The “pitchers and catchers ratio” feels a little different in February than in 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 time of today’s pitcher and catcher reports. So as players begin to infiltrate camps in Florida and Arizona, let’s evaluate the top eight stories of the spring.
1. Adjustment set
To the litany of health and safety measures that players, coaches and staff had to comply with in the shortened 2020 season, we add a new code of conduct that includes contact tracking devices and a quasi-quarantine throughout spring training. Participation in the exhibition will be limited, access restricted.
On the field, this spring is the time for National League pitchers to raise a bat again with the expectation that the universal rule of the designated hitter will no longer apply (unless MLB and the MLB Players Association bring the issue back to the table before Day inauguration). Florida teams will play a more regionalized program than in previous years, and managers may agree to shorten the exhibition games if nine innings are not considered necessary.
So, just like in our world, Spring Training will look very different this year.
2. Stretched thin?
Injuries – especially pitching injuries – are an unfortunate and inevitable side effect of those good spring training vibes. But teams are preparing for more than the usual number of unarmed weapons this spring, simply because of the way the 2020 program has been overturned by the mid-spring halt and mid-summer growth.
The starters will stretch preparing for a season of 162 games, after an unprecedented season of 60 games (regular season 94 2/3 of Astros left Framber Valdez and the postseason half were the most in MLB ), and each team will have its own approach.
Those who will successfully navigate this challenge and break the camp to something that resembles maximum strength will be much better positioned for the regular season.
3. Too many arms?
No team seems better equipped to deal with the above than the Dodgers, who have expanded their set of weapons already deeply with the signing of Trevor Bauer. And if health cooperates, the World Series defending champions will have some difficult decisions to make.
Julio Urías, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin all deserve a chance to start, but there is only so much room at the inn. LA puts any of those arms in the bullpen or are May and Gonsolin now Triple-A tied up after their strong beginner seasons? Is David Price being treated? Does Bauer get the urge to start every fourth day? (The latter seems rather dubious.)
4. New treasures along the coast of treasures
There is a lot of stellar power walking around the Cardinals Club in Jupiter, Florida and the Mets Club in Port St. Lucie. Nolan Arenado is the best player in the NL, by bWAR, in the last seven seasons. Francisco Lindor is the shortest MLB shortstop by bWAR in the last six. It’s an important issue even for a player like this to fit in with a new team, not to mention two, and both Arenado and Lindor bring the lead, along with their gloves and wood.
Except for the damage, the success of those blockbusters will obviously not be dictated by the results of the Grapefruit League. But for the fan bases involved, those first images of Lindor and Arenado throwing balls to the ground and taking BP into their new unis will be a thrill. And thanks to the Grapefruit League’s regionalized schedule, the cards and the Mets will face off in six of their 24 games, so these two stars will be seen in March.
5. Meet the new boss
In some cases, the new boss is the same as the old boss. Alex Cora regains the reins of the Red Sox after a year in baseball exile, and the main organizational goal will be to get pitching, which now includes Garrett Richards in rotation and Adam Ottavino in bullpen, back on the court.
Terry Francona is also 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, Arizona, but his Cleveland club looks very different (and younger), with Lindor, Carlos Carrasco and Carlos Santana gone. There are plenty of options to sort through to the center field, the short and the first base.
The only two new legitimate jobs are in AL Central. AJ Hinch takes over an increasingly interesting Tigers team with a growing rotation talent. But the biggest managerial story of spring is in Glendale, Arizona, where 76-year-old Tony La Russa returns to work with the White Sox nearly a decade after “retirement” and seven years after joining. in the Hall of Fame. How will he bond with the young and fiery Sox?
6. Return group
Spring training is a time when players returning from injury regain their groove.
The Yankees are hoping for new additions to Corey Kluber, who threw just one inning last year due to a shoulder problem, and Jameson Taillon, who threw zero due to his recovery from Tommy John’s surgery. The national team hopes that the second year of Stephen Strasburg’s mega-extension will go much better than the first, when the carpal tunnel surgery limited him to five rounds. Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez returns from major knee surgery, right cardinal Miles Mikolas from forearm surgery, right Braves Mike Soroka returns from a terrible Achilles injury, and Blue Jays new assistant Kirby Yates will return from a quota.
7. Youth will be served
The lack of a minor league season in 2020 has dramatically changed the development path for many prospects. And, obviously, it is known that the provisions regarding the service time affect the promotion schedules of the players. But there are a lot of very famous young players who could be on the opening lists if they join the camp.
Cristian Pache of Atlanta (Overview 12 on MLB Pipeline) could take his job in the middle of the Braves team after getting four bats in the regular season of 2020 and showing a dazzling defense in the post- season. White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn (No. 14 overall) and his baton could be hired as DH. Pirates’ third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes (No. 9), Cardinals outfield Dylan Carlson (No. 13) and Twins outfield Alex Kirilloff (No. 26) should have a place on the opening list.
Meanwhile, a bunch of pitchers on the Top 100 Prospects list are either listed, or could claim one if injuries or performance dictate, including Blue Jays’ Nate Pearson (No. 10 overall), Casey Mize Tigers (No. 10). 11) and Tarik Skubal (No. 24), Sixt Sanchez of the Marines (No. 15), Luis Patiño of the Rays (No. 19), Logan Gilbert of the Sailors (No. 33), Michael Kopech of the White Chiefs (39) , Astros’ Forrest Whitley (no. 41), Phillies’ Spencer Howard (no. 42), Indians Triston McKenzie (no. 51) and Yankees’ Clarke Schmidt (no. 88).
8. The free agency is not over!
Let’s not forget that as we write this, three members of our list of top 25 free agents – Jackie Bradley Jr., Jake Odorizzi and Taijuan Walker – are still available. The same goes for Trevor Rosenthal, Rick Porcello, other pickups and dozens of role-playing players or usable pieces (Yasiel Puig, anyone?).
So clubs that face injuries or unforeseen circumstances have options there. And, of course, the commercial market could percolate again, especially late in the camp. This may not necessarily mean that a Kris Bryant blockbuster is in full swing, but it does mean that the thread of the transaction is still very open for business.
And, fortunately, so are the spring training camps.