial troubles followed, and reports of mounting debt painted a picture of instability. Eventually, that downward spiral led to the shocking and tragic involvement in the murder of his father-in-law. So a stunning and heartbreaking fall from grace that the fans could have imagined during his days on the mound.
Who are Daniel Serafini’s parents? All you need to know
There’s very limited information about Daniel Serafini’s personal life before his marriage. No information is available about his parents, and most of his personal documents are in his in-laws’ names. He was born in Italy, which allowed him to represent Italy in the 2013 WBC.
Who is his ex-wife? Why did the two separate? Know the details about his family
Serafini’s most recent wife is Erin Spohr. The two reportedly tied the knot in Hawaii in 2010 or 2011, and they share two young sons. But their relationship took a dramatic turn in 2025.
Just a week after a jury found Serafini guilty of murdering her father and attempting to murder her mother, Erin filed for divorce on July 21, 2025. Interestingly, in her divorce filing, she described their relationship as “amicable,” a detail that added another layer of complexity to an already heartbreaking situation.
Hence, much like his professional career, which was filled with ups and downs, Serafini’s personal life also appears to have been deeply turbulent, ultimately culminating in a tragic and highly public downfall.
Who are Daniel Serafini’s Father and Mother-in-law? What happened to them
According to reports, Daniel Serafini’s father-in-law was Robert Gary Spohr (70), and his mother-in-law was Wendy Wood (68). Reportedly, they were attacked on June 5, 2021, when Serafini entered his in-laws’ home and waited for them to return before opening fire. While Spohr was killed instantly by a gunshot wound to the head, Wood survived the initial shooting but later died by suicide.
As the case unfolded, prosecutors argued that Serafini had planned the attack in an effort to deal with mounting financial problems tied to his bar business, which at one point had left him owing thousands of dollars in debt. However, now, while Serafini remains in custody serving his sentence, both of his in-laws met tragic ends in a case that has stunned many!
What is the verdict in his case? Understand in detail
Daniel Serafini was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder, the attempted murder of his mother-in-law, and first-degree burglary. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder charge. And on top of that, he received a second life sentence for the attempted murder conviction and an additional 25 years to life for burglary.
However, even after the verdict was handed down, Serafini maintained his innocence in court. It is reported that he might appeal the ruling, meaning the legal process may not be over just yet. There’s still a possibility that the case could resurface in a higher court, potentially leading to another chapter in this already dramatic and tragic saga.
Daniel Serafini’s professional career, net worth, stats, and more
While Daniel Serafini put together a respectable 13-year run in the majors across six different franchises, his financial picture tells a very different story. Despite earning more than $14 million over the course of his professional baseball career, his estimated net worth as of 2026 is reportedly in the negative!
And we can assume that much of that money is drained by poor investments. It’s a stunning fall when you consider how promising he once looked. After bursting onto the scene in the early ’90s, he showed flashes of real talent, even posting 127 SOs and a sharp 1.72 WHIP at one point.
Hence, for a pitcher who once had that kind of potential and longevity in the league, it’s hard to imagine a more tragic and sobering ending than the one that has unfolded.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, surprisingly, have a lot of starting pitching depth. Would this make the front office consider trading away Mitch Keller? If so, the Atlanta Braves are a team in MLB that, as a contender, desperately needs another starter to help with depth in the pitching staff.
SportsIllustrated.com’s “Fantasy Sports on SI” contributor Ryan Shea recently floated the idea of the Braves trading for the Pirates’ $77 million arm in Keller.
Atlanta just extended Chris Sale to a one-year, $27 million deal, but has also already begun dealing with injuries to its starting rotation, with Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach sidelined. Before the season has even started, not a great sign for Atlanta’s starting rotation.
More MLB on Heavy: Red Sox-Astros Trade Pitch Offloads Jarren Duran to Houston for Southpaw Reliever
Should the Braves Trade for Mitch Keller?
Mitch Keller has been a fairly average starting pitcher in MLB over the past several seasons, but what makes him so attractive is his ability to eat innings, which is what the Braves need, and Keller would certainly be an upgrade over Bryce Elder.
In SI.com’s proposed mock trade, the Braves would send away Sean Murphy for Pirates’ starter Mitch Keller:
“A team like the Braves, in particular, could see Keller as the perfect addition to stabilize their rotation and increase their win potential, especially in a league that rewards quality starts and innings pitched.”
While both these players had been strong subjects of trade rumors back in July, and Keller carried some buzz for this offseason, there haven’t been many developments that either could be moved before Opening Day.
