Royals might not designate main closer; Marwin Gonzalez finds a new home with Twins
❚ Catchers Robinson Chirinos and Max Stassi are expected to see equal playing time behind the plate this season.
Kansas City Royals
When Kelvin Herrera was traded to Washington in June, right-hander Wily Peralta took over the closer’s role. It wasn’t always smooth, but he went 14for-14 in save situations the rest of the way. Peralta is back, but the job might not be his. The Royals don’t plan to have a specific closer.
“We told him he would be a bullpen piece,” manager Ned Yost told reporters. “We haven’t told anyone about roles.”
Yost said he plans to use Peralta, right-handers Brad Boxberger and Drew Storen and left-handers Jake Diekman and Tim Hill in high-leverage situations, whenever they might occur.
❚ Hill, who was primarily a fastball-slider pitcher last season, is trying to incorporate a changeup this spring. He’s been happy with the early results.
Los Angeles Angels
Right-hander Jaime Barria could be the early favorite for the fifth spot in the rotation, but manager Brad Ausmus is not making any decisions yet. Right-hander Felix Pena and left-hander Dillon Peters along with a couple of prospects, right-hander Griffin Canning and lefty Jose Suarez, are also in the mix.
Right-hander Nick Tropeano is expected to start the season on the injured list with an ailing right shoulder. Right-hander JC Ramirez is on schedule for a June return following Tommy John surgery.
❚ Shohei Ohtani, coming back from Tommy John surgery in October, is on track for a May return. He will play DH but not pitch this season.
Minnesota Twins
Although he is out with a cut on his right heel suffered while playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic, third baseman Miguel Sano says he feels better than he did a year ago, when his offseason was hindered while recovering from shin surgery. Sano said he has been doing yoga and focusing on nutrition.
“New year, 2019, everything’s in the past,” Sano told reporters. “It’s just good to see something different for now and the new Miguel Sano.”
❚ The addition of Marwin Gonzalez, who appeared at every position but pitcher last season for Houston, enhanced the Twins’ versatility. Gonzalez, who is not expected to compete for a starting job, appeared in 145 games last season, getting 552 plate appearances.
New York Yankees
General manager Brian Cashman has said Luke Voit is the leading contender for the first-base job. Greg Bird will also have a chance to compete for the job that was expected to be his before a string of injuries derailed his career.
“But I come from a horse racing background,” Cashman told the New York Post, “and I know every race has a favorite and it does not mean the race is run that way.”
❚ Outfielder Aaron Hicks is getting a seven-year contract extension guaranteeing him $70 million. Hicks, 29, would have been entering his free agent walk year. Hicks slashed .248/.366/.467 with 27 home res, 79 RBI and 90 walks in 137 games in 2018. He’s likely to be the Yankees’ 2019 leadoff hitter.
Oakland Athletics
The Athletics are looking for two pitchers to fill out their starting rotation, joining Mike Fiers, Marco Estrada and Brett Anderson.
Right-handers Chris Bassitt, Paul Blackburn, (nonroster invitee) Parker Bridwell, Aaron Brooks, Daniel Mengden and Frankie Montas are in the competition.
But with the team traveling to Tokyo for two games against Seattle on March 20 and 21, manager Bob Melvin will have a shorter evaluation period this spring.
❚ Left-hander Jesus Luzardo, the team’s top pitching prospect, could also be in the mix, but Oakland will be cautious.
“If we feel like he needs a little bit more (time in the minors), then that’s what we’re going to do,” Melvin told reporters.
Seattle Mariners
Yusei Kikuchi, a Japanese star who signed a four-year, $56 million deal with the Mariners, made his debut for Seattle, throwing two innings against the Cincinnati Reds.
“He had a little nerves, no doubt about it, but fastball was really good, he was up to 95 (mph), the breaking pitches we know are outstanding. Thought he handled it really, really well,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said.
Kikuchi’s most notable atbat was his lone strikeout, when he tied up Joey Votto on a deceptive 2-2 curveball that left the veteran slugger waving unsuccessfully.
❚ Felix Hernandez, 32, gave up four runs in 11⁄3innings in his spring debut. A six-time AllStar, he allowed four hits, though only one of them solid, according to the Associated Press. He didn’t walk anyone, but he hit a batter and threw 23 strikes in 42 pitches. “The most important thing is that my arm and my body feel good,” he said. “The pitches were moving; the curveball was really good.”
Tampa Bay Rays
Known for their unorthodox approaches, the Rays will experiment with the leadoff spot.
“We’re going to mix-andmatch,” manager Kevin Cash said. “It’s early, but I don’t foresee us having a set leadoff hitter this year.”
Kevin Kiermaier, Brandon Lowe, Austin Meadows, Daniel Robertson, Joey Wendle and Yandy Diaz are among the candidates.
❚ After being pranked by new Twins manager Rocco Baldelli in their first spring training managerial matchup, Rays manager Kevin Cash quipped to reporters of his former coach: “It’s amazing how (many) immature managers there are in this game.”
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Baldelli had photos of Cash shown on the videoboard and a camera man to shoot from extra close range.
Texas Rangers
Willie Calhoun, 24, and Hunter Pence, 35, are the primary candidates for the fourth outfielder job.
The right-handed-batting Pence might have an edge in the left-hand-heavy lineup. But he struggled offensively last season and has been limited by a sore right shoulder.
The team was impressed by Calhoun’s offseason work.
❚ The Rangers signed veteran Jeff Mathis this offseason to be their primary catcher. In addition to learning a new pitching staff, Mathis is preparing for a heavier workload. He started 61 games behind the plate last season with Arizona, with a career high of 90 starts in 2008.
Toronto Blue Jays
Teoscar Hernandez and Billy McKinney are the two primary contenders for the starting left-field job. Hernandez can give more offensive power, while McKinney offers better defense. The Blue Jays could also go with a two-man platoon rather than having one start the season in the minor leagues.
Both players have options remaining.
❚ Dalton Pompey, however, is out of options and might be the odd man out of the outfield mix. A former top prospect, his career has been derailed by injuries. He was the only healthy member of the 40-man roster not called up in September.