MLB Baseball 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 22, 2026, 12:30 AM ET
Opening Day Roster Adjustments & Injuries
Teams across Major League Baseball finalized their 40-man rosters ahead of Thursday's openers, revealing several key absences and veteran cuts. The Cubs confirmed that outfielder Seiya Suzuki will miss the season debut against Washington after sustaining a minor ligament strain in his right knee during World Baseball Classic competition. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees secured a veteran presence by officially placing 34-year-old Randal Grichuk on their Opening Day roster, contrasting with significant movements in the minor leagues designed to trim final camp numbers.
Prospect & Veteran Reassignments
Several organizations made final decisions regarding high-value prospects and established veterans seeking roster spots. The Pittsburgh Pirates reassigned 19-year-old top prospect Konnor Griffin to minor league camp following Saturday's evaluations, signaling a longer development track for the highly touted youth. Concurrently, the Baltimore Orioles demoted Dean Kremer to Triple-A, despite the right-hander having previously led the team in wins, innings pitched, and strikeouts last season.
Pitching Staff Configuration & Veteran Releases
Pitching departments saw considerable shuffle as clubs established early-season rotations and cleared veteran depth. The New York Mets announced that Sean Manaea will begin the season in a specialized bullpen role, operating in a piggyback capacity within a five-man rotation structure managed by Carlos Mendoza. Separately, several organizations granted releases to established arms; the Washington Nationals cut right-handed reliever Drew Smith from his minor league agreement, and the Texas Rangers released veteran reliever Ryan Brasier, formerly of the Red Sox and Cubs organizations. Furthermore, outfielder Austin Slater exercised a release clause in his minor league contract with the Tigers after failing to secure a spot on the Opening Day roster.