However, that doesn’t mean this isn’t a great deal on paper. It would be essentially an even swap financially, and the Pirates could upgrade at the catcher position. Sean Murphy provides strong power upside, and Keller would give Atlanta a durable starter (who is a former All-Star) to slot in as the third or fourth option, if any other arms go down with injury.
More MLB on Heavy: Braves-Blue Jays Trade Pitch Lands $131 All-Star Starter
Will the Braves Trade Sean Murphy?
My opinion doesn’t matter, but I agree with Shea here that the Braves should consider trading Sean Murphy.
Will they? That’s another question.
He has failed to hit above.200 in each of the past two seasons, and is dealing with a hip injury that will leave him sidelined to start the season. Pair those two reasons with the fact that Drake Baldwin is the clear starter, and Atlanta brought in a couple of other veteran options to be backup options to start the year.
The still-hitting-needy Pirates would welcome him with open arms, and then the Braves in return could get a starter that is an almost automatic 30+ starts, 150+ innings, and an ERA of low-mid 4.00s in Mitch Keller.

Bruce Froemming, who umpired the third-most games in MLB history and a record 11 no-hitters, died Wednesday, according to a report from The Associated Press. He was 86.
Serving as a Major League umpire for 37 straight seasons — from 1971 to 2007 — Froemming called 5,163 games, second at the time to only Bill Klem (5,375). He was surpassed in 2018 by Joe West, who went on to pass Klem in 2021 and finish his career with 5,460 games umpired.
Among the 11 no-hitters for which he was part of the umpiring crew, Froemming was the home-plate umpire for Nolan Ryan’s record fifth no-no in 1981 and at first base for Dennis Martinez’s perfect game in 1991. He was also behind the plate in 1972 when Milt Pappas retired the first 26 hitters before issuing a walk, with Froemming making a couple of calls that received scrutiny with Pappas’ potential perfect game turning into a no-hitter.
The Milwaukee native, a former semipro player, reached the Majors at age 31 in 1971 as part of the National League umpiring staff. Froemming worked five World Series — in 1976, 1984, 1988, 1990 and 1995 — and umpired a record 10 League Championship Series, all in the NL.

Bruce Froemming, a major-league umpire for 37 consecutive years who worked the third-most games in big-league history and a record 11 no-hitters, died Wednesday, his son said. He was 86.
Froemming fell just after midnight Tuesday and hit his head on the hardwood floor at his home in Mequon, Wis., and was taken to Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee, according to Froemming’s son, Steven.
He had brain bleeding that medical personnel could not stop because Froemming was on blood thinners, leading to his death.
Froemming was a semipro baseball player and started his umpiring career in the minor leagues in 1958 at age 18. He worked his way up and joined the National League staff in 1971. He shifted to the unified major-league staff in 2000 and retired in 2007 having worked 5,163 games, second at the time to Bill Klem’s 5,373. They were both surpassed by Joe West, who worked 5,460 games before retiring in 2021.
Froemming started his umpiring career at a minor-league game in Waterloo, Iowa.
“I thought I was in heaven — on the ballfield, professional athletes, I was starting my professional career,” he told The Associated Press days before his retirement. “But never did you dream at the time, ever even think of going to a big league ballpark, because you had so far to go through the minor leagues to even get a chance.”
He concluded that being a good umpire required “probably being patient with yourself. … You’re going to make mistakes early on.”
Among the most famous of the no-hitters he worked was on Sept. 2, 1972. Milt Pappas of the Chicago Cubs retired his first 26 batters and went to a 1-2 count on pinch hitter Larry Stahl before walking him. Pappas then retired Garry Jestadt on a popup.
Froemming was behind the plate for three other no-hitters, by Ed Halicki (1975), Nolan Ryan (1981) and José Jiménez (1999). He worked five World Series.
When he retired, Froemming became a special assistant to MLB’s vice president on umpiring.
He is survived by his wife, the former Rosemarie Loch, whom he married in 1957; two sons, Steven and Kevin; sister Cathy Seizer; half-brother Johnny Froemming; and two grandchildren.

Bruce Froemming, a major league umpire for 37 consecutive years who worked the third-most games in big league history and a record 11 no-hitters, died Wednesday, his son said. He was 86.
Froemming fell just after midnight Tuesday and hit his head on the hardwood floor at his home in Mequon, Wisconsin, and was taken to Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee, according to Froemming’s son, Steven.
He had brain bleeding that medical personnel could not stop because Froemming was on blood thinners, leading to his death.
