Dodgers, Cubs open MLB season with two-game ‘Tokyo Series’
The 2025 Major League Baseball season begins at 6 a.m. EST with the “Tokyo Series” in Japan. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs will play two games before returning to the U.S.
The Dodgers and Cubs feature five current players born in Japan, including NL’s most valuable player, Shohei Ohtani.
Pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers) and Shota Imanaga (Cubs) will be the first Japanese starters to face each other on Opening Day.
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The first pitch for the 2025 baseball season is about to be thrown if you’re ready to wake up in the wee hours of the morning. The World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers will take on the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series.
Why is the ‘Tokyo Series’ a big deal for MLB?
The Dodgers and Cubs have been in Japan for nearly a week preparing for the season-opening two-game series. The series will count in the standings as the teams play meaningful games a full ten days before the rest of Major League Baseball.
Both teams have continued their spring training workouts and played exhibition games against teams from the Japanese league in front of a baseball-crazy packed house at the Tokyo Dome. Major League Baseball made no secret of its desire to become a globally popular sport.
“I feel like it was one of those things that embracing the culture that you’re playing in, and I mean, yesterday was just practice, and we got close to 25,000 people here at the stadium, and I mean this is an amazing place to play,” Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas said. “I feel like the tradition and the history behind just this Dome is pretty cool, and I mean, I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be here.”
Who are some of the big names playing in the series?
Rojas will likely be the Dodgers’ starting shortstop in both games. Star Mookie Betts is recovering from an illness that caused him to lose 15 pounds during the trip and has been ruled out.
There is also a massive amount of star power on both rosters that just happen to be from the host nation. They include Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga, outfielder Seiya Suzuki, Dodgers pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and rookie Roki Sasaki. And, of course, the biggest mega-star of them all, Shohei Ohtani, will also play in the series. Friday, March 14, Ohtani was asked about Japanese players making their mark in the United States.
“It’s hard to tell if this is the golden age of Japanese players here in the United States because I know there have been a lot of Japanese players that came before me, but having five (in the game) is a big deal, and it’s truly a big deal,” Ohtani said through an interpreter.
What has the trip to Japan been like for U.S. players?
For U.S. players, just being in Japan for a full week has been well worth the trip. The Cubs will get first crack at the defending champions. Players have said the trip brought the team closer together, even if it has been a bit of an adjustment, according to manager Craig Counsell.
“I think the first thing you learn is that, like, athletes eat a lot, they eat a lot, they eat more than you think. So, when the food is different, they complain, unfortunately. But they, you know, they need to eat so they need to get adventurous and that’s what this trip has kind of forced them to do,” Counsell said. “Again, we talk a lot about, like, get out of your comfort zone, and that’s where the good things happen, so the food part for a lot of these guys is where it’s happened, and that’s, I think that’s a relatable story for anybody that spends some time in a different culture.”
Those players will return to their comfort zone at 6 a.m. EST time Tuesday, March 15, for the first ballgame of the 2025 season. Starting pitchers Shota Imanaga and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will also make history. They will become the first Japanese pitchers to start against each other on Opening Day.
Discontinued MLB hats with vulgar design reselling for up to $1K
Several New Era MLB hats have been pulled from retail spaces after their designs revealed somewhat vulgar terms. This is the second consecutive spring that New Era has had a fashion faux pas with their hats.
The Overlap 59Fifty style caps are still available for many teams and retail for $44.99, while those pulled are reselling online for upwards of $1,000.
The hats, which combine a team’s logo with their nickname, are not part of the official MLB uniforms.
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Call it a wardrobe malfunction or a marketing debacle. Still, with the MLB regular season fast approaching, New Era, the league’s official baseball cap maker, is the target of much mockery for its new Overlap 59fifty hat designs.
Why were some hats pulled from shelves?
The idea is simple, in theory. Take the team’s logo and stamp it over the team’s nickname. However, some of the designs inadvertently fell into the NSFW category.
For instance, the word created on the Texas Rangers cap is Spanish slang for breasts. It was quickly pulled from retail shelves only to wind up on secondary markets such as eBay for upwards of $1,000.
