What is the story about?
Good
morning.
- As Spring Training approaches, Mark Feinsand has eight teams who still have work to do.
- Yankees general manager Brian Cashman defended the Yankees relatively quiet winter and denied the team was just bringing back the 2025 team.
- R.J. Anderson looks at the market for free agent right-hander Zac Gallen, which is apparently down to three team. The Cubs are one of them.
- Gabe Lacques and Bob Nightengale hand out winter semester grades for each team.
- Dan Szymborski has the projected standings for every team according to the ZiPS system.
- There were a few deals done over the past two days. The Giants traded right-hander Kai-Wei Teng to the Astros for minor league catcher Jancel Villarroel and international pool money.
- The Rockies traded right-handed reliever Angel Chivilli to the Yankees for minor league infielder T.J. Rumfield.
- R.J. Anderson thinks the Yankees might have picked up a hidden gem in Chivilli. Or at least that they can fix him.
- The Rockies made another deal as they acquired infielder Edouard Julien and right-hander Pierson Ohl from the Twins for minor league right-hander Jace Kaminska and cash.
- Scott Merkin reports on how the White Sox signed Japanese infielder Munetaka Murakami.
- Thomas Harrington believes that infielder Bo Bichette can reach another level with the Mets.
- Travis Sawchik breaks down the level of payroll disparity in MLB, which he argues is greater than ever before.
- Jack Harris notes that the Dodgers are not apologizing for spending money.
- Jake Mintz breaks down the process of arbitration that the Tigers and Tarik Skubal are heading for. He also looks at the possible outcomes and how it has hampered the Tigers winter.
- Mike Axisa has ten players who are extension candidates before Spring Training. Nico Hoerner is one and he’s got a contract estimate for him.
- Kiley McDaniel ranks all 30 farm systems.
- Keith Law also ranks all 30 farm systems. (The Athletic sub. req.) Law likes the Cubs’ system a bit more than McDaniel, but McDaniel does point out that the Cubs system is down for the right reasons.
- Julian McWilliams profiles Paul Toboni, the 35-year-old new president of baseball operations for the Nationals.
- Michael Baumann looks at Rob Refsnyder and laments the decline of the platoon player.
- Will Leitch has one player from each division who is “must-watch.” I thought “It’s gotta be PCA in the NL Central, right?” because I forgot Pittsburgh is in the NL Central.
- Davy Andrews examines what went wrong for Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott last year and how he threw too many strikes. Or I guess you could say “fat strikes.”
- NBC is putting together their studio team for their broadcasts this year and have reportedly agreed to terms with Anthony Rizzo, Joey Votto and Clayton Kershaw. It would be nice if those three could be an “Inside the NBA” for MLB. I think there’s some hope of that.
- Astros Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa will not play in the World Baseball Classic because they can’t get insurance on their contracts.
- Ken Rosenthal talks with WBC Team USA manager Mark DeRosa about how the US squad is looking. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Katie Woo repots that Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto will play for Samurai Japan in the WBC. (The Athletic sub. req.)
- Meghan Ward has a preview of Team Kingdom of the Netherlands in the WBC. Go Orange!
- If you’re thinking about going to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, the Royals will pay for your admission in the month of February.
- And finally, Tyler Kepner reports on Seattle’s long-time radio voice, Rick Rizzs, will retire after 41 years calling Mariners games. (The Athletic sub. req.) Kepner looks back at Rizzs’ career.
