MLB Baseball 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 21, 2026, 4:30 PM ET
MLB Roster Cuts & Finalizations
As Opening Day rosters solidify across the league, several veteran arms and high-profile prospects received their assignments, ,, ,(https://headlinesbriefing.com/sports/espn-mlb/marlins-choose-junk-over-garrett-as-no-5-starter-c3c2bc22). The Texas Rangers granted their release to veteran reliever Ryan Brasier, who previously played for the Red Sox and Cubs, while the Nationals officially cut right-handed pitcher Drew Smith from his minor league agreement. In Oakland, outfielder Austin Slater exercised a release clause in his minor league deal with the Tigers after failing to secure a spot on the 40-man roster. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees secured roster flexibility by optioning outfielder Jasson Dominguez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, though they confirmed that 34-year-old veteran Randal Grichuk secured the final spot on their Opening Day roster.
The National League East features significant rotation and prospect decisions as teams finalized their initial pitching staffs. The New York Mets will utilize a five-man rotation initially, with left-hander Sean Manaea slated to pitch in a piggyback role out of the bullpen, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. In Washington, top prospect Dylan Crews faced an immediate setback, being optioned to Triple-A due to persistent hitting struggles. Conversely, the Philadelphia Phillies confirmed that rookie right-hander Andrew Painter made the club as the fifth starter, a significant early career achievement. Miami opted to send lefty Braxton Garrett down to Triple-A Jacksonville, positioning right-hander Janson Junk as their No. 5 starter heading into the season opener.
Beyond roster moves, off-field developments continue to surface for former players. The family of ex-Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a Costa Rican resort following the tragic passing of their 14-year-old son, Miller, due to carbon monoxide poisoning.