This Texas Rangers hat is reselling for up to $1,000 after it was removed from online stores
The Rangers cap isn’t the only one. The unintended mishap on the Houston Astros cap is self-explanatory: spelling out another word you wouldn’t let your kids say.
This isn’t the first time New Era had trouble with hat designs revealing somewhat vulgar terms.
Who approved these designs?
Last season, an Oakland A’s hat was pulled off the shelves after its design featured a version of the same word as the Astros hat. Some fans joked it was the perfect hat for A’s owner, John Fisher, who is currently moving the team to Las Vegas.
Even the hats that aren’t of questionable language have fashion critics wondering, “Who approved this?”
This is the second straight spring training season that has left fans wondering who is in charge of baseball’s wardrobe department. Last season was the league’s first with Fanatics and Nike designing uniforms. While fans mocked the new designs that debuted and appeared somewhat transparent, players complained about the fit and feel.
As for this year’s new hats, they are marketed toward fans and not part of the official player uniforms. Naturally, there has been a barrage of negative social media conversations, but neither New Era nor MLB, which has equity in the apparel company, have commented on the hats.
Yankees react to latest injury, ace pitcher Gerrit Cole will miss 2025 season
The New York Yankees are reeling after their latest spring training injury. Ace pitcher Gerrit Cole will miss the 2025 season.
Cole has an injured throwing elbow that requires “Tommy John” surgery. He sought a second opinion in Los Angeles on Monday.
Other star players like pitcher Luis Gil, slugger Giancarlo Stanton and third baseman DJ LeMahieu are also out for an extended time.
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The New York Yankees spring went from bad to worse with the news that ace and former Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole is out for the season due to an elbow injury requiring “Tommy John” surgery. Cole was expected to be the Yankee’s Opening Day starter.
Cole reported discomfort in his throwing elbow after allowing six runs to the Minnesota Twins during spring training starting Thursday, March 6, prompting doctors to get imaging done. He sought a second opinion from a doctor in Los Angeles on Monday, March 10, that confirmed the worst. Cole posted a message to the fans on Instagram that read in part:
“This isn’t the news any athlete wants to hear, but it’s the necessary next step for my career. I have a lot left to give, and I’m fully committed to the work ahead. I’ll attack my rehab every day and support the 2025 Yankees each step of the way. I love this game, I love competing, and I can’t wait to be back on the mound—stronger than ever. See you soon,” Cole said.
How are the Yankees reacting to Cole’s news?
Cole’s teammates believe he’ll still contribute to the team with his knowledge and competitive spirit.
“We all know how talented Gerrit is and how much of an ace he is in this league. There’s not a lot of Gerrit Cole-type pitchers in MLB. So, he’ll be very missed; I just wish him the best,” fellow starter Clarke Schmidt said.
Cole had elbow inflammation early in spring training last season. With rest and rehab, he was able to come back and become a major contributor to the Yankees World Series run. That said, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman feared the worst this time around.
“Again, y’know, pitching is very difficult to maintain health, and you’re always one pitch away. So, y’know, the longer you get away from somebody’s episode, with success and no complaints, the less you think about it,” Cashman said.
What does Cole’s absence mean for the rotation?
Cashman is now thinking about the huge hole that Cole’s absence leaves in the starting rotation. The six-time All-Star is on a Hall of Fame path and other than the last two seasons has been durable, throwing the second most innings in the majors since 2017.
With rookie of the year Luis Gil also missing at least three months with a strained muscle in his back, the Yankees Opening Day rotation will be led by the newly acquired Max Fried. Following Fried will likely be Carlos Rodon and Schmidt. After that, there are questions about who will pitch and how long.
How much more bad news can the team take?
Another issue adding to the Yankee’s tough spring is a slew of problems on the offensive side. Slugger Giancarlo Stanton is dealing with a sore elbow and likely won’t play until at least June. Third baseman DJ LeMahieu also missed the entire spring with a calf injury and is not expected back until mid-April.
With more than two weeks to go before opening day, Cashman admits they’ll likely have to wait a while before they find a trade partner willing to send them the help they need.
