MLB Baseball 8 Hours

Last updated: March 23, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

Opening Day Roster Moves & Injury Setbacks

Major League Baseball clubs finalized several key roster decisions, mixing veteran experience with highly touted prospects just ahead of the season opener. The Texas Rangers officially retained 39-year-old Andrew McCutchen, who impressed by hitting .444 with three doubles during spring training, securing his spot. Contrastingly, several contenders were forced to begin the year shorthanded; the Chicago Cubs will place outfielder Seiya Suzuki on the Injured List following a strained knee ligament sustained during the World Baseball Classic, and the Tampa Bay Rays are sidelining veteran infielder Gavin Lux due to a right shoulder impingement, delaying his Rays debut.

The St. Louis Cardinals promoted their top drafting selection, JJ Wetherholt, the seventh overall pick from the 2024 amateur draft, directly onto the Opening Day roster, signaling high expectations for the West Virginia alum. Similarly, the New York Mets confirmed that prospect Carson Benge will start in right field after his scorching .366 spring batting average convinced manager Carlos Mendoza. In pitching news, the Milwaukee Brewers confirmed that two-time All-Star Brandon Woodruff will avoid an IL stint and is slated to start the team's fifth game on March 31 as he completes his recovery from a lat strain.

In transactional activity, the Detroit Tigers fortified their relief corps by signing right-hander Connor Seabold to a one-year split contract just as they moved Beau Briske onto the 60-day Injured List, a necessary procedural move to clear an active roster spot for the incoming arm. These final adjustments underscore the razor-thin margins clubs employ when balancing immediate needs against long-term player health entering the 162-game schedule.