It looks as if solely yesterday that a few of us have been wielding our largest snow shovels to burrow a path from the entrance door again to what passes for winter civilization in these unlucky states with no palm bushes in sight. Oh, wait. That was yesterday.
However on the very second these shovels have been scraping the concrete, someplace over the snowflake-filled horizon, we might have sworn we heard a sound that warmed our hearts … if not our noses.
Crrrrack … crrrrack … or was it extra like thwaaack … thwaaack?
Aw, no matter. It was essentially the most inspirational sound within the universe: The sound of bat assembly baseball. The sound of spring coaching roaring again to life. The sound of baseball returning to our lives, reminding us that it’s time to look forward, to days stuffed with lengthy balls, not snow squalls.
It’s that point once we start answering crucial questions on the earth: Why does Juan Soto favor the Queensboro Bridge to the Bronx River Parkway? … Is that this the yr Shohei Ohtani wins the Cy Younger Award, the MVP and the Nobel Peace Prize, presumably all in the identical week? … Now that the entire crab cake scene is behind him, how a lot is Corbin Burnes actually pushed by the search for the right Arizona chile relleno? … And can J.D. Martinez and Justin Turner discover a new workforce earlier than Tee Higgins and Cooper Kupp?
We will thank the miracle of spring coaching for serving to us be taught these issues. And who amongst us isn’t in favor of that?
So right here, to assist us break down crucial storylines of one other magical spring, is an amazing panel made up of 32 baseball executives, former executives, coaches and scouts. They volunteered to take our annual spring preview survey — and wow, they handed alongside numerous knowledge.
Are you prepared for the outcomes? Cool. Put down these snow shovels … and right here we go.
Can anybody else play Dodgeball?
Shohei Ohtani and firm bought much more intimidating this offseason. (Joe Camporeale / Imagn Photos)
We’ve been scripting this column for a few years now. However one thing occurred this yr that had by no means occurred earlier than.
When the votes have been counted within the Most Improved Crew competitors, the workforce that bought essentially the most votes was … that workforce that received the final World Collection!
That workforce was Tokyo’s favourite juggernaut (no less than on this aspect of the Pacific), these Los Angeles Dodgers. And for those who weren’t aware of their work, you could be tempted to assume: How is it even attainable for a workforce that was already scary-great to exit and make itself even scarier and higher?
Ha. Simply ask the individuals who voted in our survey. The Dodgers didn’t merely reel in essentially the most votes within the Most Improved Crew-Nationwide League portion of this survey. They bought named on each single stinking poll — all 32 of them.
MOST IMPROVED TEAMS (NL)
Dodgers — 32
Mets — 30
Cubs — 17
Diamondbacks — 15
Reds — 5
It isn’t yearly when our voters sound as in the event that they’re virtually in awe of one other workforce. Nevertheless it’s onerous to think about some other phrase that describes it. Listed here are simply a few samples on your awestruck pleasure:
• “The Dodgers. Wow. Perhaps the perfect workforce ever?”
• “The Dodgers simply did their factor. They did regardless of the hell they needed to do.”
What they really did, although, was seize their buying cart and clear out each aisle of the grocery store — as a result of they may.
Want any contemporary new starters? We’ll take one worldwide rock star (Roki Sasaki) and a two-time Cy Younger winner (Blake Snell), please. And we’ll convey again our native dwelling legend (Clayton Kershaw), simply in case we need to roll out a 12-man rotation some week.
Any dominating back-end bullpen monsters in the home? Cool, we’ll order two dudes with sub-2.00 ERAs (Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates) — and re-sign our virtually unhittable reliever, Blake Treinen, whereas we’re at it.
And since there’s nonetheless room within the cart, how about two outfielders (Teoscar Hernández and Michael Conforto), a model new second baseman (Hyeseong Kim) and the perfect super-utilityman on the town (Kiké Hernández). That’s 10 free brokers, for barely greater than a 3rd of a billion {dollars}. And does that appear like quite a bit? Let’s go together with sure.
“Are there 32-man rosters now?” one American League government requested, chuckling heartily. “Like, did I miss one thing? What are they going to do with all these guys?”
Um, possibly win 125 video games? One thing like that? OK, clearly, it by no means works out that manner. But when ever a workforce appeared constructed to do this, it’s this workforce. As one other AL exec put it, “the Dodgers are simply in a unique world. Dodger World. They’re actually in a totally totally different class.”