MLB spring training: Injury concerns for Yanks, other AL teams optimistic
We’re only a week into MLB spring training and injuries are already becoming a concern for the New York Yankees. Meanwhile, other American League teams are feeling optimistic.
The AL West is wide open with changes in Houston and a great pitching staff in Seattle.
2024 playoff participants Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals hope to build on their surprising success.
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Three weeks before opening day and the biggest story in Major League Baseball is the rash of injuries that have hit the New York Yankees. Now, other American League teams are looking to take advantage of the Yankees’ misfortune.
Which teams are dealing with injuries?
On Tuesday, March 4, Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil was shut down by the team for at least six weeks with a lat strain. Even if all goes well after that time, Gil will likely need another month or more to get up to speed.
In the Boston Red Sox camp, a nagging shoulder injury has kept star Rafael Devers out of action. He hasn’t played a game yet, which may push him into a designated hitter role to start the season. It’s a move he openly opposed when former Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman was signed last month.
How are things looking in the AL West?
Bregman’s old team is moving a few pieces around. Jose Altuve is now an outfielder for the first time in his career. The long-time second baseman and nine-time All-Star will get the bulk of his playing time in left field, in front of the famous Crawford boxes at Daikin Park.
Also in the American League West, the Seattle Mariners are going to run it back with nearly the same team that finished a game short of the playoffs in the last two seasons.
It’s all about pitching in Peoria, Arizona, and the M’s have the rotation to get the job done. Logan Gilbert is even talking about playoffs already.
“I think we have better pitchers than most teams and a deeper rotation too, and bullpen,” said Gilbert. “So if we make it in, I really think we are one of the teams people don’t really want to face in the playoffs.”
Why are there big expectations in Detroit?
The same could be said about the Detroit Tigers, who made the playoffs last year and knocked out the Astros. They’ve added starter Jack Flaherty to a rotation featuring Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.
Flaherty returns to Motown where he started last season, before being traded to the Dodgers for their World Series run. He’s already thinking big back in Motown.
“I think my expectations are always through the roof –– no matter what’s gone on in my career, no matter where we’re at,” Flaherty said. “And then to come back here, what we were able to do last year, I was able to bounce back and kind of turn some things around from the year before, and I get to work with Skub [Tarik Skubal] every day.”
With opening day fast approaching on March 27, injuries like the kind the Yankees and Red Sox are dealing with can level the playing field. And because of that, it gives the Mariners and Tigers a reason to feel optimistic.
MLB spring training: Mixed bag for National League teams 1 week in
Several National League teams are making noise early in MLB’s spring training. Now that we’re one week in, the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets are leading the way.
The Arizona Diamondbacks love their rotation with the newly acquired Corbin Burnes at the helm.
Meanwhile, the St. Louis Cardinals have not been able to trade third baseman Nolan Arenado. Is that a good thing?
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With three weeks before Major League Baseball’s opening day, there’s plenty of optimism and good vibes for most National League teams in spring training. However, there have also been a few injuries and surprises as we get into the full swing of games in Florida and Arizona.
Who is already swinging a hot bat?
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has been working on his pitching form as he returns from Tommy John surgery on his elbow. He probably won’t take the mound in a regular season game until May at the earliest. However, his famous swing seems just fine. Ohtani homered against the Los Angeles Angels in his first spring at-bat.
Down in Port St. Lucie, Florida, the highest-paid player in baseball, Juan Soto, did the same thing for his new team, the New York Mets. He homered in his first at-bat against the Houston Astros this spring. Soto signed a record 15-year, $756 million contract in the offseason.
Who is looking good on the mound?
Another big offseason signing –– perhaps the Kryptonite to those sluggers –– was that of Arizona Diamondbacks ace Corbin Burnes. He signed a six-year, $210 million contract in the offseason and has been dominant in his first three spring starts. He’ll lead one of the best rotations in the NL as the Diamondbacks look to return to their 2023 World Series form.
“With our rotation, with the young guys we have –– some exciting young players, obviously Corbin Carroll, Perdomo signed his extension,” Burnes said. “There’s a lot of excitement in the clubhouse around those guys and around the group we have, and we’re excited to get going.”
