MLB Baseball 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 21, 2026, 10:30 AM ET
MLB Roster Moves & Prospect Status
The final days of Spring Training saw several organizations make significant cuts, particularly concerning top prospects. The New York Yankees optioned outfielder Jasson Dominguez back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after his limited major league exposure, while the Washington Nationals followed suit, sending down top prospect Dylan Crews to Triple-A due to persistent hitting difficulties struggling at the plate. In contrast, the Philadelphia Phillies officially confirmed that rookie right-hander Andrew Painter secured the No. 5 starter role for the Opening Day rotation, a decision announced by manager Rob Thomson on Friday. Further south, the Miami Marlins optioned lefty Braxton Garrett to Triple-A Jacksonville, opting instead to keep right-hander Janson Junk as the fifth starter, leaving Garrett behind for further development.
Veteran Contracts & Legal Matters
The Minnesota Twins utilized Friday to finalize their 40-man roster, releasing several established veterans, including right-hander Liam Hendriks, left-hander Andrew Chafin, and infielder Gio Urshela from their minor league contracts. Meanwhile, high-profile legal issues continue to affect the Cleveland Guardians, as pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were officially transferred to unpaid non-disciplinary leave pending resolution of their legal proceedings related to an alleged pitch-rigging scheme. Separately, the family of former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner initiated a wrongful death lawsuit against a Costa Rican resort, alleging negligence after their 14-year-old son, Miller, died from carbon monoxide poisoning on the property.
Collectibles Market
In the sports memorabilia sector, a highly sought-after 2025 Topps Chrome dual MVP gold Logoman card featuring game-worn patches from both Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani fetched a high price. The unique card, which is numbered 1-of-1 and features on-card signatures from both reigning Most Valuable Players, ultimately sold for $2.16 million at auction, reflecting the continued premium placed on collectibles uniting baseball's biggest current stars commanding a premium.