Froemming was a semipro baseball player and started his umpiring career in the minor leagues in 1958 at age 18. He worked his way up and joined the National League staff in 1971. He shifted to the unified major league staff in 2000 and retired in 2007 having worked 5,163 games, second at the time to Bill Klem’s 5,373. They were both surpassed by Joe West, who worked 5,460 games before retiring in 2021.
Froemming started his umpiring career at a minor league game in Waterloo, Iowa.
“I thought I was in heaven — on the ballfield, professional athletes, I was starting my professional career,” he told The Associated Press days before his retirement. “But never did you dream at the time, ever even think of going to a big league ballpark, because you had so far to go through the minor leagues to even get a chance.”
He concluded that being a good umpire required “probably being patient with yourself. … You’re going to make mistakes early on.”
Among the most famous of the no-hitters he worked was on Sept. 2, 1972. Milt Pappas of the Cubs retired his first 26 batters and went to a 1-2 count on pinch-hitter Larry Stahl before walking him. Pappas then retired Garry Jestadt on a popup.
Froemming was behind the plate for three other no-hitters, by Ed Halicki (1975), Nolan Ryan (1981) and José Jiménez (1999). He worked five World Series.
When he retired, Froemming became a special assistant to MLB’s vice president on umpiring,

And the Mariners’ front office hasn’t ruled out a similar Spring Training outcome for their No. 1 prospect by MLB Pipeline (No. 9 overall) to the player who held that distinction four years ago — when Rodríguez played his way onto the Opening Day roster.
“He carries himself well with a good head,” Rodríguez said of Emerson. “He’s humble, always asking questions, not trying to do too much around the clubhouse. He’s just going about his business, and I feel like that’s what we want with young kids coming up — to feel comfortable around us and for them to feel like they’re going to be part of the team.”
This isn’t a comparison exercise, as both are completely different players — by position, handedness, background and skill set. But there are parallels to the path that Emerson is on this spring to Rodríguez in 2022.
Batting in the No. 9 hole, he legged out an RBI triple over the center fielder’s head (albeit with some help from the sun) in the sixth inning. Playing shortstop, he made an athletic diving catch that ignited a double-up to the runner on second base in the third.
At just 20 years old, the organization — Rodríguez included — has raved about Emerson’s maturity more than anything. And it’s not just evident in how he carries himself, but more so in how his play has such purpose every single day here in Arizona.
He devours fundamentals, doesn’t give away at-bats and has a pitch-by-pitch plan — in the batter’s box and on the field. And he doesn’t get caught up in the what-ifs of when he’ll be in the big leagues.
“We’ve got a really good group here, a lot of great guys, a lot of guys cheering each other on,” Emerson said. “So it’s easy to play when you get a bunch of guys cheering you on.”
At the plate, Emerson is now 4-for-11 with three RBIs, one walk and three strikeouts. Only three teammates have had more plate appearances this spring — Cal Raleigh, Randy Arozarena and Dominic Canzone, all of whom are seeing more reps than usual due to their impending departures for the World Baseball Classic.
That Emerson is essentially seeing as much action as anyone — with three games at shortstop and two at third base — illustrates how legitimately the Mariners view him as part of their 2026 plans, even if it’s not by Opening Day.
“I think iron sharpens iron, and being around these guys in this clubhouse, I think, has made me a better player,” Emerson said. “And me embracing how hard it is to play this game, I think, has allowed me to do that.”
As shortstop J.P. Crawford continues to nurse a sore throwing shoulder that’s delayed his spring debut, Emerson could see more reps at the premium position. Crawford’s status is not concerning, and he dealt with something similar last year. While Emerson may be the long-term heir at that position, Crawford is firmly the Mariners’ guy there for 2026.
Elsewhere, Emerson will also continue to work regularly at third base, and he’ll soon see action at second. There will be even more at-bats to go around now that Rodríguez and four others targeted for the Opening Day roster will soon depart for the Classic.
“We talk about versatility being a key for us, and he’s displaying that down here,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “And it doesn’t seem to take away from his at-bats. No matter if he’s playing a different position, he’s able to kind of leave that out there, and then when he gets to the plate, he’s a different guy.”

Drew Brees wants to throw it back to the early days of his NFL career.
The retired Hall of Fame quarterback Brees is helping lead a group that is bidding to buy the San Diego Padres, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reported on Thursday. Lin adds that Brees has teamed up with Joe Kudla, owner and CEO of the San Diego area-based clothing company Vuori, to lead one of the five groups that has submitted an initial bid to purchase the Padres.