What’s happening in the NL Central?
With the big money being spent on both coasts, the National League Central is getting overlooked.
The race is wide open behind the two-time defending champion Milwaukee Brewers. On Monday, March 4, they signed Jose Quintana to bolster their rotation. He went 10-10 for the Mets last year, and when he makes his Brewers debut, he will have pitched for every team in the central division.
St. Louis made news early in spring training because of trade rumors surrounding star third baseman Nolan Arenado. He’s still with the Cardinals and ready to put the trade talk behind him, until mid-season, that is. In the meantime, he’s become a bit of a mentor in a young clubhouse.
“I see a lot of young guys, but a lot of young guys that have a chance to do something great,” Arenado said. “We have some talented players here that we need to take the next step and the expectation is for them to do that so, including myself, we have to go out and play better. All of us.”
When will the Braves get healthy?
At least Arenado and the Cardinals are healthy. The same cannot be said for the Atlanta Braves. On Sunday, March 2, they lost catcher Sean Murphy for two months with a cracked rib. They are also still awaiting the return of pitcher Spencer Strider and star outfielder Ronald Acuna, Jr., who are both taking it slow during spring training after season-ending injuries in 2024.
MLB testing robot umpires in spring training: How will they work?
Major League Baseball is testing a system that allows players to challenge balls and strikes during a game. The test is taking place at 13 ballparks during spring training.
The challenge system, known as ABS, was tested in the minor leagues and won out over full robot umpires that would have replaced humans.
Each team is allowed two challenges per game. However, if a team loses those two, they aren’t allowed any more challenges during the game.
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Baseball umpires have been calling balls and strikes since soon after the game was invented in the mid-19th century. Nearly 160 years later, those umpires will finally get some help –– at least during spring training.
MLB’s new automated ball-strike system, or ABS, is now being tested at 13 ballparks, and across 19 teams, in Arizona and Florida. If all goes well, it could be implemented in the major leagues as soon as the 2026 season.
What is the ABS challenge system?
Simply put, the ABS system is a way for players to challenge an umpire’s call. The system has been tested in the minor leagues for several years and won out over the use of robot umpires, computers that make every call and replace human umpires. Instead of relying on robot umpires to make the calls, the ABS leans on human umpires, and only comes into play for challenges.
The Texas Rangers’ Bruce Bochy, one of the most successful managers in the game, said it will take some getting used to but he’s willing to test the system out.
“I’ve seen it on the minor league side and seems like it’s created interest in the game, it goes pretty quick,” Bochy said. “You have to challenge right away –– the pitcher, the batter and the catcher are the three that can challenge this –– and I think it’s created interest with the fans, they have fun with it. So, we’ll see how it goes.”
What are some of the features or rules?
The strike zone used in the new challenge system is based on each batter’s height. Once the umpire makes a call, the batter, catcher or pitcher must challenge that call immediately by tapping on his hat or helmet. Each team starts the game with two challenges. However, they risk losing those challenges if a call is confirmed.
Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde says his minor league teams figured out they needed to be judicious about when to use the system and when to let a call go.
“They had rules last year in triple-A about, kind of, who could, who couldn’t, time of the game –– all that kind of stuff,” Hyde said. “Because guys were so aggressive early, early in the game and losing … [Y]ou don’t want it to be in the biggest spot in the game, and [Adley] Rutchman’s up, and he doesn’t have a challenge, and he knows the strike zone better than anybody.”
How will fans know what’s happening?
The set-up used to track balls and strikes is called the Hawk-Eye system. When a challenge is made, the video is shown to fans on a stadium’s video board and on the game broadcast for those watching at home. The league says they’ll be paying attention to how fans react.
According to the MLB, the ratio of calls overturned has been close to 50/50, with catchers overturning the most calls.
The best-case scenario for the test, according to Morgan Sword, MLB’s vice president of game operations, is to have everyone feel comfortable using it before spring training ends.
“Getting a majority of our players, coaches and fans feeling like they prefer that version of baseball to the status quo,” Sword said, adding, “we’re gonna find out that information at the end of the spring.”
