Category: Baseball

Three years after Shohei Ohtani struck out then-Angels teammate Mike Trout to claim Japan’s third World Baseball Classic title, baseball’s biggest international tournament is only weeks away from returning. 

In its quest to rebound, Team USA has reloaded its roster with the best one it has ever assembled — a group that includes AL MVP Aaron Judge and the AL and NL Cy Young Award winners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes — as it enters the 2026 WBC as the favorites. 

Pool play for the 20-team tournament begins on March 5 and culminates with the championship on March 17 in Miami. Here are the 20 teams in the tournament, ranked from 20 to 1, along with players to watch. 

THE LONGSHOTS 

20. Brazil

Player to Watch: Lucas Ramirez, Outfielder

Brazil will be playing in the tournament for the first time since 2013 and only their second appearance ever in the tournament. 

19. Czech Republic

Player to Watch: Terrin Vavra, Infielder

Sure, the WBC is incredible because it can provide moments like the final out of the 2023 WBC when Ohtani struck out Trout. But part of its charm is that it can also set up a matchup like Ondrej Satoria, an electrician who moonlights as a pitcher for the Czech Republic, facing off against Ohtani … and triumphing. Satoria, whose fastball topped out in the high-70s, struck out the best player in the game on three pitches in one of the coolest moments of the last tournament. They’re in the same pool as Japan again. 

18. Nicaragua

Player to Watch: Mark Vientos, Infielder

The most obvious player to watch on the field for this team is Mets infielder Mark Vientos. The most obvious person to watch, however, might be 76-year-old Dusty Baker, who is set to manage the Nicaraguan team. 
 

17. Chinese Taipei

Player to Watch: Yu Chang, Shortstop

Chinese Taipei won gold at the 2024 Premier12 tournament. Now, this team will try to ride that momentum into the WBC led by Yu Chang, who was the 2023 Pool A MVP despite his team not advancing. Chang went 7-for-16 with two homers and two doubles in the last tournament. 
 

WORTH KEEPING AN EYE ON 

16. Great Britain

Player to Watch: Jazz Chisholm Jr., Second Baseman

Great Britain won a WBC game for the first time ever in the last tournament, upsetting Colombia. It’ll be a tough draw ahead in a pool with USA, Mexico and Italy. But while reliever Aroldis Chapman won’t be pitching for Great Britain, as some had initially hoped, the team will have Jazz Chisholm Jr. starring in the lineup. 

15. Australia

Player to Watch: Travis Bazzana, Second Baseman

Coming off a surprise run to the quarterfinals — and nearly a trip to the semifinals — in the 2023 WBC, Guardians top prospect Travis Bazzana will try to help Australia build on its success. White Sox infielder Curtis Mead will be joining him, and Robbie Glendinning, Rixon Wingrove, Alex Hall, Tim Kennelly and Robbie Perkins — who all homered in the last WBC — are back for more. 

14. Colombia

Player to Watch: Jose Quintana, Pitcher

Offense might again be hard to come by for this group, which had a .525 OPS in the last tournament and needed to win its qualifier to make it to this year’s WBC. Still, MLB vets Jose Quintana, Julio Teheran, Nabil Crismatt and Luis Patino give them a chance on the mound.

13. Panama

Player to Watch: Ivan Herrera, Catcher

Herrera, who has a 132 OPS+ the last two years in St. Louis, will be one of the offensive standouts. But the lineup will also boast more familiar MLB names, from Jose Caballero to Edmundo Sosa and Miguel Amaya. Meanwhile, they’ll have Guardians starter Logan Allen and Ariel Jurado, who was 15-8 with a 2.60 ERA in the KBO last year, as part of the rotation. This is an interesting team to watch. 

12. Israel

Player to Watch: Harrison Bader, Center Fielder

Team Israel went 1-3 and failed to advance out of pool play in the 2023 WBC. It will be a tough task again this year in a group that includes the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, but Harrison Bader, Spencer Horwitz, Garrett Stubbs, Matt Mervis, Dean Kremer, Tommy Kahnle and Max Lazar will be among the talents with MLB experience who will give them a shot. 

11. Netherlands

Player to Watch: Jurickson Profar, Left Fieder

They’ll be managed by new Hall of Famer Andruw Jones, whose son, D-backs prospect Druw Jones, will be on the team. The Netherlands made semifinal appearances in 2013 and 2017 before failing to advance out of pool play in 2023 due to tiebreaker rules. An offense featuring Jurickson Profar, Xander Bogaerts, Ceddanne Rafaela, Ozzie Albies and Chadwick Tromp can make some noise, but their pitching might have a tough time on the national stage. 
 

THE SLEEPERS 

10. Cuba

Players to Watch: Yoan Moncada (3B), Yariel Rodriguez (RHP), Raidel Martínez (RHP)

Cuba made it to the semifinals in 2023 WBC with Yoán Moncada leading the way. He went 10-for-23 in the tournament and is back in 2026. Blue Jays pitcher Yariel Rodriguez and Raidel Martínez, one of NPB’s most dominant closers, are among the club’s talented arms, but it might be an uphill battle for Cuba to enjoy the same success they did in 2023. 

9. Korea

Players to Watch: Jung Hoo Lee (CF), Hyeseong Kim (2B), Hyun-Jin Ryu (LHP)

Korea failed to advance out of pool play in the last tournament, which was surprising to see. Tommy Edman won’t be participating this time around as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery, but Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee will still get a boost from more MLB talents this time around both in the lineup (Hyeseong Kim, Jahmai Jones, Shay Whitcomb) and on the mound (Dane Dunning, Riley O’Brien). 

The latter additions are especially important, considering Korea’s pitchers tallied a 7.55 ERA in the last WBC. Infielder Do Yeong Kim and outfielder Ja Wook Koo — who each hit  more than 30 homers in the KBO in 2024 — are among the other names to watch in the lineup, while former MLB All-Star Hyun-Jin Ryu, now 38, will be a familiar face on the pitching staff. Ryu, who was unable to pitch in the last tournament due to injury, was still getting it done in the KBO last season with a 3.23 ERA in 26 starts for the Hanwha Eagles.

8. Italy

Players to Watch: Vinnie Pasquantino (1B), Aaron Nola (RHP), Kyle Teel (C)

After making it to the quarterfinals in the 2023 WBC, Italy’s squad is on the rise. Vinnie Pasquantino is back, and he’ll be joined by a lot more rising MLB talents in this year’s tournament, including Royals teammate Jac Caglianone, White Sox standout Kyle Teel and Marlins outfielder Jakob Marsee. Perhaps most importantly, the pitching staff will have its best starter ever in the tournament with the addition of Aaron Nola. Italy will have a tough time advancing from a pool that features the USA and Mexico at the top, but it has a chance to gain some early momentum starting the competition against Brazil and Great Britain. 

