American League notes
Baltimore Orioles
After producing 35 home runs and 97 RBI for the Orioles in 2019, Trey Mancini seemed primed for even bigger things. But after playing just five exhibition games last year, he needed to end his season to have surgery for colon cancer.
When Mancini came up in his first spring game, he drew a nice round of applause in Sarasota, Florida. The cheers kept growing.
“I almost teared up a little bit,” he said. “I’ve mostly tried to in a lot of ways just move on and not think too much about last year. But today I ran through all the tough days that we had and really tried to appreciate and cherish today.”
What we learned: Ashton Goudeau, the 6-foot-6 righthander who was claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh in December, is being considered as a starter. Goudeau, 28, has appeared in four major league games but threw 13 scoreless innings with 18 strikeouts in the 2019 Arizona Fall League.
Boston Red Sox
Although the team finished in last place in 2020, RHP Matt
Barnes earned nine saves in Boston’s 24 wins, making him the best candidate for the job again this season.
Manager Alex Cora told reporters that Japanese newcomer Hirokazu Swamaura will not be in consideration for the closer’s job early in the season, leaving RHP Adam Ottavino, acquired from the Yankees in January, as Barnes’ primary competition for the spot.
“We’ve got options now,” Cora said. “We got more options than what we had in ’19” (his last season as Boston manager, before a one-year suspension).
What we learned: Despite his lights-out 2020, when he went 3-0 with a 0.53 ERA in three starts, making his major league debut, RHP Tanner
Houck is expected to start the season at Triple-A Worcester, provided all the expected members of the rotation remain healthy this spring.
Chicago White Sox
After CF Luis Robert won a Gold Glove and finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting last season, some are comparing him to the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout. New manager
Tony La Russa shook off some early hesitancy and is now among those making the Trout comps.
“I know Luis can run, can hit it a mile and can play great defense,” La Russa told reporters. “Those are Mike Trout-type talents. … I like (Hall of Famer Frank Thomas’) comment: ‘He’s got six tools.’ I haven’t heard that about anybody.”
What we learned: Andrew Vaughn, the third overall pick in 2019, is hoping to win a spot on the roster, potentially as the designated hitter, making the unlikely leap from high Class in 2019 to the majors. Vaughn has also worked at first and third bases and in the outfield.
Cleveland
Jake Bauers will focus solely on playing first base. For now, anyway. After being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays before the 2019 season, Bauers struggled with the transition from being primarily a first baseman to primarily an outfielder and spent last season at the team’s alternate training site.
“In the past we’ve moved him from left to first,” manager Terry Francona told reporters. “Right now, we just told him to play first. If we need to communicate something to him as camp goes on, we will.”
What we learned: Cleveland plans to stretch out RHP
Adam Plutko, who is out of options, as a starter early in camp. Plutko appeared in 10 games last season, with four starts, going 2-2 (4.88 ERA) with one save.
Detroit Tigers
Derek Holland’s fastball read 95 mph on the scoreboard at Joker Marchant Stadium.
“That baby was cooking today,” Holland said. “It was feeling good.”
His fastball? Or the radar gun?
The 34-year-old signed a minor league deal with a nonroster invitation to camp. He was a starter for most of his 12-year MLB career, but the Tigers think he best fits as a long reliever. They’re going to stretch him out (continuously increasing his pitch count) before making a final decision on his role.
What we learned: 3B Spencer Torkelson, the No. 1 overall pick in 2020, was sidelined after cutting his right index finger while trying to open a can at his spring training rental home. He returned and got reps at first base for a couple of days – not necessarily signaling a position change, just allowing him to work in the field without having to make throws.
Houston Astros
Manager Dusty Baker said the search for a leadoff hitter might take all spring and into the regular season, after George Springer’s free agency departure for Toronto.
“It’s going to be kind of an experiment in spring training,” Baker told reporters.
Candidates include Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Myles Straw, who hit leadoff in five games in 2020, more than any other Astros batter other than Springer. Straw has the speed but so far has not shown the on-base ability.
What we learned: 1B Yuli Gurriel admits he wasn’t in the best shape last season. It showed at the plate (.232 average, 66 points below his 2019 mark; .384 slugging percentage, 157 points lower). Re-signing with Houston (one year, $6.5 million), Gurriel, 36, dropped 15 pounds in the offseason and worked on the mental side of things.
Kansas City Royals
The bullpen core – including RHPs Scott Barlow, Gregg Holland, Josh Staumont, Tyler Zuber, Jake Newberry,
Jesse Hahn and Kyle Zimmer
– returns for 2021, but how the roles set up remains to be seen. Manager Mike Matheny expects to go with the best arms in high-leverage situations, whether they are in the ninth inning or earlier in the game.
“It gives us the flexibility to do what we believe is right and not have to necessarily spend too much time thinking about having to understand all the emotion that goes along with people who were fighting the system of wanting these roles and titles,” he told reporters.
What we learned: Super
utility man Whit Merrifield is expected to be Kansas City’s full-time right fielder this season. Merrifield started all 60 games last season, including 28 in right field. He also played center, second base, left field and first base.
Los Angeles Angels
Albert Pujols’ wife, Deidre, caused a bit of a kerfuffle last week when she announced on social media that it would be the last season of his career. Pujols quickly got dozens of phone calls and text messages about the unexpected announcement, before Deidre edited the post, saying it was the final season of his 10-year, $240 million deal.