There is some work to do in that regard. Legendary manager Terry Francona, in what will be his first season with the Cincinnati Reds, has asked his veteran players not to use the system. Given that he doesn’t think it’ll be part of the regular season, he doesn’t want to bother investing time in the experiment.
World marks 3 years of war in Ukraine; US pushes draft UN resolution
The world marks the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And the Trump administration announces new leadership at the FBI. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.
World marks 3 years of war in Ukraine; US pushes draft UN resolution
Leaders from across Europe and Canada traveled to Ukraine on Monday, Feb. 24, to mark three years of the country’s war with Russia. At the same time, the Trump administration pushed for the United Nations to back its third-anniversary draft resolution rather than one crafted by Kyiv and backed by Europe.
Multiple news sources reported that the U.S. urges Ukraine to retract its resolution, but Ukraine has declined.
The United Nations General Assembly will vote on both resolutions Monday, but the Trump administration also asked the more powerful Security Council to vote on its proposal. China holds the Security Council presidency this month and has scheduled a vote on the U.S. resolution for Monday afternoon.
The biggest difference between the two resolutions is the U.S. does not demand the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine or identify Russia as the aggressor in the war.
In a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. has “proposed a simple, historic resolution to the United Nations” that’s “consistent with President Trump’s view that the U.N. must return to its founding purpose…to maintain international peace and security, including through the peaceful settlement of disputes.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would resign if it meant peace in Ukraine or NATO membership.
NATO membership for Ukraine was already unlikely anytime soon. Still, it looks even more out of reach since U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week that it was not realistic for a negotiated settlement to the war.
The United States has begun peace talks with Russia to end the war. U.S. officials said the two countries have agreed to reestablish diplomatic ties and restart economic cooperation.
On Saturday, Feb. 22, Russia’s foreign ministry said preparations for a face-to-face meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin were underway.
Last week, the Trump administration’s special envoy, Keith Kellogg, spent two days in Ukraine speaking directly with Zelenskyy.
Israel sends tanks into occupied West Bank for first time in 20 years
Israel has deployed tanks into the occupied West Bank for the first time in over twenty years, announcing that residents who have been “evacuated” will not be permitted to return. This is the latest action in Israel’s “Operation Iron Wall,” a military campaign that commenced last month, just two days after the Gaza ceasefire with the terrorist group Hamas began.
Israel’s defense minister said he ordered the military to “prepare for a prolonged presence” in Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank for the “coming year” to “prevent the return of residents and the resurgence of terrorism.” Palestinian authorities called the move a “dangerous escalation.”
The new military movement comes as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas gets more tenuous by the day.
Over the weekend, Israel was set to release more than 600 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for six Israelis taken hostage when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, but it did not follow through. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said their release would be delayed “until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies.”
A senior Hamas leader said the militant group would not take part in any negotiations to extend the ceasefire until all the prisoners who were supposed to be released Saturday have been returned.
Conservatives win German election that saw surge in far-right support
Germany’s presumptive new chancellor appeared to plan to meet with Israel’s prime minister. The Times of Israel reported Monday morning that Netanyahu’s office stated he had a “warm conversation” with Friedrich Merz after his party emerged victorious in Germany’s elections over the weekend.
According to Netanyahu’s office, Merz would invite Netanyahu to Germany. Doing so would go against the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu.
In the hours after presumptively winning the election, Merz also said Europe must seek to “achieve independence” from the U.S.
The key issues of the election were the stagnation of Europe’s biggest economy and pressure to curb migration in Germany.
Merz is a conservative businessman who has never held a government role. According to preliminary official results, his center-right Christian Democratic Union and its sister party won about 29% of the vote, and he’s now set to lead Europe’s biggest economy and most populous state.
The election saw a surge in far-right support, though. The Alternative for Germany party came in second with about 21% of the vote. That party has been suspected of extremism in the past.
Trump weighed in on Truth Social, saying the conservative party in Germany has won the highly anticipated election. He called it a great day for Germany and the U.S.
