Last updated: March 21, 2026, 6:30 PM ET
MLB Roster Moves & Cuts
As clubs finalize Opening Day rosters, several veterans found their contracts terminated following underwhelming spring performances. The Texas Rangers granted release to veteran reliever Ryan Brasier, while the Washington Nationals also let go of right-hander Drew Smith from his minor league agreement. Concurrently, outfielder Austin Slater, failing to secure a spot, opted to exercise his release clause in the minor league deal he held with the Detroit Tigers, signaling a search for immediate major league opportunities elsewhere.
Prospect Management & Roster Finalization
In roster structuring decisions, the New York Yankees confirmed that veteran Randal Grichuk, secured a spot on their Opening Day roster, providing depth in the outfield. Meanwhile, organizations managing their top prospects made downward adjustments, as the Pittsburgh Pirates reassigned 19-year-old phenom Konnor Griffin to the minor leagues on Saturday, prioritizing further development time away from the majors.
Pitching Roles Solidified
The New York Mets announced plans for their initial rotation structure, indicating that manager Carlos Mendoza intends to utilize a five-man setup where starter Sean Manaea will begin the season working out of the bullpen in a specialized piggyback role to manage early innings workload.