16-year MLB veteran learns mandatory date
Baltimore Orioles
After two “grinding years,” first baseman-DH Chris Davis considered retiring this offseason, he told BaltimoreBaseball.com. Instead he added 25 pounds, believing that will help him offensively, and is deferring the retirement conversation until after this season. (He is signed through 2022.)
For now, he’s not concerned about competing for a job. “For me now, especially with the overall look of our club, I want to do anything I can to help guys succeed,” he said.
❚ Jeff Conine, who played for Baltimore from 1999 to 2003, was in camp last week as an instructor. He has talked with general manager Mike Elias about a possible role with the team.
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox placed second baseman Dustin Pedroia on the 60-day injured list Feb. 23, further putting in doubt whether the 2008 AL MVP will play again.
Boston made the move while claiming right-hander Phillips
Valdez off waivers from the Seattle Mariners.
The 36-year-old Pedroia has played just nine games over the last two seasons. The four-time All-Star has spent the time trying to recover from an injury he suffered when Manny Machado slid spikes-high into his left knee in May 2017.
❚ Boston added veteran catcher Jonathan Lucroy on a minor league contract last week to compete with Kevin Plawecki, Jett Bandy, Juan Centeno, Roldani Baldwin and Connor Wong to back up Christian Vazquez. Lucroy played for interim manager Ron Roenicke (2011-15) while Roenicke managed Milwaukee.
Chicago White Sox
Nick Madrigal, one of baseball’s top prospects, is Chicago’s second baseman of the future. Whether that begins on opening day or later is uncertain.
“He can very well come to spring training this year, show he’s made certain adjustments and find himself on the opening-day roster,” general manager Rick Hahn told reporters. Madrigal will compete with
Danny Mendick and Leury Garcia.
❚ After using 143 lineups in 2019, White Sox manager Rick Renteria told reporters he’s expecting more lineup “consistency” this season.
Cleveland Indians
With Mike Clevinger (when he’s recovered from a knee injury), Carlos Carrasco and
Shane Bieber set for the top three spots in the rotation, manager Terry Francona’s option for the two remaining spots include Logan Allen, Aaron Civale, Scott Moss, Zach Plesac, Adam Plutko and Jefry Rodriguez for the remaining two spots.
“It’s not just who is doing what in February,” Francona told reporters. “It’s options, no options, bullpen. We’ll have a lot of things to think about.”
❚ Because of Bieber’s 2019 workload, Francona had considered bringing him along slowly this spring but ultimately decided there’s not enough time to do that.
Detroit Tigers
Free agent addition Austin Romine will likely get the majority of the time behind the plate this season, leaving Grayson Greiner, Jake Rogers and Eric Haase to compete for the
backup job.
“We got some younger catch
ers who are trying to lock their way into the big leagues. Anytime you have that, (Romine) can calm them down,” manager Ron Gardenhire told reporters.
❚ Gardenhire said he would like to keep a third catcher who could also play infield and outfield as the 26th man. But without one in camp who is bigleague ready, he will likely go with a utility infielder-outfielder.
Houston Astros
Right-hander Zack Greinke reported Feb. 22 rather than Feb. 13 with the rest of Houston’s pitchers and catchers.
“This is the mandatory reporting date,” Greinke told reporters. “I just found out we don’t have to come these other days. If I would have known that 15 years ago, I wouldn’t have been coming for a while now.”
❚ It is unknown if right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (Tommy John surgery, November 2018) will be limited. Manager Dusty Baker has said McCullers will be watched closely.
Kansas City Royals
New manager Mike Matheny invoked the name of Albert Pujols in describing the offensive approach of Whit Merrifield, the major league hits leader the past two seasons.
“I don’t bring up other guys very often, but (Pujols) was the best for 10 seasons,” Matheny told reporters. “But I see that in Whit, that professionalism, that never-give-in style of at-bat.”
❚ The Royals will monitor the workload of shortstop Adalberto Mondesi, who is returning from offseason shoulder surgery, throughout the season, with an emphasis on being aggressive but limiting unnecessary diving.