7. Canada

Players to Watch: Josh Naylor (1B), Tyler O’Neill (OF), Owen Caissie (OF)

Canada has never advanced past the group stage, but even without Freddie Freeman this time around, this could be their year to do so. Canada will get to avoid fellow North American squads USA and Mexico — the teams that prevented them from advancing in 2023 — in a pool with Puerto Rico, Colombia, Cuba and Panama. There are major-leaguers sprinkled throughout the lineup beyond the Naylor brothers, including Tyler O’Neill, Otto Lopez, Edouard Julien, Abraham Toro and Liam Hicks, and MLB starters Mike Soroka, Jameson Taillon and Cal Quantrill — as well as dynamic outfield defender Denzel Clarke — might be able to mask some of the bullpen concerns. Outfielder Owen Caissie, the prize of the Edward Cabrera trade, will be another player to watch on the international stage. 

THE TOP CONTENDERS 

6. Puerto Rico 

Players to Watch: Edwin Diaz (RHP), Seth Lugo (RHP), Nolan Arenado (3B)

After falling to Mexico in the last WBC quarterfinal, this isn’t the full group that Puerto Rico hoped to compile in 2026 as a dark-horse title contender. Ideally, Francisco Lindor would be captaining a Puerto Rico team that’s hosting games in San Juan, but the Mets star was denied insurance after a cleanup procedure on his elbow this offseason. Carlos Correa, Victor Caratini, Emilio Pagan, Jose Berrios and Alexis Diaz were also reportedly among the players denied insurance, too, and Riley Greene decided not to play for Puerto Rico.

But this is still a formidable group that should have a chip on its shoulder. Edwin Díaz, whose freak injury celebrating during the 2023 WBC may have led to some of these stricter insurance policies, will be there to finish games. Seth Lugo, Nolan Arenado, Willi Castro, Heliot Ramos, Fernando Cruz and top Yankees pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez are among the top talents on a Puerto Rico team that finished second in the tournament in 2013 and 2017. 

5. Mexico

Players to Watch: Randy Arozarena (LF), Jarren Duran (CF), Andres Muñoz (RHP)

Mexico nearly upset Japan in the 2023 WBC to make it to the championship before settling for a third-place finish. Randy Arozarena, Jarren Duran, Jonathan Aranda, Alek Thomas, Taijuan Walker, José Urquidy and Javier Assad will be among the top returners from that group hoping to make a similar charge in 2026.  

This time, they’ll also have Alejandro Kirk and Joey Ortiz in the lineup, Taj Bradley as a starting pitching option and Andres Muñoz as their shutdown closer. There are stronger rotations in this tournament, but they certainly have the pieces to make another deep run. 

4. Venezuela

Players to Watch: Ronald Acuña Jr. (RF), Jackson Chourio (CF), Salvador Perez (C)

Even without Jose Altuve and Miguel Rojas, who were unable to get insured for the tournament, captain Salvador Perez will be surrounded by big-league talent around him at the 2026 WBC. An outfield composed of Ronald Acuna Jr., Jackson Chourio and Wilyer Abreu can go toe-to-toe with any of the behemoths. Maikel Garcia, coming off a breakout All-Star campaign in Kansas City, will be playing in his first WBC. 

Eugenio Suárez, who led all MLB third basemen with 49 homers in 2025 and went 7-for-14 in the last WBC, will be back. The lineup will also have bat-to-ball skills with Luis Arraez and Gleyber Torres, and the rotation will have a strong 1-2 punch at the top with Pablo López and Ranger Suárez. Don’t sleep on this group. 

3. Japan

Players to Watch: Shohei Ohtani (DH), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (RHP), Munetaka Murakami (1B)

It’s probably unfair to put Japan here. While Samurai Japan doesn’t boast the same number of MLB superstars as the top two teams on this list, they’re still the kings of international competition until proven otherwise. Japan is the only team to win the tournament multiple times, and it will be returning 10 players from a 2023 group that blitzed the competition. Japan outscored its pool-play opponents in the last tournament by 30 runs, and this time Seiya Suzuki will be available after missing the previous competition due to injury. 

Ohtani will only be available as a DH this time around, but there are nine MLB players — including new MLB players Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto — amid a core of talents who know one another well, and the litany of NPB standouts on manager Hirokazu Ibata’s roster will have plenty of time to prepare together as Japan attempts to defend its crown.

2. Dominican Republic

Players to Watch: Juan Soto (RF), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B), Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF)

After winning the tournament in 2013, the Dominican Republic didn’t make it out of the second round in 2017. Surprisingly, it got even worse for Team D.R. in 2023, as the extraordinarily talented group failed to emerge from pool play after losing to Venezuela and Puerto Rico. Surely, that will be on the team’s mind this go-around. With a roster that includes Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Julio Rodriguez, Ketel Marte, Jeremy Peña, Manny Machado, Junior Caminero and Geraldo Perdomo, the club is oozing with MLB stars. 

The offense is what makes this group a championship contender, but they’ll also have a more robust pitching staff this time around. Cristopher Sánchez, Luis Severino and Brayan Bello will be joining a rotation that includes 2023 holdover Sandy Alcantara. This could be their year. 

1. USA

Players to Watch: Aaron Judge (RF), Tarik Skubal (LHP), Paul Skenes (RHP)

In the 2023 WBC, USA finished in second place with a rotation of Merrill Kelly, Lance Lynn, Adam Wainwright and Nick Martinez. In 2026, they’ll have reigning Cy Young Award winners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes and All-Stars Logan Webb and Joe Ryan. It’s a massive upgrade for manager Mark DeRosa’s squad, and that’s before getting to a lineup that will now include reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge, the AL and NL MVP runners-up in Cal Raleigh and Kyle Schwarber and a star-studded group from top to bottom. The worst position player on the USA’s roster would be the best player for most of the teams in the tournament. This is the best team USA has ever fielded, and it’s not close. They’re in prime position to avenge their 2023 finals defeat. 
 

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Tarik Skubal won his salary arbitration hearing with the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, and the two-time Cy Young Award winner will be paid a record $32 million this year instead of the team’s $19 million offer.

Jeanne Charles, Walt De Treux and Allen Ponak made the decision one day after listening to arguments.

A two-time All-Star, Skubal will be eligible for free agency after the World Series. The 29-year-old left-hander is 54-37 with a 3.08 ERA in six MLB seasons.

