“Pitchers and catchers report” looks a little different in February this year compared to previous years for obvious reasons, but even in these strange times in which we live, spring training is a special moment.
It officially starts with the first dates of the pitcher’s and catcher’s report today. So, as players start to infiltrate camps in Florida and Arizona, let’s take a look at the eight biggest stories of spring.
1. Set of adjustments
In addition to the litany of health and safety measures that players, coaches and staff had to comply with in the short 2020 season, we added a new code of conduct that includes contact tracking devices and an almost quarantine during Spring Training. Participation in the exhibition will be limited and access restricted.
On the pitch, this spring is the time for National League pitchers to pick up the baton again, with the expectation that the designated hitter’s universal rule no longer applies (unless the MLB and the MLB Players’ Association bring up that issue) back to the table before Opening Day). Florida teams will play a more regionalized schedule than in previous years, and managers can agree to shorten exhibition games if nine entries are not considered necessary.
So, like so many other things in our world, spring training is going to be very different this year.
2. Stretched and thin?
Injuries – particularly pitch injuries – are an unfortunate and unavoidable side effect of these good spring training vibrations. But teams are gearing up for more than the normal number of questionable weapons this spring, simply because of how the 2020 schedule was interrupted by the mid-spring stoppage and the mid-summer increase.
Beginners will stretch in preparation for a season of 162 games in the wake of an unprecedented 60-game season (Astros Framber Valdez’s regular 94 2/3 season and post-season entries were more in the MLB), and each team will have its own approach.
Those who win this challenge and set up camp in something like full strength will be much better positioned for the regular season.
3. Too many arms?
No team seems better equipped to handle this than the Dodgers, who have expanded their already deep weapon build with Trevor Bauer’s signature. And if health cooperates, defending World Series champions will have some tough decisions to make.
Julio Urías, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin all deserve the opportunity to start, but there is not enough space at the inn. Did LA put any of those arms in the bullpen, or are May and Gonsolin now with Triple-A after their strong rookie seasons? Is David Price traded? Does Bauer fulfill your desire to start every four days? (The latter seems quite doubtful.)
4. New treasures along the Treasury Coast
There is a lot of star power going into the Cardinals club in Jupiter, Florida, and the Mets club in Port St. Lucie. Nolan Arenado is the best player in NL, by bWAR, in the last seven seasons. Francisco Lindor is the best MLB shortstop, by bWAR, in the last six. It’s a big deal for a player of this caliber to be preparing for a new team, let alone two, and both Arenado and Lindor bring leadership along with their gloves and wood.
Except for injuries, the success of these successes will obviously not be dictated by the results of the Grapefruit League. But for the fan bases involved, the first images of Lindor and Arenado throwing balls on the floor and taking BP in their new unis will be a great emotion. And because of the regionalized schedule of the Grapefruit League, Cards and Mets will face off in six of their 24 games, so these two stars will see each other a lot in March.
5. Meet the new boss
In some cases, the new boss is the same as the old one. Alex Cora regains the reins of the Red Sox after a year in baseball exile, and the main organizational goal will be to make the pitch, which now includes Garrett Richards in the rotation and Adam Ottavino in the bullpen, back on track.
And Terry Francona returns to the tribe after losing most of 2020 – including the AL Wild Card series – due to ill health. Francona is a familiar face in Goodyear, Arizona, but his Cleveland club looks very different (and younger) with Lindor, Carlos Carrasco and Carlos Santana dead. There are many options to classify in the center, shortstop and first base.
The only two new hires legitimately hired are at AL Central. AJ Hinch takes on an increasingly interesting Tigers team with a growing rotation talent. But the biggest administrative story of spring is in Glendale, Arizona, where Tony La Russa, 76, returns to work with the White Sox almost a decade after his “retirement” and seven years after his introduction to the Hall of Fame. How will he relate to the young Sox?
6. The recovering group
Spring Training is a time for players returning from injuries to regain their pace.
This is what the Yankees expect from new additions Corey Kluber, who made only one entry last year due to a shoulder problem, and Jameson Taillon, who played zero because of his recovery from Tommy John surgery. The Nationals expects the second year of Stephen Strasburg’s mega-extension to be much better than the first, when carpal tunnel surgery limited him to five innings. Astros striker Yordan Alvarez is returning from major knee surgery, Cardinals dexter Miles Mikolas from forearm surgery, dexterous Mike Soroka from Braves returns from a terrible Achilles injury and the new Blue reliever Jays, Kirby Yates, will be back from elbow surgery.
7. Youth will be served
The lack of a Secondary League season in 2020 has dramatically changed development paths for many prospects. And, of course, length of service stipulations are known to affect timelines for promoting players. But there are many highly praised young players who can be added to the Opening Day list if they pass through camp.
Cristian Pache from Atlanta (number 12 in general, by MLB Pipeline) can land Braves’ field center job after hitting four hits in the 2020 regular season and showing off a stunning post-season defense. The first White Sox baseman, Andrew Vaughn (No. 14 overall) and his staff of force could be employed in the role of DH. Pirates’ third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes (No. 9), Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (No. 13) and Twins outfielder Alex Kirilloff (No. 26) are expected to have a place in the Opening day.
In the meantime, a bunch of pitchers from the list of the 100 best prospects are marked on duty positions or can claim one if injuries or performance require it, including Nate Pearson of the Blue Jays (10th overall), Casey Mize of the Tigers (No. 11) and Tarik Skubal (nº 24), Sixto Sanchez dos Marlins (nº 15), Luis Patiño dos Rays (nº 19), Logan Gilbert dos Mariners (nº 33), Michael Kopech of White Sox (No. 39), the Astros ‘Forrest Whitley (No. 41), Phillies’ Spencer Howard (No. 42), Indians ‘Triston McKenzie (No. 51) and Yankees’ Clarke Schmidt (No. 88).
8. The free agency is not over yet!
Let’s not forget that, as of this writing, three members of our list of the top 25 free agents – Jackie Bradley Jr., Jake Odorizzi and Taijuan Walker – are still available. The same goes for Trevor Rosenthal, Rick Porcello, other pitchers and dozens of players or usable pieces (Yasiel Puig, anyone?).
Therefore, clubs facing injuries or unforeseen circumstances have options available. And, of course, the trade market could filter again, especially at the end of the camp. This may not necessarily mean that a Kris Bryant blockbuster is near, but it does mean that the transfer of the transaction is still very open to business.
And, fortunately, so are the spring training camps.