Los Angeles Angels
With Andrew Heaney, Griffin Canning, Dylan Bundy and
Julio Teheran in the first four spots in the rotation, new manager Joe Maddon’s options for the fifth spot include Matt Andriese, Jaime Barria, Felix Pena, Dillon Peters, Patrick Sandoval and Jose Suarez, with Shohei Ohtani a later option.
“Hopefully by the middle of May (Ohtani is) going to be pitching for us,” Maddon told reporters.
❚ The Angels are scheduled to have several alumni in camp including Jim Abbott, Orlando Cabrera, Vladimir Guerrero, Wally Joyner, Maicer Izturis, Bobby Grich, J.T. Snow, Clyde Wright, Chuck Finley, Mark Langston and Frank Tanana.
Minnesota Twins
Max Kepler is the incumbent leadoff hitter, but others who could serve that role include rookie Luis Arraez, Mitch Garver and Jorge Polanco.
Romero
New York Yankees
Rocco
Fernando
Kyle Higashioka, who is out of options, is the leading candidate to back up catcher Gary Sanchez. But Chris Iannetta, Erik Kratz and Josh Thole, who joined the Yankees on minor league deals, are also in the running.
“I’m still just keeping the mindset of fighting for a job,” Higashioka told Newsday.com.
❚ Manager Aaron Boone said he will be conservative with Aaron Judge (right shoulder) and does not have a timetable for him to get into games yet.
Oakland Athletics
Left-hander Sean Manaea got advice early in camp from Hall of Famer Randy Johnson on throwing a slider.
“Randy must have had an effect on him,” manager Bob Melvin told reporters after Manaea faced hitters last week for the first time.
❚ Oakland has just three players under contract beyond this season: DH Khris Davis, left-hander Jake Diekman (through 2021, with a club option for Diekman for 2022) and outfielder Stephen Piscotty (through 2022, club option for 2023).
Seattle Mariners
With few veterans in camp, young players are taking prominent roles this spring, including outfielders Jarred Kelenic, Julio Rodriguez, Kyle Lewis and Jake Fraley and first baseman Evan White, giving camp a different vibe.
“The biggest difference is the willingness of our young players to talk and to ask questions in big group meetings,” Mariners manager Scott Servais told reporters.
❚ Right-hander Sam Carlson, one of Seattle’s top pitching prospects, threw live batting practice Feb. 21, his first time facing batters since the 2017 rookie-level Arizona League season following Tommy John surgery and several setbacks.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays have not committed to an orthodox five-man rotation but have the arms to do so with Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Charlie Morton, Yonny Chirinos and Ryan Yarbrough, with Brendan McKay, Trevor Richards, Anthony Banda and
Jalen Beeks providing depth.
“This group, top to bottom – 20, say – through and through is the greatest group we’ve had since we’ve been here,” owner Stuart Sternberg told USA TODAY of his team’s makeup.
❚ Since becoming the Rays in 2008, they have seven 90-win seasons, a number matched by just three other teams (Dodgers, 8; Red Sox, 7; Yankees, 7).
Texas Rangers
Texas has a whopping 25 pitchers competing for bullpen spots. While some are long shots, Jose Leclerc is the likely closer with Jesse Chavez, Joely Rodriguez, Rafael Montero and Nick Goody as good bets for the bullpen. Durability will be key for manager Chris Woodward.
DARRON CUMMINGS/AP consecutive days, told reporters.
❚ Texas is confident righthander Kyle Gibson (ulcerative colitis) will be ready to start the season after losing 25 pounds last season.
Toronto Blue Jays
Woodward
Manager Charlie Montoyo has several candidates for the fifth spot in the rotation, including Ryan Borucki, Anthony Kay, Trent Thornton, Jacob Waguespack, Shun Yamaguchi and T.J. Zeuch.
“The competition for the fifth spot is going to be pretty good, and that’s only going to make us better,” Montoyo told reporters.
❚ Teoscar Hernandez is getting time in right field this spring as he looks to expand his versatility.