Brees, 47, was a 13-time Pro Bowler, a seven-time NFL passing yards leader, and a one-time Super Bowl MVP during his illustrious playing career from 2001-20. He also notably played in San Diego for the Chargers over the first several seasons of his pro career (2001-05).
Meanwhile, the Padres are currently owned by the estate of their former owner Peter Seidler, who died in 2023. They were officially put up for sale late last year amid some ugly in-fighting among Siedler’s heirs.
Lin notes that Brees often attends Padres games and also participates in marketing for Kudla’s company Vuori. Now the two men have teamed up to make a bid for the Padres franchise in what could end up as a record-breaking sale.

The Los Angeles Dodgers farm system again ranks among the best in baseball, and it features a crop of young outfielders at the forefront.
But there is also organizational depth and under-the-radar candidates who might arrive in the Major Leagues before some of the more heralded talent.
Dodgers prospects possibly making MLB debut in 2026
Ryan Ward (left fielder)
Fresh off being named Pacific Coast League MVP for the 2025 season, Ryan Ward was added onto the Dodgers’ 40-man roster. The move was made in order to protect Ward from possibly being selected in the Rule 5 Draft.
He’s seemingly accomplished all there is in the Minor Leagues and should make his MLB debut this season. However, Ward might need some luck to break his way in order for that to become a reality.
The Dodgers’ depth of outfielders ahead of Ward includes Jack Suwinski, who was recently claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Alex Call and Michael Siani also are on the 40-man roster.
Ward’s best opportunity at making his MLB debut in 2026 may be with another team.
Ronan Kopp (relief pitcher)
Ronan Kopp also was added to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster this past offseason with the Rule 5 Draft in mind.
The lefty reliever began last season with Double-A Tulsa and earned a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City in July. Kopp went a combined 2-4 with a 3.43 ERA across 49 appearances.
Kopp’s fastball can top out at 100 mph but he needs to improve overall command. Kopp had a 16.6% walk rate last season.
Jackson Ferris (starting pitcher)
Jackson Ferris spent all of 2025 with the Drillers but another strong showing at Double-A could lend to a promotion and eventual MLB debut later in the year.
Ferris’ timeline could be accelerated if the Dodgers find themselves in need of starting pitching. As it currently stands, they are due to begin the season with a six-man rotation that likely won’t include Blake Snell.
River Ryan, Gavin Stone, Emmet Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski are ahead of Ferris, but anticipated innings limits could become a factor and work in Ferris’ favor at some point.
James Tibbs III (right fielder)
Traded twice before the 2025 deadline, James Tibbs III may have found a home in the Dodgers organization.
He reported to the Drillers after being acquired from the Boston Red Sox, and batted .269/.407/.493 with five doubles, even home runs and 32 RBI over 36 games. Tibbs hit a combined 20 home runs last year while playing at High-A and Double-A levels.
He would need to continue showing power numbers in the Minor Leagues and have the Dodgers face an unexpected need in their outfield to debut in 2026.
Josue De Paula
Josue De Paula is a near-consensus for the current top Dodgers prospect. He is yet to advance past Double-A but that should come this year, and with any luck, De Paula would make his MLB debut late in the season.
De Paula’s offensive potential is well-documented, but the Dodgers have challenged the 20-year-old to improve defensively.
De Paula making his MLB debut in 2027 is a safer bet, but it’s not beyond the realm of possiblities that the Dodgers potentially give him an opporutnity in September. What will work against De Paula, and Tibbs as well, is active rosters no longer expanding to 40 players for the final month of the regular season.

Brian Cashman has made it clear he wanted to add a right-handed bat to the Yankees’ outfield mix this season. The front office just did exactly that, and it could spell trouble for Jasson Domínguez.
The Yankees signed Randal Grichuk in a minor-league deal as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training. This new addition further threatens Jasson Domínguez’s chances of making it to the Yankees lineup. On an episode of Joel Sherman’s 3 Things I think, Sherman discussed how the Yankees’ signing Grichuk threatens Domínguez’s future at the franchise.
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“Somebody whose chance to make the Yankees if everyone stayed healthy took another blow yesterday, not because of anything he did. But the Yankees signed Randal Grichuk to a minor-league contract,” He said. “Grichuk is a right-hand hitting outfielder. It kind of felt like one of the last things they wanted to add here. And so it removed another potential opening if Grichuk makes the team ”, Sherman further analysed.
The 34-year-old veteran outfielder the Yankees signed has a career total of 212 home runs and a .763 OPS. Last season, he slashed .228/.273/.674, splitting his time between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Kansas City Royals.
