MLB Baseball 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: March 20, 2026, 9:30 PM ET
MLB Roster Moves & Spring Decisions
As the final days of spring training wind down, several major-league clubs finalized rotation plans and optioned high-profile prospects, signaling their Opening Day intentions. The New York Yankees optioned outfielder Jasson Dominguez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, while the Washington Nationals sent top prospect Dylan Crews to their minor league camp due to persistent hitting struggles. In Philadelphia, manager Rob Thomson confirmed that rookie right-hander Andrew Painter has secured the No. 5 starter role for the Phillies' rotation. Meanwhile, the Miami Marlins opted to send lefty Braxton Garrett to Triple-A Jacksonville, choosing to keep right-hander Janson Junk as their fifth starter.
Veteran Releases & Legal Matters
The Minnesota Twins released three veterans from minor league contracts on Friday, cutting ties with righty Liam Hendriks, lefty Andrew Chafin, and infielder Gio Urshela as they trim their roster depth. Separately, legal proceedings are impacting the Cleveland Guardians, as pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were moved to unpaid non-disciplinary leave Friday while awaiting trial concerning an alleged pitch-rigging scheme, following an agreement between the parties. Adding to off-field developments, the family of former Yankee Brett Gardner filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a Costa Rican resort after their 14-year-old son, Miller, died from carbon monoxide poisoning there.
Collecting & Future Outlooks
In a significant transaction within the sports memorabilia market, a rare 2025 Topps Chrome dual MVP gold Logoman card featuring game-worn patches from both Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani sold for $2.16 million. This sale underscores the high valuation placed on current superstars, even as one young player, Wyatt Langford, is being positioned as an American League MVP sleeper candidate for the 2026 season, despite having recently shifted from overhyped prospect to overlooked talent. These personnel and market shifts come as managers across the league absorb lessons from the preceding weeks, with New York Mets experimenting with calling pitches directly from the dugout during spring games, mirroring the Marlins' approach.
Injury Updates & Spring Takeaways
Manager Joe Espada confirmed that the Houston Astros will begin the season without LHP Bennett Sousa, placing him on the injured list due to an oblique issue sustained late in camp. These final roster configurations come after a period where analysts gleaned seven key takeaways from MLB spring training while the World Baseball Classic was underway, focusing on developments observed in both Arizona and Florida complexes.