Skubal was 13-6 with an American League-best 2.21 ERA in 31 starts last year, striking out 241 and walking 33 in 195 1/3 innings while earning $10.5 million. His 0.891 WHIP topped qualified pitchers.

After the hearing Wednesday, the Tigers agreed to a $115 million, three-year contract with left-hander Framber Valdez, a deal pending a successful physical.

Players have won the first three decisions this offseason. Right-hander Kyle Bradish was awarded $3.55 million instead of the Baltimore Orioles’ offer of $2,875,000, and catcher Yainer Diaz received $4.5 million instead of the Houston Astros’ $3 million proposal.

Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. previously held the record for the highest salary in an arbitration case decided by a panel, winning at $19.9 million in 2024 in a case decided by Charles, De Treux and Scott Buchheit.

Then-Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado submitted a record request of $30 million in 2019, then agreed to a $260 million, eight-year contract without a hearing.

Juan Soto’s $31 million contract with the New York Yankees in 2024 had been the largest one-year deal for an arbitration-eligible player. David Price previously held the highest negotiated salary in a one-year contract for an arbitration-eligible pitcher, a $19.75 million agreement with Detroit in 2015.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

A week before pitchers and catchers report to spring training, the top starter on the market is finally off the board. 

On the same day the Tigers and ace Tarik Skubal underwent their historic arbitration hearing, the results of which have yet to be announced as of Wednesday night, Detroit added another former All-Star to pair alongside its Cy Young Award winner as they agreed to a three-year, $115 million contract with Framber Valdez. 

The deal, which also pairs Valdez back with his former Astros manager, A.J. Hinch, reportedly includes an opt-out after the second season. 

While Valdez didn’t get the number of years initially expected for a 32-year-old workhorse with three top-10 Cy Young Award finishes over the last four years, the $38.3 million average annual value represents a record for a left-handed pitcher. Valdez also had a qualifying offer attached, which means the Tigers will have to surrender a draft pick to sign him. 

It’s the biggest deal Scott Harris has made since taking over as the Tigers’ president of baseball operations in September 2022 as he attempts to capitalize on what could be Skubal’s final season in Detroit and give the Tigers a rotation formidable enough to get beyond the ALDS, where they’ve fallen each of the last two seasons. 

Last year, the Tigers got the eighth-fewest innings from their starters in MLB. Only three of their starters threw at least 100 innings. Of those three, only Skubal had an ERA under 3.80. Valdez, an All-Star in 2022 and 2023, should help across the board. He has thrown more than 175 innings in each of the last four seasons, has tallied an ERA under 3.70 each of the last six seasons and has the highest groundball rate of any pitcher with at least 100 starts since his debut season in 2018. 

Since 2020, when Valdez became a full-time starter for Houston, he and Zack Wheeler are the only MLB starters to make at least 150 starts with an ERA under 3.30. Valdez’s 2022 season in Houston, when he went 17-6 with a 2.82 ERA before registering a 1.44 ERA over four playoff starts, helped the Astros win a World Series title. 

What’s Next for Valdez, Skubal and the Tigers

In the first half of 2025, Valdez looked well on his way to another typically consistent season. He was 10-4 with a 2.75 ERA when the untimely drop-off arrived.  

Valdez went 3-7 with a 5.20 ERA in the second half of his contract year. If that didn’t give teams pause this winter, perhaps his peculiar cross-up with catcher Cesar Salazar — and unsympathetic reaction afterward — did. Valdez finished the year with a 3.66 ERA, his highest mark in any season since becoming a full-time starter. Teams could look at that as a sign of regression or see the remarkable consistency required to consider that a down year. The Tigers, clearly, saw the latter. 

While he doesn’t have the overall swing-and-miss stuff of an ace, the sinker-baller was still adept at missing barrels and keeping the ball on the ground, and his curveball got more strikeouts than any pitcher in baseball. Even without a great infield defense behind him in Detroit, he represents a clear upgrade. 

It’s a significant expenditure for a Tigers team that, prior to the move, had done little to upgrade a roster that collapsed down the stretch last season. Detroit saw its 14-game lead in the division evaporate before limping into the playoffs as a wild-card team. This offseason, they brought back Gleyber Torres and Kyle Finnegan and gave one-year deals to pitchers Kenley Jansen and Drew Anderson, but they were mostly running it back. They still haven’t signed a free-agent position player after struggling to score runs down the stretch last year, though top prospects Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark could help at some point in 2026. 

Valdez won’t change the offensive concerns, but he now gives the Tigers one of the best one-two starting pitcher punches in baseball — at least, for as long as their ace remains in Detroit. While the Tigers felt comfortable giving Valdez more than $38 million a year, they decided to go to arbitration with Skubal rather than give the reigning Cy Young Award winner the $32 million he sought. 

Now, we wait to see whether Skubal will make $19 million or $32 million next season — and whether he finishes the year in Detroit or elsewhere. 

What’s Next for the Astros

The dynasty is over, and now another member of their 2022 championship core is gone. But unlike the Kyle Tucker trade last season, this outcome was hardly a surprise after the Astros signed Tatsuya Imai and Ryan Weiss and traded for Pirates starter Mike Burrows earlier this winter. 

Their rotation led by Hunter Brown is likely set; the bigger question is how they handle their infield logjam. Isaac Paredes and Carlos Correa can’t both be the starter at third base, but there’s no clear spot to move one of them with All-Star Jeremy Peña at shortstop, Jose Altuve at second and Christian Walker, who signed for three years and $60 million last season, at first. 

Surely, the Astros would like to keep Yordan Alvarez at DH as much as possible. So, with five infielders for four spots, will the Astros swing a trade before Opening Day? 

What’s Next for Teams Eyeing Starting Pitching

Valdez was the most reliable starting pitcher left on the board, but options remain in free agency for teams seeking rotation depth. 

They’ll likely turn their attention now to Zac Gallen, who finished third in Cy Young voting in 2023 before tailing off the past two years. He’s coming off career worsts in ERA (4.83) and strikeout rate (21.5) and surrendered a career-high 31 home runs last season — fourth most in MLB — but he progressed after the break, is only 30, has thrown more than 180 innings in three of the last four seasons and has the highest upside of the veteran arms still on the board, a group that includes Lucas Giolito, Chris Bassitt, Zack Littell, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. 

All it takes is one suitor to believe he can still tap back into his previously elite form and be a frontline arm. There are plenty of interesting teams — Orioles? Athletics? Padres? Braves? — who could use one. 

Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner.
 

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Framber Valdez, the highest-rated starting pitcher in free agency, has agreed to a three-year, $115 million deal with the Detroit Tigers, according to a report from ESPN on Wednesday.