SURVEY SAID: What number of NL groups have been even making an attempt this winter? Apparently, that reply can be 5 — since 103 votes have been forged within the NL Most Improved portion of this survey, and people 5 groups listed above collected 99 of them! (Voters have been requested to rank their high three or 4.) … The one different groups that even bought a point out have been the Phillies, Braves, Nationals and Giants — and all 4 of them additionally bought votes for Least Improved! … You must really feel for the Mets. Think about spending $1.08 billion on free brokers — and never even “successful” this class? That’s a primary. However worry not. The identify, Juan Soto, will come up once more on this column.
Are you positive these Sox match?
Boston added Garrett Crochet (above) and Walker Buehler to its rotation. (Jeff Curry / Imagn Photos)
One of many enjoyable components of doing this survey yearly is that it reminds us followers and baseball individuals can generally see the world as otherwise as purple states and blue states. Are you able to inform but that we’re speaking about these at all times enigmatic Boston Purple Sox?
How baseball individuals noticed the Purple Sox — even earlier than they signed Alex Bregman: Enjoyable younger workforce. Superior prospects on the best way (in Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell). Simply made presumably the Commerce of the Yr (for rotation dominator Garrett Crochet). May need hit on the perfect one-year contract of the winter (within the pitcher who bought the final out of the World Collection for the Dodgers, Walker Buehler). A workforce that’s going to shock some individuals.
How New Englanders noticed the Purple Sox earlier than they signed Bregman: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. However what about Mookie?
Yearly, this survey provides us with numerous whaddayaknow surprises. However the Purple Sox rising as essentially the most improved workforce within the American League, in a ballot that was taken earlier than they promised to Venmo 120 million bucks to that man who used to play third base in Houston? That could be the all-time shocker. See for your self. Right here’s how the voting went.
MOST IMPROVED TEAMS (AL)
Purple Sox — 26
Yankees — 23
Rangers — 13
A’s — 9
Tigers — 8
Blue Jays — 8
In line with Spotrac, the Yankees dropped greater than $238 million within the free-agent superstore this winter, in any other case referred to as simply one other offseason within the lifetime of the Yankees. That was greater than 4 instances the quantity spent by the Sox on free brokers not named Bregman — by spreading out $52.3 million on the likes of Buehler, Aroldis Chapman and a man who won’t even pitch this yr following Tommy John surgical procedure, Patrick Sandoval.
However in contrast to 99 p.c of the oldsters strolling round Boylston Road for many of this offseason, our voters noticed sufficient great things occurring to look previous the money registers. Right here’s a sampling of how they seen the Purple Sox, even earlier than they wound up signing Bregman:
• “Are the Purple Sox again? I feel they’re.”
• “(Now) they’ll lastly look within the mirror and say they’ll compete for actual.”
• “Their younger guys are legit. They’re about to get into a extremely enjoyable stretch.”
Amazingly, solely as soon as within the final 20 years (in 2018) have the Purple Sox and Yankees each received a spherical in the identical postseason. However judging by this survey, maybe that’s about to alter. If that is the yr, the AL East might be incredible theater.
SURVEY SAID: Let’s not zip previous the Yankees too quick right here. They bought outbid for Soto and nonetheless virtually received the Most Improved voting? That’s wonderful, isn’t it? “I assumed from the start, these guys won’t even need to get Soto,” one rival exec mentioned. “Then you possibly can reallocate these funds and be actually good. I really like what they’ve performed.” You by no means know the way Max Fried, Devin Williams, Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt will adapt to New York. However what the heck. They’ll price half a billion {dollars} lower than Soto!… However aside from a handful of groups, our voters couldn’t cease speaking about how far the AL has fallen, in contrast with the NL. One AL exec put Boston, Detroit and Toronto on his Most Improved poll, then mentioned: “It’s robust to give you three!”
Is Juan Soto the Worst-Greatest Free Agent Ever?
“He’s going to be nice for 5, seven years. However after that, good luck,” one voter mentioned of Juan Soto, who signed a 15-year contract. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Imagn Photos)
A positive signal of how briskly this survey can go off the rails arrived with one of many first ballots I bought again. Right here’s the way it went:
Three greatest free-agent signings: Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes, Max Fried.
Three worst free-agent signings: Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes, Max Fried (plus a few different names sprinkled in there only for enjoyable).
OK then. Does something sum up the perils of free company higher than that? The expertise of these three guys simply impressed the Mets, Diamondbacks and Yankees to ensure them almost $1.2 billion mixed this winter. In order that looks as if proof that they’re fairly good.