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Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger are set to play every day. Therefore, the only open spot on the outfield without anyone being injured is a platoon partner for Trent Grisham. Though the Yankees have not yet guaranteed Grichuk a roster spot, his better right-hand bat gives him the upper hand over Domínguez.
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The split numbers tell the story. Randal Grichuk, a right-handed hitter, has built his value as a short-side platoon bat who thrives against left-handed pitching. Over his career, he owns a .819 OPS versus southpaws, compared to a .733 OPS against right-handers, showing a clear split advantage. Even in 2025, while he posted a .674 overall OPS in 113 games, his profile against lefties remained a key part of his appeal.
Domínguez, meanwhile, has struggled against left-handed pitching early in his MLB career while batting right-handed as a switch-hitter. For a Yankees team looking to maximize matchup advantages in a win-now window, that defined split edge gives Grichuk a real advantage.
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Nicknamed the Martian, the Yankees signed Domínguez in 2019 when he was their top prospect. The switch-hitter played a career high of 123 games in 2025, hitting 10 home runs.
“He was nicknamed the Martian because he supposedly had otherworldly skills at such a young age, and he had comparisons to great players. And I think that all of that was very, very bad for Jasson Domínguez”, remarked Sherman.
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Sherman believes the weight of expectations has put added pressure on the 23-year-old, even though he still sees the talent necessary for Domínguez to become a productive major league player.
At the same time, roster construction may ultimately dictate his immediate future. If everyone remains healthy, Grisham, Bellinger, and Judge would start in the outfield, with Giancarlo Stanton at designated hitter. In that scenario, Domínguez would likely be limited to a bench role with inconsistent at-bats.
This type of roster squeeze is not unfamiliar in the Bronx. During the Yankees’ 2023 Spring Training shortstop competition, veteran Isiah Kiner-Falefa entered camp as a steady, experienced option, only for top prospect Anthony Volpe to surge ahead and claim the job. As camp unfolded, it became increasingly clear which direction the organization preferred, and Kiner-Falefa acknowledged he was no longer truly in the race.
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With that precedent in mind, Domínguez’s situation now hinges on similar factors such as timing, performance, and organizational priorities. Consequently, speculation has begun to grow that he could open the season in Triple-A if the roster math does not break in his favor.
Speculations on Domínguez’s future
MLB insider Jon Heyman wrote on X, “Addition of righty hitting OF is more evidence Jason Domínguez may be ticketed to AAA to start season.”
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Given how the Yankees built their 2026 lineup, they did not keep Jasson Domínguez in mind when assembling the roster.
Sherman also analyzed what advantages Grichuk has over Domínguez.
“Even though he (Domínguez) is a natural right-hand hitter, he was not well from the right side against lefty pitching in his brief Major League career. And his defense is not very good…He does not show very good instinct for playing the outfield.”
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Grichuk, being a right-hitter, could solve all these problems. Sherman also noted that too many expectations were weighing down on Domínguez, which might have hindered him from reaching his full potential.
But it’s quite evident that the current Yankees lineup doesn’t really have a spot for Domínguez, and this might be the first step toward trading him.

Longtime MLB umpire Bruce Froemming, who worked the third-most games in league history and a record 11 no-hitters, died Wednesday in Milwaukee, his son Steven confirmed to the Associated Press.
He was 86.
Froemming struck his head during a fall at his Mequon, Wisc., home on Tuesday night, and doctors failed to stop the bleeding in his brain due to blood thinners he was taking, according to his son.
Known for his loud, distinctive strike call, Froemming umpired 37 consecutive seasons from 1971-2007 in the majors, working a total of 5,163 games, trailing only Bill Klem (5,373) and Joe West (5,460).
Froemming briefly pursued a semi-professional playing career, but ultimately started umpiring at age 18, working his way through the minor leagues, at times making $250 a month, before reaching the National League in 1971.
“Every game to me is important,” Froemming told NPR after he umpired his 5,000th career contest in 2006. “You know and I learned early on it’s not the level of play that you’re umpiring or officiating, it’s how you attack the sport as an official. And every game is important. It’s important to somebody. It’s important to the people that are playing, no matter at what level.
“You may think you’ve got a B game or a game that’s not important. To those kids or people that are playing it, it is important. So every game that you work you have to work at a high level.”
During his nearly four-decade career, Froemming often found himself at the forefront of some of the most memorable moments and skirmishes in MLB history.
On Sept. 2, 1972, Froemming was behind the plate for an afternoon Cubs-Padres game at Wrigley Field as three-time All-Star pitcher Milt Pappas closed in on a perfect game. With pinch-hitter Larry Stahl representing the final out, Froemming called a close 3-2 pitch ball four, ending Pappas’ bid for perfection.