Valdez becomes an instant ace for the team, with the hard-throwing lefty bringing championship experience after six full seasons with the Astros, including the 2022 World Series-winning squad. 

After earning All-Star nods in 2022 and 2023 and finishing in the top 10 in Cy Young voting for a third straight season in 2024, Valdez’s contract year didn’t exactly go to plan. Following a typically terrific first half in which he went 10-4 with a 2.75 ERA, he was 3-7 with a 5.20 ERA after the break, and he had the weird cross-up controversy with catcher Cesar Salazar. In the end, his 3.66 ERA was his highest in a season since 2019. 

Valdez, who led the American League with 201.1 innings pitched in 2022, works through trouble, provides length and is accustomed to pitching in the postseason; he has thrown eight complete games since 2022 and made 16 postseason starts with the Astros. In 2022, Valdez posted a 1.44 ERA and 0.88 WHIP across four postseason starts (and 25 innings pitched) en route to the Astros winning the World Series.

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Mickey Lolich, who had three complete-game victories for the Detroit Tigers in the 1968 World Series, the last Major League Baseball pitcher to post the incredible feat, died Wednesday. He was 85.

The Tigers said Lolich’s wife told them that he died after a short stay in hospice care. An exact cause of death was not provided.

Denny McLain was the star of Detroit’s pitching staff in 1968, winning 31 regular-season games. But Lolich was the Most Valuable Player of the Series, with an ERA of 1.67 and a Game 7 road victory over Bob Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Bill Freehan threw off his catcher’s mask and caught a foul pop-up by Tim McCarver for the final out. Lolich jumped into Freehan’s arms — an iconic image of Detroit’s championship season.

“It was always somebody else,” Lolich told the Detroit Free Press in 2018, “but my day had finally come.”

He’s 23rd in career strikeouts with 2,832, ahead of many others who, unlike Lolich, are in the Hall of Fame, and fifth among all lefties, according to baseball-reference.com.

Lolich was an unlikely hero in 1968. During a reunion of the World Series team, he recalled how manager Mayo Smith had sent him to the bullpen for much of August. He returned to the Tigers’ starting rotation and was 6-1 in the final weeks.

“I was having a few problems, but I had been a starting pitcher ever since 1964,” said Lolich, who was upset about the bullpen move. “I remember telling him, ‘If we win this thing this year it’s going to be because of me.’ But I was only talking about the season. I wasn’t talking about the World Series.

“I got my revenge back in the World Series,” he said.

Lolich pitched Game 7 after only two days of rest. He figured he would get a Corvette from General Motors for being the Series MVP but had to settle for a Dodge Charger GT because Chrysler was the sponsor in 1968.

“Nothing against Chargers, nothing at all,” Lolich said in his book, “Joy in Tigertown.” “It’s just that I already had two of them in my driveway.”

Since Lolich, only Arizona’s Randy Johnson in 2001 has won three games in a World Series, though Johnson pitched about 10 fewer innings and was a relief pitcher, not a starter, in Game 7.

Lolich had a record of 220-192, including the postseason, over a 16-year career, all but three with Detroit. He left baseball after playing for the New York Mets in 1976 but returned with the San Diego Padres from 1978-79.

The left-hander was 25-14 in 1971, striking out 308 batters over 376 innings and finishing second in American League Cy Young Award voting. He followed that up with a 22-14 record and 250 strikeouts in 1972.

In a statement, the Tigers expressed condolences to Lolich’s family and said his legacy “will forever be cherished.”

After his baseball career, Lolich, a native of Portland, Oregon, was in the doughnut business in suburban Detroit, making and selling them for 18 years.

“I doubt any other ballplayer has ever made that transition — from the diamond to doughnuts. But I did,” he wrote in his book.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Kyle Schwarber is staying in Philly. Bo Bichette is heading to Queens. And Kyle Tucker is joining the stacked Dodgers team looking for a three-peat.  

Some of baseball’s biggest offseason free agents have settled in, but there are ways for teams to upgrade before camp begins. Starters Framber Valdez, Zac Gallen, Chris Bassitt, Lucas Giolito, Zack Littell and Max Scherzer remain unsigned. And there’s always the possibility of an intriguing trade, as the Mariners did by acquiring All-Star infielder Brendan Donovan or the Rangers demonstrated by with starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore

The 2026 season draws nearer, with pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training in less than two weeks. Here’s one question for every team before the start of spring training: 

JUMP TO: AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West

Baltimore Orioles: After a busy offseason of upgrades, are they still an ace short? 

President of baseball operations Mike Elias has made meaningful moves this offseason to upgrade the roster after finishing last in the AL East in 2025. They have their new slugger in Pete Alonso, their new closer in Ryan Helsley, a new corner outfielder in Taylor Ward and more rotation depth with the trade for Shane Baz and re-signing of Zach Eflin. This has the look of a team that could bounce back quickly and make noise in the AL East. But the Orioles also dealt away Grayson Rodriguez and are coming off a year in which their starters ranked 24th in ERA. Could there still be one more big move ahead to pair an ace with the new-look group? 

Boston Red Sox: Will they trade from their outfield surplus after whiffing on Alex Bregman? 

After the Red Sox traded away eight more years of Rafael Devers to make Bregman the answer at third base in 2025, it seemed like there was no way the Red Sox would let him slip away in free agency. But that’s what happened. They’re still a talented group capable of winning the always challenging AL East, but it’s shocking that they’re now entering the 2026 season with neither Devers nor Bregman at third base. Meanwhile, there’s an outfield logjam Roman Anthony’s not going anywhere, but they also have Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu. Could one of them be on the move to help acquire an infield bat? 

New York Yankees: Awaiting key returners, how does the pitching staff shape up? 

The Yankees’ biggest offseason task — bringing back Cody Bellinger — is finally complete. Otherwise, though, it’s been a quiet winter in the Bronx, especially in comparison to the rest of the AL East. The season may come down to how Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt look upon their return from injury — and how the young starters, including new addition Ryan Weathers, hold down the fort until that trio is back up and running. Four of the six relievers who threw the most innings for them last year (Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Mark Leiter Jr., Ian Hamilton) are now in different uniforms, so a reliable rotation will be especially important. 

Tampa Bay Rays: Is 2026 a transition year? 

After five straight trips to the postseason, the Rays saw a 19-win reduction from 2023 (99 wins) to 2024 (80). Last year ended even worse — 77-85 — marking their lowest win total since the 2016 season. As is often the case in Tampa, this winter has been about thinking toward the future, and they’ve again replenished their typically formidable farm system. But there might be more pain before prosperity. It’s hard to imagine the additions of Gavin Lux, Cedric Mullins, Jacob Melton, Jake Fraley and Steven Matz will offset the losses of Brandon Lowe, Shane Baz, Josh Lowe, Pete Fairbanks, Mason Montgomery, Jake Mangum, Kameron Misner, Christopher Morel and Adrian Houser in the short term. Still, the Rays often find a way to be competitive, and a healthy Shane McClanahan could go a long way. 