However the magic phrase there was “assure,” it doesn’t matter what’s forward. So what are the percentages that these three groups will get their $1.2 billion’s price? Let’s simply plaster photographs of Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon and Kris Bryant right here — after which submit your solutions.
So how’d the voting go within the Greatest and Worst Free-Agent Signings portion of this survey? We simply gave you a sneak preview. It’s one thing, all proper.
BEST FREE-AGENT SIGNING
Roki Sasaki (Dodgers) — 16
Corbin Burnes (Diamondbacks) — 15
Pete Alonso (Mets) — 10
Juan Soto (Mets) — 9
WORST FREE-AGENT SIGNING
Juan Soto (Mets) — 10
Max Fried (Yankees) — 9
Luis Severino (A’s) — 7
Max Scherzer (Blue Jays) — 6
Matthew Boyd (Cubs) — 6
It isn’t all that uncommon for a similar participant to get votes for greatest and worst signing. However aside from the perpetually radioactive Trevor Bauer (in 2021), we couldn’t discover any participant in our data who did what Soto did — bought that many votes for greatest free agent and likewise received the voting for worst free agent.
For those who’re pondering that could be as a result of no different participant in our data simply completed engaging his new proprietor at hand him a cool $765 million, over a staggering 15-year deal, we predict you’re onto one thing. Let’s have the voters clarify it.
• “He is a superb signal for the primary half of his contract, and a horrible signal for his final 5 years.”
• “I feel the size and the quantity of {dollars} that (the Mets) spent on him are simply … insane. He’s going to be a one-dimensional participant, and he’s near a one-dimensional participant now. Nice hitter. And he’s going to be nice for 5, seven years. However after that, good luck.”
• “I simply assume that 700 large ones for a man who’s going to be a DH (quickly) — that blows me away. When Shohei bought his 700 (million), that made good sense to me, even unbiased of the worth he creates in Japan. He’s a $35-million-a-year hitter and a $35-million-a-year pitcher. So it’s simple. There’s your $70 million. However Soto goes to be, very quickly in any respect, a really, very costly DH. And that simply shocks me. I’m not downplaying any of his important offensive presents. However for me, there’s no manner I’m going to do this deal for a man who solely helps me win video games in a method.”
SURVEY SAID: However right here’s some information that may make Soto really feel higher. He was one in every of 21 gamers who acquired no less than one vote for greatest and worst signing. … Fried, who bought $218 million over eight years from the Yankees, was the next-most-divisive determine. He bought 4 best-signing votes and 9 worst-signing votes: “The (eight) years in that deal is terrifying,” one voter mentioned. … However one mid-market exec had a very totally different take: “It’s not my cash — so my three greatest free brokers are the three greatest gamers (Soto, Burnes and Bregman). And anyone who has Juan Soto as one of many worst, that’s simply freaking jealousy. We will all say the again finish of the contract goes to be a nightmare, and it’s. But when your proprietor doesn’t care, it doesn’t matter. It’s not our cash.”
The Chicago Board of Commerce
Was the Cubs’ acquisition of Kyle Tucker the offseason’s greatest commerce? (Rick Osentoski / Imagn Photos)
We will let you know definitively {that a} workforce from Chicago made crucial commerce of this offseason. However right here’s a enjoyable query: Which one?
One of many highlights of this survey is the portion that asks our voters: Who made the perfect commerce of the winter? Right here’s how that voting went:
BEST TRADES OF THE OFFSEASON
Kyle Tucker to the Cubs — 11
Garrett Crochet to the Purple Sox — 10
Cherished each ends of the Crochet commerce — 7
Devin Williams to the Yankees — 5
Jesús Luzardo to the Phillies — 4
Cody Bellinger to the Yankees — 2
Cherished each ends of the Tucker commerce — 2
So when the Astros traded Tucker to the Cubs, was that the commerce that shook baseball? Or was it the blockbuster that erupted on the South Facet of Chicago, when the White Sox reenacted the Chris Sale deal by delivery Crochet to Boston for 4 minor leaguers?
Let’s go together with sure! One voter really most popular the Astros’ finish of the Tucker commerce (Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith). However nevertheless the lengthy recreation seems in Houston, no hitter who was traded this winter goes to rattle the Richter scale this season greater than Tucker, a well-rounded 28-year-old masher coming off a yr during which he posted a 181 OPS+.
