Last updated: March 20, 2026, 6:30 PM ET
Opening Day Roster Moves & Player Status
Major League Baseball teams finalized several key pitching decisions ahead of the season, with the Phillies officially naming rookie right-hander Andrew Painter as the No. 5 starter on the opening-day roster, manager Rob Thomson confirmed Friday. Across the league, the Marlins opted instead to option lefty Braxton Garrett to Triple-A Jacksonville, leaving Janson Junk to claim the final rotation spot as the fifth starter. Elsewhere in personnel news, the Minnesota Twins released veteran righty Liam Hendriks, left-hander Andrew Chafin, and infielder Gio Urshela from their minor league contracts following cuts this week. Furthermore, Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were transferred to unpaid leave as they await trial proceedings related to an alleged pitch-rigging scheme, an agreement reached between the club and the league on Friday.
Off-Field Matters & Collectibles Market
In legal and market developments, the family of former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner initiated a wrongful death suit against a Costa Rican resort where their 14-year-old son, Miller, tragically died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Separately, the high-end collectibles market saw significant action as a rare 2025 Topps Chrome dual MVP gold Logoman card featuring game-worn patches from reigning award winners Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani commanded a high price, ultimately selling for $2.16 million via auction.