Pujols, 41, told reporters over the weekend that any announcement about his retirement will not come until after this season, his 21st in the majors. Pujols will be sharing time at first base with Jared Walsh, who had a breakout rookie season in 2020.
What we learned: Manager Joe Maddon told reporters makeup and clubhouse chemistry were large factors in acquiring players such as RHP Alex Cobb, OFs Dexter Fowler and Jon Jay and C Kurt Suzuki.
Minnesota Twins
With the arrival of 3B Josh Donaldson last season, Miguel Sano was pushed across the diamond to first base. To help that process, Sano spent part of the winter studying video of how Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Albert Pujols played first. He also worked with personal coach Fernando Tatis Sr., who played some first base during his 11-season major league career.
“He was the first person who told me actually how to play first base,” Sano told reporters.
What we learned: Royce Lewis, the No. 1 overall pick in 2017, had been expected to play this spring but will be out for the season after having knee surgery. Manager Rocco Baldelli expects to give “plenty of atbats” to prospects, including OFs Alex Kirilloff, Brent Rooker and Gilberto Celestino.
New York Yankees
GM Brian Cashman told YES Network in December that SS Gleyber Torres “wasn’t in the best shape” last season. Torres told reporters recently he has not talked to Cashman about those comments and doesn’t feel the need to.
Torres said he rested for about a week or two after the season ended, before beginning a workout regimen, including working on defense with bench coach Carlos Mendoza.
“He came in really good shape,” Mendoza told MLB .com.
What we learned: Clint Frazier has said he wants to take away Brett Gardner’s starting left fielder job. Now they have forged a strong bond, which Frazier described to reporters as “a big brother-little brother relationship” that has helped him develop.
Oakland Athletics
Making his major league debut late in 2019, LHP A.J. Puk went 2-0 (3.18) in 10 appearances but was sidelined by shoulder discomfort last season. The 2016 sixth overall pick spent this offseason living and working out with teammate LHP Jesus Luzardo in South Florida, focusing on a routine that would allow him to control his 6-foot-7 frame.
His newfound confidence has been evident, with manager Bob Melvin telling reporters Puk looks “free and easy.” Melvin said Puk will be stretched out as a starter this spring. But with five starters returning from last year, the lefty’s best role could be in the bullpen.
What we learned: Melvin is considering several candidates as his leadoff hitter, including newcomer Elvis Andrus along with Mark Canha, Ramon Laureano and Tony Kemp. Since the start of the 2019 season, Canha’s .393 on-base percentage is eighth in the majors.
Seattle Mariners
Scott Servais wasted little time in giving LHP Marco Gonzales his third straight seasonopening start. Gonzales (7-2, 3.10 ERA in 11 2020 starts), who lives in Seattle year round, has emerged as one of the league’s best pitchers. He is also emerging as a team leader.
“Setting expectations for your teammates, and holding them accountable, holding myself accountable, first off,” Gonzales told reporters.
What we learned: OF Julio Rodriguez, one of the top prospects in baseball, spent six weeks in Seattle’s fall development program before playing 18 games in the Dominican league this winter. This spring he’s been spending time in camp with Ichiro Suzuki. Rodriguez was born a month after the Mariners first signed Suzuki in November 2000.
Tampa Bay Rays
Switch-hitting shortstop Wander Franco is likely to make his major league debut this season. While Franco, the Rays top position prospect, played in the Dominican League this winter, there is much uncertainty throughout baseball regarding prospects who essentially missed a season last year.
Franco, who turned 20 on March 1, had biceps inflammation and shoulder soreness while playing winter ball.
What we learned: After making his first All-Star team in 2019, OF Austin Meadows had a disappointing 2020, which included a bout of COVID-19 and a strained left side. He reported to camp with about 10-15 fewer pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame.
Texas Rangers
Third base is up for grabs this spring, with Rougned Odor, Charlie Culberson and Brock Holt among the candidates. In seven major league seasons, all with Texas, Odor has only played second base, but Nick Solak is expected to start there. Holt, signed to a minor league contract, has played every position except catcher, including 145 games at third. Culberson, also in on a minor league deal, has primarily been a bench player in his eight major league seasons but has played 58 games at third.
Josh Jung, the eighth overall pick in 2019, is expected to be Texas’ third baseman of the future. He likely is not too far away.
What we learned: Entering his fourth major league season, SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa told reporters he spent the last few seasons “faking his confidence.”
But he has established himself, and manager Chris Woodward will be looking to KinerFalefa
as one of his team’s leaders, especially in the infield.
Toronto Blue Jays
When Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reported to summer camp in July, he was overweight and out of shape. He lost his third base job and was limited to 34 games at first base. Since then, he has dropped 42 pounds, from his previously listed weight of 250.
“For the last couple years, (my teammates) knew I was coming here out of shape. I didn’t prepare myself very well,” he told reporters.
Guerrero, whose defense has long been suspect, said he feels “quicker in all aspects of my game right now.”
What we learned: Toronto unveiled its new player development complex in Dunedin, Florida. It is an indoor-outdoor facility that cost nearly $100 million and is about three times larger than its previous facility.