• “I assume generally you possibly can measure trades actual merely: Who bought the perfect participant? So who was the perfect participant traded? It was Kyle Tucker, palms down.”
• “That is the primary time (in years) that the Cubs really had an impression participant like this in the midst of their lineup. Up until now, that they had numerous good gamers, however not this sort of participant.”
The draw back is, Tucker is barely a one-year rental who would by no means have been traded if the Astros thought they may rely on re-signing him. Crochet, however, arrives in Boston with two extra years of management and a $3.8 million wage in 2025 — which is about what Jacob deGrom earns in Texas each 2 1/2 weeks.
However our voters additionally heaped a lot love on the White Sox finish of this commerce that it appeared, early on, as if the “Each Groups” choice would possibly find yourself with extra votes than any of those offers. So write down these names: Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth and Wikelman Gonzalez. All of them seem like White Sox of the long run.
“I feel Teel goes to be like a Jason Kendall-type catcher — a greater thrower than Kendall however that sort of offensive participant and a extremely good defensive man,” one voter mentioned. “I like Meidroth, too. I feel he’s going to be an actual good contributing participant. I really like the outfielder, Montgomery. So I assumed the White Sox actually did a pleasant job, for the place they’re going and what they have been making an attempt to eliminate.
“And I assumed the Purple Sox bought a man who can add to what they’re making an attempt to construct within the rotation. So I assumed it was a superb commerce for each groups. I assumed they each helped themselves.”
SURVEY SAID: Normally, our voters leap on the offers they thought have been one-sided. Not this yr. 4 trades bought votes for either side: Tucker, Crochet, the Royals-Reds Brady Singer-for-Jonathan India swap and the Rays-A’s commerce that despatched pitcher Jeffrey Springs to West Sacramento. Heartwarming to see all these honest, equitable, baseball-y type of offers busting out, isn’t it? …
Then there was the commerce that despatched Luzardo from Miami to Philly. Two years in the past, when the Marlins have been really a (gasp) playoff workforce, he began Sport 1 towards the Phillies. Now, he’s positioned to be probably the greatest No. 5 starters in baseball: “I feel Luzardo is about to go nuts,” one exec mentioned. “That was a incredible deal for the Phillies.” …
Most Complicated Commerce was not an official class, but it surely bought a vote anyway: “Essentially the most complicated commerce,” mentioned one NL exec, “is Toronto taking up most of Myles Straw’s contract ($14.75 million over the following two years) to accumulate worldwide bonus cash earlier than they came upon (they weren’t getting) Sasaki.”
Didn’t you was the Marlins?
Hey, keep in mind 5 sentences in the past, once we reminded you that as not too long ago as 17 months in the past, the Miami Marlins have been taking part in postseason baseball … in a yr the Yankees, Mets and Purple Sox weren’t? Baseball is wacky like that generally.
Since then, Peter Bendix has burst by their revolving door to turn out to be the membership’s president of baseball operations … and nearly everyone who wore a Marlins jersey in these playoff video games has spent the final yr or so spinning out these doorways. You possibly can look this up, however why hassle — as a result of we did:
Nobody who bought greater than two plate appearances or pitched greater than 1 1/3 innings in that Wild Card Collection stays on this Marlins roster. Wish to guess who received the vote in one in every of our favourite classes, by which we imply this one …
LEAST RECOGNIZABLE TEAM
Marlins — 21
White Sox — 19
Rockies — 15
Rays — 7
For those who’ve learn this column in earlier years, you understand how a lot we love this specific portion of the survey. And why? As a result of it’s all of the excuse we have to play America’s favourite recreation: Title Three Marlins (place gamers solely).
We needed to exclude the pitchers, if solely as a result of guys like Sandy Alcantara and Eury Pérez are working again from surgical procedure, in order that they haven’t gotten traded but. However for those who can go across the area and identify three Marlins “regulars” anyplace on the diamond, you need to be employed on the spot to work in any person’s entrance workplace — as a result of our voters positive couldn’t.
• HOW MANY MARLINS CAN YOU NAME? “None!”
• TRY TO GO AROUND THE FIELD AND NAME THREE GUYS IN THEIR LINEUP: “I can’t do it!”
• GO AHEAD. NAME THREE MARLINS: “Dontrelle (Willis) … (Jeff) Conine … (Robb) Nen!”
SURVEY SAID: You understand it’s been an action-packed offseason when 10 groups get votes on this class. Ten! … Right here’s one other signal that these are unusual instances we reside in. The Astros bought two votes. “No Tucker and Bregman on that workforce is simply bizarre,” one rival exec mentioned.