Some Trump administration officials tell workers not to reply to Musk email
In an email sent by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on Saturday, Feb. 22, Musk asked federal employees to detail five accomplishments from their previous workweek. He said that failure to reply would be considered a resignation.
That appears to contradict previous guidance from the OPM, which stated that responses to such mass emails were “voluntary.”
Leaders at the Pentagon, FBI, State Department, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Energy all instructed their staff not to respond to the email. Some mentioned that managers would address it, while others advised workers to wait until Monday.
Trump names conservative talk show host deputy director of the FBI
Trump appointed conservative commentator Dan Bongino as deputy director of the FBI, stating that fairness, justice, law and order will be swiftly restored to America. Bongino will collaborate with newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel.
The deputy director position does not need Senate confirmation.
Bongino, a former Secret Service agent, New York police officer and host of his own podcast, has called for mass firings at the FBI.
The deputy director of the FBI frequently manages bureau operations and supervises special agents who lead the 55 field offices nationwide.
NBC News obtained a memo indicating that the FBI Agents Association was hoping for a deputy director who was part of the bureau, as has been a longstanding tradition, who had “operational expertise and experience, as well as trusted our special agents population.”
Bongino, a Trump loyalist, has heavily criticized the 2022 raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, which led to the classified documents case. He described it as an abomination and stated that the management at the Department of Justice and FBI should be terminated immediately.
Baseball great A-Rod wins college student $10K on basketball court
Baseball legend Alex Rodriguez may now be in the broadcast booth, but his athletic skills remain impressive—even on a basketball court.
A-Rod showed off his skill on the hardwood Saturday, Feb. 22, sinking a shot from half court and winning $10,000 for a Bucknell University student.
The 14-time All-Star visited the school to discuss his company, Jump Platforms, when he took the shot during halftime of Bucknell’s basketball game against Army. The Bison won the game 84-53.
MLB Spring Training: Can the Yanks hold off the O’s, Sox and Jays once again?
The New York Yankees will try and fend off the Baltimore Orioles and others as the 2025 race for the AL East gets going. The Yankees are the defending American League champs.
The Baltimore Orioles lost Anthony Santander to rival Toronto Blue Jays, but added Tyler O’Neill from the Boston Red Sox.
The Tampa Bay Rays will play their season at the Yankees’ Triple-A park after Hurricane Milton damaged Tropicana Field.
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On Friday, Feb. 21, the New York Yankees made bigger news for their revamped “facial hair policy” than for beating the Rays in their first spring training game of 2025. But that hasn’t stopped most from picking the Bronx Bombers to repeat as American League East champs.
Can the Yankees make up for the loss of Juan Soto?
Despite losing Juan Soto to the crosstown Mets in free agency, the Yankees pitching improved by adding Max Fried from the Braves and closer Devin Williams from the Brewers.
Offensively, Aaron Judge is still the best slugger in the league. The Yankees have the weapons around him to get close to their AL-leading 815 runs scored from last season, especially with Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt joining the lineup. Manager Aaron Boone just has to figure out where to slot them all.
“A lot determines on who’s in that leadoff spot and who’s in that two or three spot,” Boone said. “Who’s in that mix, you know, ultimately to create that balance in the order and try and net as many guys as possible, as good of matchups as we can, with protection throughout.”
Will the Orioles finally finish strong?
The Baltimore Orioles led the division until the second half of the season, only to flame out in the playoffs for the second straight campaign.
Gone is power hitter Anthony Santander, but in his place is Tyler O’Neill from the Red Sox. The offense will still revolve around their young core of Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman.
The issue for the Orioles will be pitching after the loss of ace Corbin Burnes. But the “win now” attitude is still there, says first baseman Ryan O’Hearn.
“It’s just a group of guys; we know what we’re capable of. We’ve had maybe, I would say, two good seasons the last two years, but ultimately, we haven’t done what we wanted to,” O’Hearn said. “So, I think the collective unit of players is probably more experienced than we had last year.”
Are the Red Sox stuck in mediocrity?