Toronto Blue Jays: Can the offense make another World Series run without Bichette?

The Blue Jays will be one of the winners of the offseason for the upgrades they made to the pitching staff, but missing out on Kyle Tucker and watching homegrown standout Bo Bichette depart for Queens still stings. Almost everything went right for Toronto last season, with a horde of contributors taking huge leaps forward and George Springer turning back the clock. Can they count on that happening again without Bichette in the lineup? A bounceback year from right fielder Anthony Santander would go a long way. 

Chicago White Sox: What exactly do they have in NPB star Munetaka Murakami? 

The biggest surprise of the offseason might be the two-year, $34 million deal that Murakami signed with the White Sox. Entering his age-26 debut MLB season, after launching 246 home runs in eight NPB seasons, he was projected by many to get a nine-figure contract. Will Murakami’s prodigious power in Japan translate stateside? Or will his high strikeout rate be too problematic? Either way, it was a low-risk, high-reward decision for a White Sox squad that is starting to compile an interesting core in its rebuild, and he’ll be one of the most fascinating players to watch in 2026. 

Cleveland Guardians: Where does the offense come from? 

Jose Ramirez is now a Guardian for life, and that’s no small accomplishment, but this offseason has been far too quiet for an offense that needed upgrades. After a miraculous late-season charge, the Guardians won the division for the second straight year. But they did so with a lineup that ranked exactly 29th in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Ramírez and Kyle Manzardo were the only players who hit above league average. There’s a lot riding on the development of a young lineup (and top prospects Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana) to try to help Cleveland take the next step. 

Detroit Tigers: What happens with Tarik Skubal?

It’s the question that lingered all offseason, and it’s the question that’ll continue into 2026 if he doesn’t get dealt before the start of the year. With an arbitration hearing for the ages due up soon, we’re about to find out if he’ll make $19 million or $32 million this year. We’re about to see how much the process peeves him. It’s a tremendously wide chasm, and if it ends up being the former number, that could open the door for more teams to try to pursue him. 

Kansas City Royals: Can Lane Thomas, Isaac Collins and Kameron Misner help fix the longstanding outfield woes?

Kansas City outfielders ranked dead last in wRC+ last year. It’s been an all-too-common theme. Their outfielders have ranked in the bottom five in OPS for three straight seasons. Rather than go all in on a more sure thing, the Royals shopped on the margins to try to upgrade the group. They traded for Collins, who at one point was in the Rookie of the Year mix as a 28-year-old last year, and Misner, who’s known more for his defense and speed than his bat. They signed Thomas, who was limited to 39 games last season and struggled mightily while on the field, hoping for a bounceback season on a one-year, $5.25 million deal. But to get where they want to go, they’ll need a big jump forward from 2024 first-round pick Jac Caglianone. Perhaps moving the walls in will help. 

Minnesota Twins: Who’s pitching in leverage after last winter’s bullpen exodus? 

While questions remain about the long-term future in Minnesota for starters Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez, a lot of questions also loom once those pitchers leave the game. Relievers Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Louis Varland, Brock Stewart, Danny Coulombe, Randy Dobnak were all dealt away at last year’s trade deadline, and that’s not even including Chris Paddack, who was only a starter for the Twins before serving in a dual role in Detroit in the second half. The only relief additions the Twins have made to backfill those losses this winter are Taylor Rogers and Eric Orze. 

Athletics: Is there enough pitching to become a playoff threat? 

Another year, same question. Last year, they were a popular pick as a surprise contender. The offense lived up to the billing. The lineup ranked eighth in OPS, and Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson became the ninth pair of teammates ever to finish in the top two in Rookie of the Year voting. But the pitching was a problem (27th in ERA, 25th in WHIP, 20th in strikeouts), and it’s hard to see that changing in a meaningful way after a quiet offseason. 

Houston Astros: How do they handle the infield logjam? 

Isaac Paredes was an All-Star last year in Houston, but a hamstring injury before the deadline prompted the Astros to reunite with Carlos Correa. Jeremy Pena is coming off an All-Star season last year at shortstop, so Correa can’t bump over there. Meanwhile, they have Jose Altuve at second and spent $60 million on first baseman Christian Walker last offseason. That means there’s five infielders for four spots, and it’s unlikely they’d like any of them taking regular DH at-bats as they try to keep Yordan Alvarez as healthy as possible. Will one of them get traded before Opening Day? 

Los Angeles Angels: How many of these reclamation projects actually pan out? 

The Angels have hardly spent this winter, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been inactive. They’ve utilized a shotgun approach, taking a bunch of fliers on once highly-regarded prospects who have yet to reach their potential (Grayson Rodriguez, Vaughn Grissom, Josh Lowe) and veterans trying to find their way again (Jordan Romano, Kirby Yates, Alek Manoah). The payroll is significantly down from last year — their largest free-agent purchase so far is Yates for $5 million — and it still feels like they could add to their rotation with one of the remaining players on the market (Zac Gallen? Chris Bassitt?) to add some semblance of stability. 

Seattle Mariners: How will the offense look without Eugenio Suarez and Jorge Polanco?

After re-signing first baseman Josh Naylor in November and adding reliever Jose Ferrer and lefty masher Rob Refsnyder in December, it was quiet for months in Seattle. That was a bit surprising, especially considering the infield vacancies after losing Jorge Polanco to the Mets and Suárez to the Reds. Barring another move, it looked like they might be preparing for a youth movement with 25-year-old Ben Williamson at third base and 22-year-old Cole Young at second, at least until 20-year-old top prospect Colt Emerson was ready. But a trade for a versatile infielder always made sense, and they reportedly got it done this week with a deal in place for the Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan. He’ll offer a different look for Seattle. Donovan won’t replace the power of Suárez or Polanco, but he’s a consistently above-average hitter who rarely swings and misses. That should be helpful for a Mariners lineup that has ranked in the top three in strikeouts each of the last three years. 

Texas Rangers: Can the young players take the next step?

Remember when the Rangers’ offense tore its way through October to win a championship? Well, that was three years ago now, and the offensive production has taken a nosedive since. In fact, the Rangers have fielded one of the worst lineups in baseball over the last two years, a group that ranks 27th in OPS over that time.  The big move to acquire MacKenzie Gore could make this rotation one of the best in baseball if healthy (a big if), but the success of the season will still come down to how the lineup performs and how Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter, Josh Jung and Josh Smith continue to develop. Another leap forward for starters Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker wouldn’t hurt, either. 