While Pappas retired the next hitter to complete a no-hitter, the right-handed pitcher was upset by Froemming’s call, which remained a source of controversy.
“The word ‘close’ came in,” Froemming told MLB.com in 2016 about the call, shortly after Pappas’ passing. “The pitches were ‘close.’ I said: ‘To me, this is my perception about umpiring. It’s a ball or a strike; it’s not “close.” I’ve got it a ball or a strike.’
“When that came up the next day — ‘You could have given it to him, it was close’ — I said, ‘I’m an umpire, not a fan. I called what I saw.’”
Froemming worked 10 more no-hitters during his career, and was behind home plate for three of them: Ed Halicki (1975), Nolan Ryan (1981) and José Jiménez (1999).
The Milwaukee native was involved in a bevy of melees during his career, including working as the second base umpire during Game 3 of the 1973 National League Championship series at Shea Stadium when Bud Harrelson and Pete Rose fought near the bag.
More than three decades later, Froemming was working the plate at Fenway Park on July 24, 2004, when Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek shoved his glove into Yankees’ third baseman Alex Rodriguez’s face, inciting a brawl.
Not shy about giving anyone the hook, Froemming also recorded 125 career ejections, good for the 13th most all-time. Perhaps none were as memorable as him ejecting Yankees manager Billy Martin in Game 4 of the 1976 World Series.
The Yankees skipper chucked a baseball toward home plate in the ninth inning with Froemming at first base during first of five Fall Classics he’d work in his career.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Froemming asked Martin, according to a 1985 Los Angeles Times story.
“None of your f–king business!” Martin reportedly shot back before his ejection.
During his final season in 2007, Froemming drew the ire of then-Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for not delaying Game 2 of the ALDS between the Yankees and Indians after midges swarmed inside Jacobs Field.
“The umpire was full of [expletive],” Steinbrenner said of Froemming, who served as the crew chief. “He won’t umpire our games anymore.”
MLB stood by Froemming, who said Steinbrenner was “entitled” to his opinion, as the Yankees dropped the series to Cleveland in four games.
“He loved the fact that baseball was like a fraternity,” his son Steven told The Athletic. “You argued like hell on the field, and after the game was over, you left it at the stadium, and it was a new day tomorrow.”
After his retirement, Froemming worked as a special assistant to MLB’s vice president on umpiring.
Froemming is survived by his wife, Rosemarie, whom he married in 1957; two sons, Steven and Kevin; sister Cathy Seizer; half-brother Johnny Froemming; and two grandchildren, Nicolas and Christopher.
With Post wires

The New York Yankees are counting down the days until they’ll have Gerrit Cole back in their starting rotation. Cole missed last season due to Tommy John surgery and will look to be that X-factor for New York in 2026.
With spring training in full swing for the Yankees, Cole spoke with MLB Network on Feb. 26 to share the latest in his rehab from Tommy Jon surgery.
“I would say it’s gone very well,” Cole said. “We’ve hit every marker that we’ve tried to hit, and we’re in the parameters of what we’re looking for. So the level of execution has been high, especially last start. It doesn’t always happen like that, but so far, so good.”
Moreover, despite his surgery, Cole’s fastball is hitting the upper 90s during his throwing session. The Yankees veteran shared whether he’s surprised to see that he’s kept the same velocity on his fastball.
“A little bit,” Cole added. “I just hadn’t really been anywhere close to that in my bullpens. But when the big dogs are in the box, you want to do everything you can to prevent the ball from coming back at your face. So, I guess the adrenaline just raised it up a little bit.”
Aaron Boone on Handling Gerrit Cole’s Return to Yankees Rotation
Moreover, Yankees manager Aaron Boone stated that he expects the veteran pitcher to return to his formerself and be an ace after Tommy John surgery caused him to miss the 2025 season.
“I think so,” Boone told reporters on Feb. 13 (h/t SNY). “I’m not going to put anything past Gerrit Cole. Again, he’s so good at his craft. The success rate on these surgeries is usually pretty good, and the way the rehab process has gone would suggest that he’s going to return to form.
“I know sometimes that’s a work in progress. Sometimes, in the early starts, as you’re working your way back, everyone is different in that regard. But I’m not going to put any ceiling on what Gerrit could do once he’s back in the rotation.”
Additionally, Boone intends to ease Cole’s workload and doesn’t plan to make him a workhorse as soon as the Yankees star is ready to go. With New York eyeing a World Series win, it will be ideal to take their time with Cole to ensure that, once the fall comes around, Boone can take the reins off him.
