“Pitchers and catchers report” feels a bit different in February compared to previous years for obvious reasons, but even in these strange times we live in, Spring Training is a special time.
It officially begins with the first dates of the pitcher and catcher today. So as players begin to infiltrate camps in Florida and Arizona, let’s take a look at spring’s eight greatest storylines.
1. Game of adjustments
To the litany of health and safety measures that players, coaches and staff had to adhere to in the shortened 2020 season, we are adding a new code of conduct that includes contact tracking devices and a quasi-quarantine throughout Spring Training. Fair attendance is limited, access limited.
On the field this spring is a time for National League pitchers to pick up another bat in the expectation that the universal designated batter rule will no longer apply (unless MLB and the MLB Players’ Association return that issue to the table prior to Opening Day). Florida teams will play a more regionalized schedule than in years past, and managers can agree to shorten exhibition games if nine innings are deemed unnecessary.
So, like so many others in our world, Spring Training will look very different this year.
2. Thinly stretched?
Injuries – pitch injuries in particular – are an unfortunate, inevitable side effect of those good Spring Training vibes. But teams are bracing for more than the usual number of dubious arms this spring, simply because of the way the 2020 schedule was turned upside down by the mid-spring shutdown and summer run-up.
Starters are stretching out in preparation for a 162-game season after an unprecedented 60-game season (Astros lefty Framber Valdez’s 94 2/3 regular season and postseason innings were the most in MLB), and each team will have its own approach .
Those who successfully pass this challenge and break camp at something seemingly full of strength will be much better positioned for the regular season.
3. Too many poor?
No team seems better equipped to handle the above than the Dodgers, who expanded their already deep collection of weapons with the signing of Trevor Bauer. And if health cooperates, the defending World Series champions will have to make some tough decisions.
Julio Urías, Dustin May, and Tony Gonsolin all deserve the chance to get started, but there’s only so much room in the inn. Did LA put one of those arms in the bullpen, or are May and Gonsolin now Triple-A tied after their strong rookie seasons? Will David Price be shared? Does Bauer get his wish to start every fourth day? (The latter seems rather questionable.)
4. New treasures along the Treasure Coast
There is a lot of star power strolling into the Cardinals ‘clubhouse in Jupiter, Fla., And the Mets’ clubhouse in Port St. Lucie. Nolan Arenado has been the top player in NL, through bWAR, in the past seven seasons. Francisco Lindor is MLB’s best shortstop, by bWAR, over the last six. It’s a big deal for even one player of this caliber to adapt a new squad, let alone two, and both Arenado and Lindor bring leadership together with their gloves and wood.
Barring injuries, the success of those blockbusters will obviously not be dictated by the results of the Grapefruit League. But for the fanbases involved, those first images of Lindor and Arenado fielding ground balls and taking BP in their new union will be a big sensation. And due to the regionalized Grapefruit League schedule, the Cards and Mets will face each other in six of their 24 games, so these two stars will see each other a lot in March.
Meet the new boss
In a few cases, the new boss is the same as the old boss. Alex Cora regains the reins of the Red Sox after a year in exile in baseball, and the organization’s primary goal will be to get the pitching, which now includes Garrett Richards in the rotation and Adam Ottavino in the bullpen, back on track. get track.
And Terry Francona is returning to the Tribe after missing most of 2020 – including the AL Wild Card Series – due to health issues. Francona is a familiar face in Goodyear, Ariz., But his Cleveland club looks very different (and younger) now that Lindor, Carlos Carrasco and Carlos Santana are gone. There are many options for sorting by midfield, short stop, and first base.
The only two legitimate new employees are in the AL Central. AJ Hinch takes over an increasingly interesting Tigers team with emerging rotational talent. But spring’s biggest management story takes place in Glendale, Arizona, where 76-year-old Tony La Russa returns to work with the White Sox nearly a decade after his “retirement” and seven years after his introduction to the Hall. of Fame. How will he fit in with the young and rising Sox?
6. The bouncing couple
Spring Training is a time for players returning from injury to get their groove back.
That’s what the Yankees are hoping for from new additions Corey Kluber, who threw only one inning last year due to a shoulder problem, and Jameson Taillon, who threw out for his recovery from Tommy John surgery. The Nationals hope the second year of Stephen Strasburg’s mega expansion will go a lot better than the first, when carpal tunnel surgery limited him to five innings. Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez is returning from major knee surgery, Cardinals right-handed Miles Mikolas from forearm surgery, Braves right-wing Mike Soroka is returning from a terrible Achilles tendon and new Blue Jays reliever Kirby Yates will be back from elbow procedures.
7. The youth is served
The lack of a Minor League season in 2020 has radically changed the development paths for many potential clients. And it is clear that service timings affect player promotion timescales. But there are plenty of highly touted young players who could end up on the opening day rosters as they make it through camp.
Atlanta’s Cristian Pache (No. 12 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline) could capture the Braves’ trajectory in the center after getting four at-bat in the 2020 regular season and showing a dizzying defense in the postseason. White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn (No. 14 overall) and his power bat could be used in the DH role. Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes (No. 9), Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (No. 13) and Twins outfielder Alex Kirilloff (No. 26) should all have a spot in the opening day lineups.
Meanwhile, a number of pitchers from the Top 100 Prospects list are either rostered or can claim one if injuries or performance require, including the Blue Jays ‘Nate Pearson (No. 10 in all), the Tigers’ Casey Mize (No. 11) and Tarik Skubal (No. 24), the Marlins’ Sixto Sanchez (No. 15), the Rays’ Luis Patiño (No. 19), the Mariners’ Logan Gilbert (No. 33), the White Sox’s Michael Kopech (No. 39), the Astros ‘Forrest Whitley (No. 41), the Phillies’ Spencer Howard (No. 42), the Indians ‘Triston McKenzie (No. 51) and the Yankees’ Clarke Schmidt (No. 88).
8. Free agency isn’t over yet!
Let’s not forget that, as we write this, three members of our top 25 list of free agents – Jackie Bradley Jr., Jake Odorizzi, and Taijuan Walker – are still available. The same goes for Trevor Rosenthal, Rick Porcello, other pitching pickups, and role-player scores or useful pieces (Yasiel Puig, anyone?).
So clubs encountering injuries or contingencies have options there. And of course the trading market can seep again, especially late in camp. That doesn’t necessarily mean a Kris Bryant blockbuster is in the offing, but it does mean that the transaction thread is still very open for business.
And luckily those are also Spring Training Camps.