After a whirlwind day that saw the biggest remaining bat and arm in free agency come off the board, there’s still plenty to keep an eye on in Major League Baseball. Let’s jump into a few MLB storylines unfolding.
Pitchers and Catchers Report
Today marks a milestone—by the end of the day, every single team in Major League Baseball will have had their pitchers and catchers officially report. All 30 clubs are now in full-on preparation mode, and with that, the real fun begins.
The Guardians, Rockies, Brewers, and Mariners in the Cactus League, plus the Orioles, Astros, Twins, and Blue Jays in the Grapefruit League, are the final squads to kick off workouts today.
And here’s an interesting wrinkle: Once a team’s pitchers and catchers report, they gain access to the 60-day injured list. That means any player dealing with a long-term injury can be moved off the 40-man roster.
That gives teams a little more roster flexibility as they prepare for the season ahead. Oh, and let’s not forget—this is the time when little “nagging” injuries start to pop up.
You know, the kind that wasn’t mentioned all offseason but suddenly surfaces when a guy throws off a mound for the first time in months. Stay tuned.
The Arenado Situation: What Now?
Nolan Arenado’s trade market has been on ice for most of the offseason, and Alex Bregman was one of the biggest factors.
With teams waiting to see where Bregman would land, any potential Arenado movement had been put on hold. But now?
The Red Sox swooped in and locked up Bregman on a three-year, $120 million deal, effectively shutting down one of the most logical landing spots for Arenado.
Boston would have been a prime suitor if they had missed out on Bregman, but now that door is closed, leaving Arenado’s trade future murkier than ever.
Where else could he go? The Astros were once an option, but Arenado already nixed a trade to Houston.
The Cubs? That’s about as likely as the Cardinals wearing blue pinstripes. The Tigers or Blue Jays? Possible, but it all depends on whether Arenado is willing to waive his no-trade clause.
At this point, it’s feeling more and more like he might be staying put in St. Louis—unless, of course, a surprise suitor emerges.
MLB Free Agent Market Keeps Moving
The big headlines belonged to Alex Bregman and right-hander Nick Pivetta earlier this week.
However, plenty of movement was happening in the lower tiers of free agency. Seven players inked big league deals, showing that teams are shifting their focus to rounding out rosters.
We saw relievers like John Brebbia find homes, rotation depth additions like Cal Quantrill sign deals, and defensive specialists like Michael A. Taylor land contracts.
But plenty of names are out there waiting to find their 2025 homes. Justin Turner, Anthony Rizzo, Alex Verdugo, Paul DeJong, Andrew Heaney, Jose Quintana, and David Robertson are just a few of the remaining names looking for the right fit.
Who’s next? Well, that’s the fun of free agency—sometimes, all it takes is one deal to start a chain reaction.
So, keep those notifications on, folks. The MLB offseason may be winding down, but plenty of action remains before Opening Day.