“The reality is he didn’t pitch last year on top of having that surgery,” Boone added (h/t SNY). “We want to make sure we give him the proper time to make sure he is good and ready to come back, built up in a smart way.
“So no, we won’t rush that with him, even if it continues to go incredibly well. You’ve got to be cognizant of the innings that he missed last year, and you want to be able to maximize those as much as you can and have him in the best, safest position he is in once he returns to roll.”
Latest on Carlos Rodón Injury
The other Yankees pitcher making his way back from surgery and expected to return sooner than Cole is Carlos Rodón. SNY reporter Niki Lattarulo shared the latest on Rodón and whether he is on track with the expectations many have for his return.
“He said, ‘Right now, they’re just working on upping the velocity. It’s a slow progression up. They don’t want to rush it, but his range of motion is right where they would want it to be,’” Lattarulo said in a Feb. 14 video from SNY.
“… I asked him when we can expect to see him back, and he said, ‘Hopefully sooner rather than later.’ He was also asked, maybe April, and he laughed and said, ‘That would be great.’”

The future was sent over the outfield wall for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.
In the top of the second inning of Pittsburgh’s spring training matchup against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday afternoon, shortstop Konnor Griffin — the No. 1 prospect in Major League Baseball, according to MLB Pipeline — demolished a curveball from star left-hander Ranger Suarez over the left field wall.
Two innings later, faced with an 0-2 count, Griffin launched a home run to left-center field for his second long ball of the game. He finished the day going 2-for-4 with four RBIs.
Pittsburgh selected the now-19-year-old Griffin directly out of high school with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. He played at three levels of minor-league ball for the Pirates in 2025, appearing in 50 games in Low-A, 51 games in High-A and 21 games in Double-A.
In all, Griffin totaled 21 home runs, 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases across 122 combined games in 2025, while posting a .333/.415/.527 slash line. He made 88 starts at shortstop, 15 in center field and 18 as a designated hitter.
The Pirates are coming off a 71-91 season, their seventh consecutive year with a losing record and 10th consecutive year missing the playoffs.
That said, they were active this offseason, acquiring second baseman and two-time All-Star Brandon Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays and making a five-player trade with the Red Sox that sent pitchers Johan Oviedo and Tyler Samaniego and catcher Adonys Guzman to Boston for outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia and right-hander Jesus Travieso.

The St. Louis Cardinals face the Washington Nationals in this MLB Grapefruit League Spring Training matchup on Tuesday in Florida.
How to Watch Cardinals vs Nationals
When: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Time: 6:05 PM ET
TV Channel: MLB.TV
Live Stream: Fubo (try for free)
Spring Training is a critical period for Major League Baseball teams, serving as both a preseason proving ground and an opportunity to fine-tune rosters and strategies before the regular season begins. In 2026, Spring Training carries added significance as teams not only integrate high-profile signings and assess returning stars, but also prepare players who participated in the World Baseball Classic, managing workloads and evaluating how international competition affects form and readiness.
It’s a key time for managers to test pitching rotations, bullpen depth, and lineup balance, while giving younger prospects a chance to compete for playing time. With expanded media coverage and streaming access in 2026, Spring Training has become not just a preparation phase but a showcase of emerging talent, WBC participants’ performance, and potential storylines that can set the tone for the entire MLB season.
The Washington Nationals finished the 2025 season with a 66–96 record, placing 5th in the National League East. They head into 2026 with CJ Abrams powering the offense and young pitchers Mitchell Parker, MacKenzie Gore, and Josiah Gray leading the pitching staff.
The St. Louis Cardinals finished the 2025 season with a 78–84 record, placing 4th in the National League Central. They head into 2026 with Gold Glove shortstop Masyn Winn anchoring the defense and veteran outfielder Lars Nootbaar expected to be a key run producer.
This is a great Spring Training matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
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The St. Louis Cardinals made one last signing over the weekend, bringing veteran utility infielder Ramon Urias on board via a one-year, $2 million contract with a mutual option for 2027. St. Louis had sought a right-handed outfield bat, but when that search failed, they pivoted to infielders and found Urias.
Urias hit .241/.292/.384 with 11 home runs, 44 RBI, a 2.2 WAR and a .675 OPS in 2025 with the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros. He is intended to be a backup infielder and a bat off the bench.
However, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said in his recent chat that this could possibly change, depending on how other players perform in spring training.
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What role could Urias have in 2026?

