#spring-training

#spring-training

The Toronto Blue Jays are putting in the work this offseason to get ready for the new campaign, starting with the signing of Dylan Cease to the largest free agent deal in franchise history. The addition of Cease helps fill a hole that was left in the rotation following the departures of Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer, and brings some strikeout power to a rotation that is arguably one of the top in the American League.

Giants infielder Casey Schmitt underwent surgery on his left wrist Tuesday, but he's expected to be recovered, or very close, when spring training opens in February. Doctors removed Schmitt's carpal boss the bony lump on the back of the wrist near the base of the middle or index finger the team announced Tuesday morning. The team said the procedure typically takes 8-10 weeks of recovery.

Well Walt Weiss has begun assembling his coaching staff, replacing Fredi Gonzalez and Rick Kranitz with two young and respected coaches from the Mets' 2025 staff, Jeremy Hefner and Antoan Richardson. While I preferred a younger and perhaps more tactically modern choice for manager, I thought the Weiss hire was defensible due to his familiarity leading what has been considered a healthy clubhouse. If Weiss and the front office intend to fill his staff with young, modern thinkers, that makes the arrangement significantly better.

Scoring runs at Steinbrenner Field should not be as hard as the Dodgers made it look this weekend. The spring training ballpark, which is doubling as the Tampa Bay Rays' temporary home this season after Tropicana Field was shredded in an offseason hurricane, has small Yankee Stadium-inspired dimensions that played even shorter in this weekend's sweltering Florida summer heat.

Masataka Yoshida, despite a productive two-year stint, faced uncertainty in Spring Training due to a crowded outfield and recovery from shoulder surgery, leading to limited playing opportunities.

"This is a dream come true," Teel said pregame. "I'm trying to soak it all in and I can't wait for the game tonight. ... It's something I worked my whole life for."

When a minor league prospect is succeeding and the big league player at his position is struggling, it can be easy to jump to conclusions.

You can look up my numbers in spring training,' Fernando Cruz said with a laugh before the Yankees played the Royals in The Bronx on Tuesday. 'They were ridiculous.'