Atlanta Braves: Was last year’s struggle just a blip?

It was just three seasons ago that the Braves’ offense was not just the best in baseball but historically good. Since then? Not so much. They ranked 12th in OPS in 2024 and 13th in 2025. Ozzie Albies has been a below league-average hitter for two straight years. Michael Harris II has trended the wrong direction offensively since winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2022. So has Austin Riley, though not as dramatically, and he has been limited by injury. That was the story for much of the roster in a lost 2025 season. It might just take a cleaner bill of health for the Braves to bounce back after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017. 

New York Mets: How quickly will all the new pieces mesh?

A good reminder not to judge an offseason in December, president of baseball operations David Stearns has spent the past few weeks cooking after disassembling the team’s longtime core. Gone are Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Edwin Diaz, Jeff McNeil and more. In are Bo Bichette, Freddy Peralta, Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert Jr., Devin Williams, Luke Weaver and more. Suddenly, a winter that looked like a disaster now has the Mets in position to bounce back in a major way. Will they go from missing the playoffs to winning the NL East? 

Miami Marlins: Who’s starting games in 2026? 

A 79-win season far outpaced expectations in the Marlins’ rebuild last year. Outfield breakouts from Kyle Stowers (.912 OPS) and Jakob Marsee (.841 OPS) in limited samples provided optimism for the future. That group added another intriguing young talent this winter in Owen Caissie from the Cubs, but that move required parting with starter Edward Cabrera after a year in which the Marlins rotation ranked 26th in ERA. Weeks later, the Marlins dealt further from their starting group when they sent Ryan Weathers to the Yankees for prospects. It’s possible the Marlins could still field a competitive rotation headlined by Sandy Alcantara and Eury Perez, but it’s also possible that Alcantara is the next veteran arm to go as Miami prioritizes adding more bats to the farm. If that happens, or if Max Meyer and Braxton Garrett aren’t healthy coming off season-ending surgeries, top pitching prospects Thomas White and Robby Snelling could enter the mix. 

Philadelphia Phillies: How much of an impact do Justin Crawford and Adolis Garcia make in the outfield?

It’s a bit surprising the Phillies let Harrison Bader go to the Giants for two years and $20.5 million, considering what he meant to the team down the stretch last year (he hit .305 after getting traded from Minnesota to Philadelphia). Perhaps they misjudged his market, but they pounced early on García in the middle of December — giving him almost the same salary in 2026 as Bader eventually received — and clearly think highly of Crawford, their top outfield prospect who could be patrolling center field on Opening Day. How those decisions pan out will be crucial, considering the rest of the position player group from last year remains the same. 

Washington Nationals: What’s next in the development of 23-year-old All-Star James Wood?

The moves made by new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni this winter suggests the team is thinking much further down the line than competing in 2026. After getting a bevy of prospects for MacKenzie Gore, it’s possible they could do the same for CJ Abrams if they get the right offer. One of the only sure things in Washington: Wood will be an integral part of the next phase of Nationals baseball. He can absolutely mash, as evidenced by his 31 home runs and elite quality of contact as a 22-year-old last year, and he also stole 15 bases last year. But he’s also prone to swing and miss at an alarming rate — he was two strikeouts away from tying an MLB record — and has work to do defensively in the outfield. If he can improve upon those areas, there’s MVP-level upside. 

Chicago Cubs: Is this the year they overtake the Brewers? 

The Brewers have won the NL Central three straight years and four of the last five years, but Chicago’s additions of Alex Bregman, Edward Cabrera and a slew of relievers have the Cubs in as good a position as they’ve been over the last five years to win their first division title since the shortened 2020 season. They’ve been busy this offseason, but another move could still be on the horizon following the Bregman deal with Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw both capable of playing second base. 

Cincinnati Reds: Does Elly De La Cruz take the next step?

 The Reds whiffed on Kyle Schwarber and have done little since to try to upgrade a pedestrian offense. That makes the development of the multi-talented De La Cruz even more essential. He was an All-Star last year, but the switch-hitter struggled from the right side of the plate and tailed off mightily after the break, ultimately hitting just 9% better than league average. We found out afterward that he was playing through a nagging quad strain down the stretch, which might explain the dip. There’s obviously a ton of untapped upside here, and the Reds will need him to find it if they want to make noise in 2026.  

Milwaukee Brewers: How do they fill out the rotation after trading Freddy Peralta? 

Sure, it’d be nice if they’d actually spend more money to build more of a threat in October, but we do this song and dance every year: The Brewers trade one of their soon-to-be-expensive big-league standouts, we question how they can possibly keep getting away with this, and then go and win the division with 90-plus victories. Doubt them at your own peril. This winter it was Peralta’s turn to find a new home. The Brewers still have plenty of internal options behind him, particularly after giving Brandon Woodruff the qualifying offer, though they may still want to add another veteran arm to the young group.  

Pittsburgh Pirates: Are the offensive upgrades enough to make a meaningful leap forward? 

Don’t get it twisted: The Pirates are still among the lower payroll clubs, but there is at least reason to be a bit more hopeful about their team’s chances in 2026 after general manager Ben Cherington operated in a way he hadn’t in recent winters to try to fix an abysmal offense. They added Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum and Jhostynxon Garcia via trade and Ryan O’Hearn for two years and $29 million. That’s not going to make them an offensive force — they ranked in the bottom 10 in every slash-line category last year — but all the lineup has to do is be competent, given the strength of their pitching staff, to imagine better days ahead. 

St. Louis Cardinals: How quickly does top prospect JJ Wetherholt make his mark? 

The rebuild is in full effect under new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, who has dealt away Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray and Brendan Donovan this winter to acquire more pitching prospects. Last year was the second time in the last three seasons that their starters ranked in the bottom three in strikeouts, and it might get worse before it gets better after trading Gray. But Wetherholt could provide reason to watch this year in St. Louis. The versatile infielder will be a non-roster invite at spring training and could have a chance to break camp with the big-league club after recording a .931 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A last year. 

Arizona Diamondbacks: How do they fix their bullpen?  

Speaking of the 2023 World Series, remember when the Diamondbacks were there? That’s their only playoff appearance over the last eight seasons. The biggest problem during last year’s fourth-place finish was the pitching staff — and specifically a bullpen that ranked in the bottom five in MLB in ERA, WHIP, strikeouts, opponents’ average and blown saves. The D-backs have patched up the rotation by bringing back Merrill Kelly and signing Michael Soroka, but adding Taylor Clarke doesn’t seem like enough to fix the dreadful bullpen, especially with Justin Martinez and AJ Puk both likely to miss most of the upcoming season. Perhaps more is still ahead. 