MESA, Ariz. — There was a significantly larger crowd of Japanese media gathered around Cubs starter Shota Imanaga after his spring debut on Tuesday afternoon. With so many of MLB’s Japanese stars en route to Tokyo for the World Baseball Classic, Imanaga found himself in front of reporters who had been covering other camps.
Back in 2023, Imanaga took the ball in the gold-medal game for Samurai Japan’s dramatic win over Team USA in the Classic. This year, the lefty opted to remain behind with the Cubs to focus on his delivery and training ahead of an important comeback season for a Chicago team with World Series aspirations.
“Obviously, Team Japan has fantastic players,” Imanaga said via interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “From the Cubs, we have Seiya [Suzuki] out there. I think the most important thing is everybody stays healthy. And if they can win the whole thing, I’ll be rooting them on.”
For his part in Tuesday’s 6-5 win over the Padres, Imanaga worked two shutout innings, finishing with one strikeout, no walks and three hits. The left-hander logged 33 pitches, generating four whiffs out of the 19 swings from San Diego’s hitters. Imanaga featured his signature fastball-splitter combination, mixing in a sweeper and curve, too.
Most notably, Imanaga’s fastball velocity was 93 mph on average, per Statcast. That was 2.2 mph higher than his 2025 season average of 90.8 mph. And last year’s showing was down from 91.7 mph in his standout rookie campaign in ‘24. While Imanaga relies more on command and deception, the early radar gun readings are a positive sign.
“I want to preface it by saying, for me, velo isn’t everything,” Imanaga said. “But obviously, having velocity is an advantage. So, I feel like today out there, it felt like the velo was up. Overall, my takeaway was that it was a good start.”
One of Imanaga’s primary goals over the offseason and throughout this spring has been to get his lower-half strength back to where it was prior to his hamstring injury in May. That setback played a role in his second-half struggles, as the lefty fought some subtle delivery issues over the final few months.
“Physically, I felt great out there,” he said. “All that work that I put in to build up to that, I feel like that was displayed today. I think overall, it was a good day.”
While Imanaga had a tough ending to last season, Cubs manager Craig Counsell has remained optimistic about the pitcher’s ability to bounce back in a big way this year.
“I thought Shota was in a great place [going into the offseason],”Counsell said. “I was really happy with how he left and very confident that he would put himself in a very good position, and he was ready to do that.”
CONFORTO IN CAMP
While the Cubs have not yet officially announced the signing of outfielder Michael Conforto to a Minor League contract (plus a non-roster invite), he was in team gear and went through a normal workout day at the team’s complex on Tuesday morning.
Counsell noted that Conforto would spend the next few days going through workouts, but could get into a Cactus League game by Saturday or Sunday. With Pete Crow-Armstrong (Team USA) and Suzuki (Japan) headed to the World Baseball Classic, the Cubs will have more at-bats to offer to players in the backup outfield mix: Conforto, along with Kevin Alcántara, Justin Dean, Chas McCormick and Dylan Carlson.
“I wish those guys were here in one sense,” Counsell said about Crow-Armstrong and Suzuki. “But it creates opportunity for other people.”
LONG IMPROVING
First baseman Jonathon Long (Pipeline’s No. 6 Cubs prospect at the end of 2025) added some more light baseball activity to his day on Tuesday, following the left elbow sprain he sustained in Saturday’s game. Long, who is slated to play for Chinese Taipei, has pushed his travel back to Friday for the World Baseball Classic to continue testing his elbow in the coming days.
“He’s doing much better,” Counsell said. “No issue with X-rays or anything like that. The soreness is dissipating. Still a little residual soreness, but it’s the kind that’s improving every day. Took some swings today.”
QUOTABLE
“We sat down with him this morning. I thought Michael laid it out really well, kind of where he’s at. He’s in a good place. You learn from all your experiences and it puts you in a good place. You have uncertainty when you come to camp on a non-roster deal, and I think he’s in a position to use that uncertainty in a really good way.” – Counsell, on Conforto

DUNEDIN, Fla. — When the U.S. men followed the U.S. women in beating Canada in the gold medal hockey game at the Olympics, Aaron Boone said he sent a meme — Hulk Hogan playing a guitar — to his former ESPN broadcast partner, Toronto native and Blue Jays broadcaster Dan Shulman.
It was a good-natured exchange between friends. It also was what Boone could not do last year for himself — in the regular season or playoffs — against Canada’s lone major league team.
For the Yankees, it continued an issue that has beset them for years, notably during Boone’s tenure.
The Yankees are good every year. Usually very good. Eventually, though, they run up against a team in the playoffs that is no less than their equal and their season ends.