MLB Baseball 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 20, 2026, 10:30 PM ET
MLB Roster Cuts & Departures
As Opening Day approaches, several organizations finalized their pitching staffs by making notable moves, with the Miami Marlins optioning left-hander Braxton Garrett to Triple-A Jacksonville while opting to keep Janson Junk as their fifth starter. In New York, the Yankees optioned outfielder Jasson Dominguez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after his spring performance, mirroring a similar decision in Washington where the Nationals sent top prospect Dylan Crews to Triple A due to persistent hitting struggles. Compounding personnel shifts, the Minnesota Twins released several veterans from minor league contracts, including high-profile reliever Liam Hendriks, southpaw Andrew Chafin, and infielder Gio Urshela, signaling a definitive pivot away from established names.
Starting Pitching Decisions & IL Stashes
The Philadelphia Phillies confirmed a significant early-season role, announcing that rookie right-hander Andrew Painter has officially made the roster as the club's No. 5 starter, a decision manager Rob Thomson revealed Friday. In contrast, the Houston Astros are starting the year shorthanded, with manager Joe Espada confirming Thursday that left-hander Bennett Sousa will begin on the injured list due to an oblique issue, forcing immediate adjustments to the rotation depth. Meanwhile, the New York Mets are exploring tactical changes, experimenting with calling pitches from the dugout during spring games, following the lead established by the Marlins in an effort to optimize in-game strategy.
Off-Field Legal & Contract Issues
Legal matters involving former players surfaced Friday, as the family of ex-Yankee outfielder Brett Gardner filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a Costa Rican resort following the tragic death of their 14-year-old son from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. More immediately pressing for the Cleveland Guardians organization, pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were moved to unpaid non-disciplinary leave as they await trial proceedings related to an alleged pitch-rigging scheme, a situation that required an agreement between the league and the players' union for the administrative move.
Market Value & Spring Takeaways
The high-end sports memorabilia market saw a massive transaction this week, as a rare 2025 Topps Chrome dual MVP gold Logoman card, featuring on-card signatures and game-worn patches from both Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani sold for $2.16 million. Away from the auction block, observers continue to analyze player trajectories, with one prominent analyst suggesting that Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford is a legitimate AL MVP sleeper pick for the 2026 season, despite the 24-year-old having fallen from initial hype. These evaluations come as experts compile final takeaways from spring training, assessing which minor adjustments made in Florida and Arizona will translate into success during the regular campaign.