In different voting information …
Was Pete Alonso, who will make $30 million this yr, the perfect cut price? (Brad Penner / Imagn Photos)
BEST FREE AGENT BARGAIN OF THE WINTER
Pete Alonso (Mets) — 9
Roki Sasaki (Dodgers) — 5
Gleyber Torres (Tigers) — 4
Jack Flaherty (Tigers) — 4
Christian Walker (Astros) — 2
Paul Goldschmidt (Yankees) — 2
Walker Buehler (Purple Sox) — 2
SURVEY SAID: What would you could have wagered, at the beginning of the offseason, that anybody would have the ability to describe an Alonso-Mets reunion as a “cut price”? However right here we’re. Alonso will nonetheless make $30 million this yr. And it’s virtually comical to make use of the phrase “cut price” to explain a man with a $54-million, two-year assure (if he doesn’t decide out subsequent winter). However, what this vote tells us is that the Mets received the staredown. Stated one voter: “Alonso on a two-year assure … even when he opts out after one yr? Signal me up.” …
If that Alonso deal hadn’t dropped out of the sky, Sasaki would have crushed this competitors, after grabbing the Dodgers’ $6.5 million signing bonus. Primarily based on the responses on this survey, he’ll be attracting a ton of subscribers to the Roki Community. “His split-fingered pitch is likely one of the greatest pitches on the earth,” one AL exec mentioned. “And the stuff that comes with it’s monumental.” Think about Paul Skenes with an unhittable splitter! … It will need to have been a fantastic winter to go free-agent buying — as a result of 25 free brokers bought no less than one point out on this cut price bin class.
THE FOUR LEAST IMPROVED NL TEAMS
Padres — 23
Cardinals — 22
Marlins — 20
Rockies — 18
SURVEY SAID: Was this vote shut sufficient for you? The Braves (six votes), Pirates (5) and Brewers (4) have been within the subsequent tier. However all you must know is that 83 of the 103 votes went to those 4 groups. … On one hand, this voting all came about earlier than the Padres agreed to signal Nick Pivetta. Then again, he’s Nick Pivetta, not Gerrit Cole! So a number of voters appeared again on how shut final yr’s 2024 Padres have been to sending the Dodgers house within the NLDS and felt as if they needed to single out a workforce that in any other case did little to construct on that. (Their three different major-league signings: Elias Díaz, Connor Joe and Jason Heyward.) “They’ve all kinds of trophies for ‘Greatest Offseason’ and ‘Greatest Commerce Deadline,’” one exec mentioned. “However all they’ve to point out for all these years of going for it’s one NLCS (look).” …
Then there have been the Cardinals, a workforce that signed as many big-league free brokers this winter because the Lake Mary, Fla., Little League World Collection champs. (Proper, that may be none.) Rival execs discover all this so head-scratching that one puzzled voter described it with the phrase, “absurd.” … And as soon as once more this yr, we bought to listen to a query that’s turning into a practice on this survey: “What are the Rockies doing?” The proper reply (yearly): Making the Least Improved leaderboard. What else?
THE FIVE LEAST IMPROVED AL TEAMS
Mariners — 24
Twins — 21
Guardians — 12
White Sox — 12
Astros — 9
SURVEY SAID: So what do the Mariners, Twins and Guardians have in widespread? Two issues, in response to our voters. 1) That they had just about no cash to spend. And a pair of) All three nonetheless might wind up as playoff groups if the celebrities align. … Seattle’s “haul” for your entire winter: Donovan Solano, the return of Jorge Polanco, a entrance seat on the Neftalí Feliz comeback tour and including a second right-handed pitcher named Luis Castillo. In response, our voters had an inexpensive query for possession: “Why not put money into constructing round this beginning pitching?” …
We might maintain going right here, as a result of the AL was so quiet this winter that solely 4 of the 15 groups didn’t get a Least Improved vote — the Yankees, Purple Sox, Rangers and Tigers. “The loopy factor concerning the American League,” mentioned one voter, “is all of the groups, like Minnesota, that didn’t do something. I might have picked a ton of various groups (for Least Improved). That’s what was loopy to me.”