The Boston Red Sox were 81-81 a year ago and had a top-six offense scoring 751 runs. They replace Tyler O’Neill’s power with Alex Bregman from the Houston Astros. Still, it seems the Sox will live or die with their revamped pitching staff, which includes newcomers Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler, Lucas Giolito and 36-year-old closer Aroldis Chapman.
Will Vlad’s contract hang over the entire season?
The Toronto Blue Jays finished one game behind the Sox last season and added Santander and his 44 homers to a lineup that features Vlad Guerrero, Jr. and Bo Bichette. Guerrero, however, could be mid-season trade bait after he and the team could not agree on a contract extension. Nevertheless, manager John Schneider doesn’t seem concerned.
“He’s always been kinda wise beyond his years. And I think that the dialogue back and forth is productive, and it’s good,” Schneider said. “I think he did a really good job with it, and it’s just unfortunate it didn’t work out, but I know it’s not going to affect him at all.”
Can the Rays overcome the loss of ‘The Trop?’
The Tampa Bay Rays lost their home park, Tropicana Field, because of damage caused by last year’s Hurricane Milton. They’ll play in the Yankees Triple-A Park in Tampa this season.
On the field, things aren’t much better. The only offense worse than the Rays last season was the Chicago White Sox. Former Padre Ha-Seong Kim should help, as will new catcher Danny Jansen, but a 75-win season will be an accomplishment.
MLB Spring Training: Can the AL Central repeat a great 2024 showing?
As spring training games begin in Major League Baseball, the AL Central has high hopes. Three teams won playoff series in 2024.
The Cleveland Guardians made it to the ALCS and have won the division five of the last nine years.
The Chicago White Sox were the exception; they had a historically bad season with 121 losses.
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As spring training games begin across Major League Baseball, the AL Central division is focused on another great showing. It’s been a decade since a team from this division has won a World Series. However, three teams won a playoff series in 2024.
Can the Guardians repeat as division champs?
The Cleveland Guardians made it to the American League Championship before losing to the Yankees in five games. Jose Ramirez and his mates have won the AL Central five times in the last nine years. They didn’t change much in the offseason. 1st baseman Josh Naylor is now in Arizona, and the team signed Carlos Santana for a third go-around to replace him. Starter Shane Bieber is another former Guardian back in the fold. Steven Kwan says the boys need to stay hungry.
“It feels really similar to that 2023 year. 2022, we had that great playoff run, got really deep, and I feel like that year after, everyone was really satisfied, really content about being there,” Kwan said. “And I don’t think we can have that same energy. We need to have that desperation, that want to get better.”
Will the Royal survive without Singer?
The Kansas City Royals were the last AL Central team to win a World Series in 2015. Last year was their best season since that championship, as they swept the Baltimore Orioles in the Wild Card round. They will lean on pitching even with Brady Singer traded to Cincinnati. Offensively, Bobby Witt Jr. finished second in the AL Most Valuable Player voting with a fantastic 2024. Salvador Perez and the newly acquired Jonathan India will most likely help Witt Jr. this year.
Can the Tigers find some offense?
The Detroit Tigers had an even better year, considering expectations. They bounced the Houston Astros out in the Wild Card round and given their long years of struggle, they’re hoping it’s a stepping-off point for a long run of success. They have the pitching with Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal, but the offense struggled much of 2024. Gleyber Torres joins Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson as the veteran players hoping to teach a lot of young talent. Manager A.J. Hinch knows it will be a tough fight.
“Give some respect to the AL Central, which I know oftentimes doesn’t get seen as strong as we probably should be. We have bonafide stars in our division, and we have teams that are continually trying to get better,” Hinch said. “We’re all chasing Cleveland because they’ve been the team at the head of the division for a while.”
Will lack of spending doom the Twins?
The Minnesota Twins are in the same boat, trying to get better, mostly because of what they had last season. Only four other teams spent less money than Minnesota in free agency. Outfielders Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton need to stay healthy, or they will not have much of a shot. The Twins are also in the middle of a potential ownership change, so being frugal was probably in the cards no matter what.
Can the White Sox possibly be worse than 2024?