Colorado Rockies: What changes under new leadership? 

OK, so the Rockies aren’t going to go from one of the worst seasons in modern baseball history to a contender anytime soon. But after cleaning house, it’ll be interesting to see how much improvement they make under new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and general manager Josh Byrnes. In the short-term, they’re hoping bounceback seasons from free-agent additions Willi Castro, Jake McCarthy and Edouard Julien — who were all below replacement level players last year — and the addition of an experienced arm in Michael Lorenzen can help field a more competent product. When you win 43 games, there’s nowhere to look but up, right? …Right? 

Los Angeles Dodgers: Will the roster’s age get in the way of a three-peat? 

 The Dodgers are, rightfully, the favorites to win it all again. The biggest obstacle to a three-peat, beyond the randomness of October, might be their age. Freddie Freeman will be 37 before the postseason starts. Max Muncy is 35. Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez are both entering their age-33 seasons coming off down years offensively. Before the Kyle Tucker signing, Andy Pages was the only everyday player on the team still in his 20s. The roster’s loaded enough that it probably won’t matter, but the Tucker addition is an important one both in the present and as a bridge to their promising future.

San Diego Padres: Do they take a big swing? 

After some major deadline moves, the Padres won 90 games and fell just three games short of the Dodgers in the NL West. Maybe they consider deadline acquisitions Mason Miller and Ramon Laureano additions for 2026, but it’s been a quiet winter. Having Miller makes the loss of closer Robert Suarez more manageable, but questions still loom in the infield and the rotation after losing Dylan Cease, Luis Arraez and Ryan O’Hearn. Perhaps president of baseball operations AJ Preller still has something else up his sleeve.

San Francisco Giants: Does the Tony Vitello project work? 

There were a plethora of interesting manager hires this cycle but none more groundbreaking than the Giants’ move to hire Vitello away from the University of Tennessee. In an attempt to upgrade the roster this winter, the San Francisco front office provided Vitello with more rotation options (Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser), better outfield defense (Harrison Bader) and, just weeks before players report to camp, the reigning NL hits leader (Luis Arraéz). Will that be enough to start Vitello on the right foot, or is a bigger swing still ahead for president of baseball operations Buster Posey? 

Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner.

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Arguably the best starting pitcher in Major League Baseball, back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers are going to a salary arbitration hearing to determine the southpaw’s 2026 salary.

What’s the issue? What does this mean? Here’s how the process works.

The issue between Skubal and the Tigers

Skubal, who’s a free agent after the 2026 MLB season, and the Tigers can’t agree to a salary for the 2026 season and are subsequently going to a salary arbitration meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Detroit is reportedly offering $19 million, while Skubal seeks a record $32 million. The star lefty made $10.15 million in 2025, which itself was a significant raise from 2024’s $2.65 million salary thanks to winning his first of two Cy Young awards.

What is salary arbitration?

It’s a process deployed in the MLB offseason to determine salaries for select players in the upcoming season. It takes place when a player and team can’t agree to a salary, with the mandated hearing typically scheduled for February and brought in front of a three-person panel of arbitrators. Those individuals decide whether to accept the player or team salary proposal. 

[The Big Picture: Why the Skubal-Tigers Salary Standoff Could Make MLB History]

The Tigers are a “trial and file” team, meaning they go through the full arbitration process if the two sides can’t agree on a figure by the filing deadline rather than settle beforehand.

How does the process work? Who’s eligible?

An individual has one year of service time under their belt at the MLB level after 172 days in a given year. Then, once a player reaches three years of service time, they’re eligible for arbitration, so long as they haven’t already signed a contract for the ensuing season. Once a player has reached his arbitration years, they are eligible for this process until they reach free agency.

What’s the biggest arbitration salary in MLB history?

Juan Soto made $31 million with the New York Yankees in 2024 before hitting free agency the following offseason, making Skubal’s $32 million filing a potential record not just for pitchers, but for any arbitration salary.

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Four years after getting traded from the Reds to the Mariners, Eugenio Suarez is now going from Seattle back to Cincinnati. 

Suárez, who’s coming off an All-Star season in which he led all third basemen with 49 homers, was the top slugger remaining on the market, yet it only cost the light-hitting Reds $15 million for one season (plus a $16 million mutual option in 2027) to secure the 34-year-old’s services. The Reds needed the pop after finishing 21st in home runs last season while getting just 14 home runs combined from all of their third basemen.

The only other time Suárez matched his 2025 home run total was six years ago in Cincinnati, where he first established himself as one of the best power threats at his position. The Reds are hoping to see more of the same with this year’s reunion. 

In 2025, Suárez mashed 36 home runs in 106 games for the Diamondbacks before getting traded to Seattle, where he had been a clubhouse and fan favorite in 2022-23. But the all-or-nothing slugger struggled to replicate the offense that made him the most highly-coveted bat at the deadline, hitting just .189 with a 35.9% strikeout rate after the trade. 

Still, he hit 13 home runs in 53 games to close out the regular season in Seattle, and the deadline additions of Suárez and Josh Naylor helped catapult the Mariners to their first division title since 2001. In Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, Suárez launched two home runs, including a game-breaking grand slam that moved the Mariners one win away from the World Series. They would not get there, however, dropping the final two games of the ALCS to the Blue Jays. 

This winter, teams were evidently scared off by Suárez’s age, declining defensive metrics, high strikeout rate and late-season drop-off. That allowed the Reds to swoop in with a low-risk, high-reward move as they try to take another step forward after snapping a four-year playoff drought last year. In Cincinnati, Suárez will be returning to one of MLB’s friendliest home-run environments at Great American Ball Park. 

What’s next for the Reds? 

Last season, Suárez had more than twice as many home runs as Elly De La Cruz, who led the Reds with 22 dingers. Now, he’ll be providing De La Cruz some needed protection. 

It just might not be at his usual spot.

Ke’Bryan Hayes has been a well below league-average hitter but also one of the top defensive third basemen in the game, and the 29-year-old is under contract for the next four years. That likely means most of Suárez’s at-bats will come as the designated hitter. He could also see some time at first base, where 2022 first-round pick Sal Stewart figures to receive most of his reps. 

Wherever he plays defensively, the Reds needed to find a way to add an impact bat. This was their last chance on the free-agent market after whiffing on Kyle Schwarber. From November to January, they had done little to meaningfully improve an offense that ranked 19th in OPS and 21st in slugging last year. They traded for outfielder Dane Myers and signed outfielder JJ Bleday, but they also lost outfielder Austin Hays and designated hitter Gavin Lux. 