THE FIVE MOST IRREPLACEABLE FREE AGENTS
Corbin Burnes (ex-team: Orioles) — 17
Juan Soto (Yankees) — 11
Max Fried (Braves) — 4
Willy Adames (Brewers) — 4
Alex Bregman (Astros) — 3
SURVEY SAID: You don’t discover aces like Burnes simply strolling across the Interior Harbor. And the Orioles didn’t discover any aces anyplace else this winter, both. “That’s only a main, main loss for his or her workforce,” one voter mentioned. However much more essential, now what? “I simply don’t assume they’ve a approach to get that ace-level pitching,” a rival AL exec mentioned. …
We really thought Adames would get extra votes. “I feel what the sport simply doesn’t worth anymore,” mentioned one Adames fan, “is that participant who exhibits up and performs each single day and is as regular a presence, day in and time out, as there’s within the recreation.” … It felt notable that Bregman made this checklist even earlier than these voters knew for positive that he was exiting the Astros. “He’s the straw that stirs the drink there,” an AL exec mentioned. “That man is a presence.”
THE SIX MOST IMPORTANT INJURY COMEBACKS OF THE SPRING
Ronald Acuña Jr. — 13
Jacob deGrom — 10
Spencer Strider — 9
Shohei Ohtani’s arm — 5
Sandy Alcantara — 5
Mike Trout — 5
SURVEY SAID: Apparently, these injured lists and trainers’ rooms have been kinda full final yr — as a result of 36 gamers bought votes right here! … Is deGrom on this checklist yearly? It felt prefer it to at least one voter, who forged his vote for “The Annual Jacob deGrom Comeback.” … Talking of annual damage comebacks, one of many largest upsets was: Byron Buxton didn’t get a single vote. … And someway or different, no person talked about Mike Trout, till the fifteenth voter weighed in. Once we relayed that to the one that forged that vote, he replied: “Wow. How quickly they neglect.”
Roman Anthony: “That child,” one voter mentioned, “goes to be a flat-out star.” (Danielle Parhizkaran / The Boston Globe through Getty Photos)
SIX PHENOMS TO WATCH THIS SPRING
Roki Sasaki (Dodgers) — 15
Roman Anthony (Purple Sox) — 11
Jackson Jobe (Tigers) — 9
Andrew Painter (Phillies) — 8
Dylan Crews (Nationals) — 8
Kumar Rocker (Rangers) — 6
SURVEY SAID: What number of Rookies of the Yr are on this checklist? Skenes bought solely 5 votes in final yr’s survey, so that you by no means know. … This time, one factor was clear: No person who has seen Anthony has even an iota of doubt that he’s the Subsequent Huge Factor in Boston. “That child,” mentioned one voter, “goes to be a flat-out star.” …
May the Tigers have the Cy Younger winner and Rookie of the Yr in the identical rotation? No person would put that rookie trophy previous Jobe. “I’ve cherished Jobe since highschool,” one AL exec mentioned. “That’s severe stuff. It’s 100 mph and effectively formed.” … Lastly, there’s Painter, who was on this checklist two years in the past earlier than his elbow blew up — however is again and pumping up our panelists with the identical fervor. One voter’s evaluate after watching him within the Arizona Fall League: “The stuff is freaking jaw-dropping. It’s unbelievable. I don’t know the place he suits for them, however rattling.”
FIVE STORYLINES TO WATCH THIS SPRING
Sasaki and the Dodgers — greatest workforce ever? — 18
“The Soto Present” arrives in Mets camp — 11
The Yankees: No Soto for you! — 7
The Rays and A’s: Don’t have any ballpark, will journey — 7
Robotic umps get their big-league tryout — 5
SURVEY SAID: Has it dawned on you but that two major-league groups will spend this complete season taking part in in minor-league parks? The Rays have a gap of their roof. The A’s will hand around in West Sacramento, ready for a ballpark to rise from the rubble in Las Vegas. “When does this finish? Ever?” requested one voter. … One other voter requested concerning the Yankees, solely half-kidding: “Will the Yankees ever win one other World Collection?” … And one other voter requested: May the Mets be so must-see, they may change the baseball tradition of New York? …
Three different storylines our voters cherished: 1) Can Terry Francona re-enact the Bruce Bochy Story in Cincinnati? 2) Are the Tigers for actual — in a division, the AL Central, that any person has to win? And three) Is Skenes now simply going to turn out to be the perfect pitcher in baseball? We might fireplace up a ballot on this within the feedback part — or we might simply be grateful there’s an invention like spring coaching, to start out supplying all these solutions.
(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Howard Schnapp / Newsday RM, Chris Coduto / Getty Photos / Ross D. Franklin / Related Press)