The White Sox are an entirely different story. In 2024, they lost 100 games faster than any team since 1916. Their total of 121 losses is the most in the modern era of the game. Luis Robert Jr. is still on the roster, as is Andrew Benintendi, but most of the rest of the players are minor league prospects. General Manager Chris Getz believes he is seeing signs of growth.
“You look at our record last year, we wanna win more games this year. What exactly is that amount? Time will tell. All I know is that from an infrastructure standpoint, from a talent standpoint, we’re in a much better place,” Getz said.
MLB Spring training: How many AL West teams will contend for the title?
Major League Baseball’s American League West will be a race between at least three contending teams. Four of the last six World Series teams from the league have come from the West.
The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are favorites to make the playoffs.
Can the Seattle Mariners overcome a quiet offseason to contend?
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Major League Baseball’s American League West is up for grabs in 2025, with three of the five teams having a legitimate shot at a deep playoff run. The Houston Astros won the World Series in 2022, and the Texas Rangers won in 2023. Those two teams are once again the favorites to return to the playoffs.
Can the Texas Rangers stay healthy?
The Rangers are just hoping their deadly lineup stays healthy. Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Adolis Garcia welcome the additions of Joc Pederson and Jake Burger, who both hit more than 20 homers last year. The starting rotation will benefit from a healthy Jacob deGrom, along with Kumar Rocker and Nathan Eovaldi. The bullpen might be Texas’ only weakness, but manager Bruce Bochy will try to push all the right buttons.
“We’re gonna be looking at the teams we’re playing, the pockets that they have that, you know, we might want to get the matchups we want,” Bochy said. “So now, by no means are we getting locked in on any roles right now, right? I think we’re gonna stay flexible with that.”
How will the Astros replace Bregman and Tucker?
The Astros are in a bit of a transitional phase, but they’ve still made the playoffs eight years running. Stalwarts like Kyle Tucker, Justin Verlander, Ryan Pressly and Alex Bregman are gone, but the cupboard isn’t bare by any stretch. The team signed slugging first baseman Christian Walker from the Arizona Diamondbacks to replace some of the power numbers. The starting rotation is largely intact, with Framber Valdez leading the way, and the bullpen is also locked down with Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu.
Can the Mariners survive without hitting?
Pitching will once again be what the Seattle Mariners lean on. Their starting five all clock in with mid-three ERAs, and pitching at T-Mobile Park plays to that strength. The issue has always been whether the team can find some hitting to complement superstars Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh. The answer over the last couple of years has been no. The M’s ranked 29th in baseball in hitting last season. They will count on bounce-back seasons from J.P. Crawford, Mitch Haniger and Mitch Garver to generate offense. That doesn’t, however, dampen manager Dan Wilson’s excitement.
“I feel very confident about running this thing back, and you know when you look at what we did down the stretch with this group, it gives you a lot of excitement, gives you a lot of hope for starting the season,” Wilson said. “Our hope is getting them prepared here in spring training for those 162 games.”
Will the move to Sacramento doom the A’s?
The Oakland A’s have become the Sacramento A’s while they await their planned move to Las Vegas. They also have some nice young pieces to build around, led by Silver Slugger winner Brent Rooker. Right fielder Lawrence Butler and JJ Bleday will join him. Former New York Mets starter Luis Severino will anchor the rotation and star closer Mason Miller will shut the door late. But will playing in a minor league ballpark affect their performance? 2025 is the first of three seasons in California’s capital city.
Will Mike Trout finally lead a contender?
In Anaheim, the Angels hope to finally contend with Mike Trout still on board going into his 15th season in the majors. Trout is moving to the right field to try to stay healthy, but as we’ve seen, he can’t do it by himself. The Angels haven’t been over .500 since 2015. With catcher Logan O’Hoppe and infielders Zach Neto and Taylor Ward, maybe they’ll make a surprise run, says Trout.
“With the additions, and, you know, the younger guys that had a full year last year to go through the whole grind –– know what to expect, to come through and see where it goes –– I think the team chemistry, the bonding is a big part of it,” Trout said.
The team also signed veteran pitchers Yusei Kikuchi and Kyle Hendricks to shore up the rotation.