In case anyone is wondering the WBC first game is March 4th. The first game for team USA is March 6th vs Brazil. All games will be broadcast on one or the other of the Fox stations.
In the realm of things weirder than Nick Castellanos’ tribulations with the Phillies:
Brock Holt, former utility infielder for the Red Sox, told a story on a podcast about a teammate on the 2018 championship team who apparently wasn’t into warm and fuzzy cameraderie.
The Boston Globe speculates that the player making the ?threat was Hanley Ramirez, who was abruptly released during the season. His career was prettty much shot after that (sorry); and he played in only 16 more games the following season (with Cleveland).
As odd as it sounds, that’s a refreshing story. There’s a lot of pressure on teams to sweep personnel issues under the rug, especially with someone you’re spending a huge amount of money on. Assuming that’s the reason Ramirez was released, that’s a tough call to make these days.
Castellanos lands in San Diego.
I wouldn’t want Castellanos and I’m surprise a team that good picked him up. He’s 34 and isn’t the kind of player who ages well.
Meanwhile, Toronto traded young outfielder Joey Loperfido to the Astros for Jesus Sanchez, also an outfielder. I am mystified by this trade. Loperfido appears to me to be just as good a player and he’s cheaper and a few years younger. I do not grasp the benefit to this, especially given that they retain Nathan Lukes, who has nowhere to play unless someone gets hurt and is Exhibit A of “player likely to decline out of being useful.”
The Brewers, realizing that they now lack an established third baseman after trading away Caleb Durbin earlier in the week, have apparently signed Luis Rengifo, who played for the Angels for the past seven seasons, to a one-year deal.
Rengifo is a utility infielder, though he played more at third than at any other position the past two seasons. He hit .300 in 2024 (though in only 78 games), but only .238 in '25.
Milwaukee obtained David Hamilton and Jett Williams in recent trades, as well as having several promising infielders in their minor-league system, but both Hamilton and Williams have primarily been middle infielders so far in their careers.
It’s been said upthread, but some of these trades look like management expecting to sit out the 2027 season. Just mysterious thinking.
There isn’t much downside. If his stats make a comeback they are only paying him league minimum. The Phillies have to pay the rest of his contract. If he doesn’t work out they can dump him.
This may turn out to be the biggest story in the off season. Tony Clark to resign as head of the MLBPA. It shouldn’t affect 2026 that much but it has big implications for the CBA and 2027.
The story has been updated tonight; it was already known that Clark had been the subject of a whistleblower investigation for self-dealing and misuse of union resources and finances. Tonight, it was learned that the final straw for the players, as far as him retaining his job, was the revelation that Clark was engaged in an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law, who had also been hired by the union in 2023.
The union is far better off to clean house now, than try to do it deep in negotiations for the next contract. Or worse yet, have this self-dealer in the middle of those negotiations.
Very true. Who they pick to replace may show how things will go during negotiations. Not well is still my guess.
This was clearly an emergency decision, as the union was supposed to be holding their locker room talks with teams starting this week and cancelled some or all of them at the last minute.
Reading between the lines it seemed that some of the allegations weren’t black and white enough to force his removal right now. The inappropriate relationship was undeniable.
They named Bruce Meyer the interim executive director. He was the number 2 guy. He was set to be the lead in the negotiations anyway. He’s a bulldog so I don’t expect any softening of the players stance on anything.
I think it’s preordained that the 2027 season will not start on time, if at all. Look for a shortened season next year.
The Yankees pretty much stood pat this year and looking position by position, I don’t think this is a bad lineup. Bellinger-Grissom-Judge in the outfield with Dominguez appearing to be the second coming of Clint Frazier. McMahon-Cabrera-Chisholm-Rice around the infield looks solid to me. Not a fan of Austin at C but when he’s hot he’s good to have. If Cole and Gil come back, great.
Bill Mazeroski, Hall of Fame second baseman known for his great defensive work and clutch hitting in the 1960 World Series won by the Pirates over the Yankees, has died.
Twins ace Pablo Lopez is out for the year, needing Tommy John surgery.
It didn’t take Judge long to find his stroke- 2 HRs today. He may or may not make the roster this year, but I was impressed with Elmer Rodriguez yesterday. Thought he had great stuff, so he’s my early pick for breakout star this year.
He’s not going to be in the bigs this year barring a bunch of injuries. He’s only 21 and had one game in AAA last year after starting off in high A. They are going to want him starting in AAA instead of sitting in the bullpen in the majors.
Dodgers crushed the Angels 15-2, which isn’t a big deal because the Angels suck. I’ll be surprised if they’re ever NOT in the cellar this season.