MLB Baseball 24-Hour Briefing

Last updated: March 21, 2026, 7:30 PM ET

MLB Roster Cuts & Minor League Assignments

As teams finalized Opening Day rosters, several organizations made significant cuts concerning pitching depth and high-end prospects alike. The Baltimore Orioles optioned Dean Kremer back to the minors despite the right-hander leading the team last season in wins, innings pitched, and strikeouts, signaling a clear strategy to manage service time or rotation sequencing early in the year. Similarly, the Pittsburgh Pirates reassigned 19-year-old phenom Konnor Griffin to minor league camp, delaying the arrival of one of the game's most touted prospects. On the veteran side, the Texas Rangers granted reliever Ryan Brasier his release, while the Washington Nationals released right-hander Drew Smith from his minor league accord, cleaning out bullpen depth ahead of the first week of play.

Veteran Fill-Ins & Rotation Adjustments

While several players were sent down, other veterans secured spots on major league rosters, particularly in New York, where the Yankees added Randal Grichuk to their Opening Day roster for immediate outfield support. This move came shortly after the Yankees optioned Jasson Dominguez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, suggesting a preference for experienced depth over developmental time for the start of the season. Meanwhile, the New York Mets established a flexible five-man rotation, with manager Carlos Mendoza confirming that Sean Manaea will begin the year utilizing a piggyback role out of the bullpen rather than a traditional starter slot. Elsewhere, outfielder Austin Slater exercised his release clause with the Detroit Tigers after failing to crack their big league contingent, leaving him available for immediate placement elsewhere.