No more counterproposals. No fights for CBT.
From Clearwater, Florida, to Goodyear, Arizona, it’s time for curveballs, Cracker Jack, and the perpetually inspiring clean slate in the rankings that are introduced at the start of each season.
It’s time to play ball, or at least practice it. After a longer and darker than normal winter, that’s reason enough to celebrate.
Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge and the rest of baseball’s biggest stars are due in spring training Sunday for the first official day of preseason training following the end of Major League Baseball’s 99-day work stoppage.
Pitchers and catchers were supposed to report a month ago, but the Grapefruit and Cactus league camps remained closed as players and owners bickered over the economics of the sport.
A deal was struck Thursday, and now pitchers and hitters are gearing up for four weeks of preparations ahead of a 162-game season that begins April 7.
The fastball of Jacob deGrom popping out of the bullpen, Fernando Tatis Jr. taking aim at BP and Yadier Molina advising one last pitching staff — just the sights and sounds needed for a sport stuck in neutral since December.
Here’s what to look for when everyone introduces themselves:
THE NEW GUYS
Rangers fans are getting a big reward for their patience in the lockout: the spring debuts of big-money free agents Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, signed for a combined $500 million before rosters were frozen. on December 2.
It can be hard to remember everything that happened back then, when clubs spent a one-day record $1.4 billion on free agents before it all went quiet.
Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray left Toronto for Seattle and the Blue Jays replaced him with former Giant Kevin Gausman. The Tigers bet on shortstop Javier Báez and starter Eduardo Rodríguez. Even the Marlins tried to make a splash, dropping $53 million on Avisaíl García.
A few more players have signed since the rosters thawed Thursday as well. Clayton Kershaw is back with the Dodgers, while the rival Giants locked up left-hander Carlos Rodón to replace Gausman.
Another new face in the NL West: San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin, who left the rebuilding A’s after 11 years in Oakland.
Melvin’s old job went to Mark Kotsay, who got his first coaching opportunity after a 17-year playing career. The Cardinals are also under new management, promoting Oliver Marmol, 35, after Mike Shildt was surprisingly fired despite being a finalist for NL Manager of the Year.
Of course, no team changed more than the Mets. Max Scherzer came in as part of owner Steve Cohen’s $254.5 million spending spree, while new general manager Billy Eppler hired veteran captain Buck Showalter to replace Luis Rojas.
WHO IS MISSING?
Baseball’s offseason hiatus left several stars in free agency limbo.
The drawings are back for Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman, Kris Bryant and more than 100 free agents. The commercial market will also heat up.
The Yankees are expected to be at the center of much of that action, eyeing Correa or Trevor Story with a clear hole at shortstop. And just like they did with Brian McCann eight years ago, they could push Freeman away from Atlanta, dashing hopes that the fan favorite will be a career Brave of his own.
ABOUT THE SCHEDULE
Spring showings begin March 17: Red Sox-Twins and Diamondbacks-Rockies kick off the schedule. With so little time before opening day, the majors are hoping to see more action in those games than fans might be used to in the early days of spring training.
Rafael Devers, JT Realmuto and many other players have stayed in shape on high school and college fields across the country, and most starting pitchers are expected to arrive Sunday already prepared to pitch a few innings to the time.
Of course, injuries are still a concern. The whiplash of a coronavirus-shortened 2020 season that gave way to a full roster in 2021 spurred rampant use of the disabled list. Another disruption to the players’ routines was less than ideal. That’s especially true for players coming off injuries who were forced to rehab this offseason amid rules prohibiting communication with team officials, a regulation MLB deemed necessary for legal protection amid the lockout.
SHORT JUMPS
The designated hitter was permanently added to the National League as part of baseball’s new labor contract. More rule changes, such as banning the at-bat, bigger bases and a shot clock, aren’t likely to come until 2023 at least. … The Cleveland Guardians are debuting new gear and uniforms after revealing their new name in December. … Sunday marks the beginning of the end for Molina, who plans to retire after the 2022 season, his 19th with the Cardinals.
