MLB Baseball 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 21, 2026, 12:30 PM ET
NL East Roster Finalizations
National League East clubs finalized their starting rotation plans as Opening Day approaches, with the New York Mets adopting a piggyback approach for their five-man setup, meaning southpaw Sean Manaea is slated to begin the season coming out of the bullpen. Conversely, the Philadelphia Phillies confirmed rookie Andrew Painter as their No. 5 starter on the Opening Day roster after strong spring performance, while the Miami Marlins opted to send left-hander Braxton Garrett to Triple-A, elevating Janson Junk to claim the final rotation spot. These decisions signal the end of major roster shuffling for several contenders in the division as they prepare for the season opener.
Prospects & Roster Trims
Several organizations trimmed their major league rosters by optioning high-profile prospects to the minor leagues due to performance issues, most notably the Washington Nationals sending down top pick Dylan Crews following reported hitting struggles. In a similar move impacting the American League East, the New York Yankees reassigned outfielder Jasson Dominguez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, signaling an extended development path for the young slugger. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Twins executed significant veteran cuts, releasing Liam Hendriks, Andrew Chafin, and Gio Urshela from their minor league contracts as they solidified their 40-man roster composition.
Player Status & Litigation
Off-field matters are impacting player availability for the Cleveland Guardians, who confirmed that pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been transferred to unpaid non-disciplinary leave while they await trial concerning an alleged pitch-rigging scheme, effectively sidelining two key bullpen arms. Separately, the family of former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner has initiated a wrongful death lawsuit against a Costa Rican resort following the tragic death of his 14-year-old son, Miller, earlier this year due to carbon monoxide poisoning.