As the calendar flipped to February, so did the stability of their lineup with the addition of Suárez. 

What’s next for the Mariners?

A younger path forward, it appears. 

The Mariners made two major moves at the deadline in adding Naylor and Suárez. After a strong first half for Naylor, he was even better after the trade from Arizona, registering an .831 OPS with nine homers and 19 steals with superb defensive metrics at first base in 54 games in Seattle. 

The fit was perfect, which is why the Mariners made it a priority to keep him, giving him five years and $92.5 million one month less than after the season ended.

It did not go as well last year in Seattle for Suárez, though there was some thought that the Mariners might decide to keep him anyway, given the dearth of power threats behind him and the departure of Jorge Polanco. 

Instead, barring a trade, it appears they’ll move forward for now with their in-house options. That means it will likely be 25-year-old Ben Williamson at third and 22-year-old Cole Young at second — at least until the Mariners feel 20-year-old top prospect Colt Emerson is ready to make an impact, which could be sooner than later. 

What’s next on the free-agent market? 

Starting pitching. 

With Luis Arraez going to San Francisco and Suárez going to Cincinnati over the last few days, teams looking for impact bats might now turn their attention more fervently to the trade market. Veterans Rhys Hoskins (about to turn 33), Marcell Ozuna (35) and Paul Goldschmidt (38) are the best options available in free agency. 

There’s a lot more help out there for teams looking to fill their rotation. Framber Valdez, arguably the top starting pitcher on the market when free agency began, is still looking for a team. So are Zac Gallen, Zack Littell, Chris Bassitt, Lucas Giolito and Max Scherzer. 

Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner.
 

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Just how incredible is it that the INDYCAR season will feature a race in the nation’s capital?

The Freedom 250 around the streets of Washington, D.C., is set for Aug. 23 on FOX. Most of the grounds will be free admission. With such a historic event being announced, we decided to break down some of the coolest and most iconic sporting events and venues to date. 

Let’s take a look:  

WNBA Stars vs Team USA at Radio City Music Hall, 2004

Dubbed as “The Game at Radio City”, the WNBA hosted an exhibition game between the U.S. Olympic team and a group of WNBA stars. Some of the biggest names in the history of the sport, like Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird took the court in one of the most iconic entertainment venues ever. 

The game was set up as a way to excite fans for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Athens. Team USA defeated the WNBA stars, 74–58, and would go on to win the gold medal as well. 

NHL Winter Classic (Hockey at Wrigley, Fenway, Big House), 2008-Present

The NHL Winter Classic is staged in large outdoor stadiums originally built for baseball or football, including Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, and Michigan Stadium. A full-size ice rink is constructed on top of the field surface, creating an incredible scene. 

Whether it’s Wrigley Field’s ivy-covered walls, Fenway Park’s Green Monster, or Michigan Stadium’s massive bowl, the venue becomes part of the story. These stadiums typically hold between 35,000 and 100,000 spectators, far exceeding standard NHL arena capacity. 

In 2010, Northwestern’s football team took on Illinois in what was the first football game to be played at Wrigley Field in 40 years. The iconic baseball venue provided a picturesque backdrop for two of the oldest programs in the Big Ten. The Wildcats would also later return to Wrigley, playing four games there between 2024 and 2025 due to ongoing construction at their home stadium.

Carrier Classic, 2011-12, 2022

The Carrier Classic was a series of college basketball games played on the deck of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier beginning in 2011. Set against an open sky and the ocean, the image of a basketball court in the middle of the ocean is one that’s hard to beat. 

Every camera angle feels like a movie shot, especially at sunset when the horizon glows behind the baskets. And it helps that powerhouse teams like Michigan State, North Carolina, Syracuse, and Gonzaga have all participated in some electric games in this series.  

Battle at Bristol, 2016

In 2016, Bristol Motor Speedway was converted to a football stadium for a college football game between Virginia Tech and Tennessee. The game saw 156,990 people, making it the largest college football venue in history. Peyton Manning and Bruce Smith were the alumni representatives for each school at the coin toss, further adding to the spectacle. 

Field of Dreams Game, 2021-22, 2026

The 1989 baseball movie Field of Dreams is arguably one of the best sports films of all-time. It revolves around an Iowa farmer who builds a baseball field on his cornfield. Major League Baseball decided to pay homage to it by creating the “Field of Dreams” game in 2021 between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox, constructing a field in Dyersville, Iowa. 

It is one of the most jaw-dropping images in sports, as players are often photographed while walking through the cornfields. In 2022, the Chicago Cubs took on the Cincinnati Reds and will feature the Minnestoa Twins and Philadelphia Phillies this season.

Clash at Coliseum, 2022-24

Racing inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum turns NASCAR into a stadium spectacle. The historic venue, once home to the Olympics and still the house for the USC football team, becomes a tight, high-banked short track packed into an iconic bowl. 

Fans tower over the action from all sides, creating a sense of intensity and closeness rarely seen in motorsports. Joey Logano won in 2022, Martin Truex Jr. in 2023, and Denny Hamlin in 2024. 

Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, 2023-Present

People often view Vegas as the city that never sleeps, known for opulence, luxurious hotels and casinos, and excess. What else could you add to the world-famous Las Vegas strip? Well, Formula 1 decided to build a racetrack around it, constructing a 6.2-kilometer course for the world’s fastest drivers and cars. 

Imagine being at the Bellagio Hotel, looking out the window, and seeing cars drive 200-plus miles per hour on the streets! The first edition took place in 2023, with Max Verstappen getting the victory.

NASCAR’s Grant Park 165, 2023-25

Few motorsports events can match the spectacle of NASCAR racing through the heart of a major American city. The Chicago street race transforms downtown streets into a temporary speedway, wrapping stock cars around Lake Michigan, Grant Park, and the skyline itself. Instead of grandstands and infields, fans get skyscrapers, waterfront views, and iconic landmarks framing every lap. 

It feels less like a traditional race and more like a citywide festival, where Chicago’s energy collides with NASCAR in one of the sport’s most visually striking settings. Shane van Gisbergen won the event in 2023 and 2025, while Alex Bowman took it in 2024.

Nebraska Women’s Volleyball at Memorial Stadium, 2023

Dubbed as “Volleyball Day in Nebraska”, the University of Nebraska hosted a two-match event featuring four schools at Memorial Stadium, the home of the Cornhuskers’ football program. The second match, featuring the women’s volleyball team against Omaha saw a whopping 92,003 people in attendance, widely considered one of the highest attendances on record for a women’s sporting event. 

The sea of red all over the stadium was one of the most incredible sights you’ll see in sports.

UFC 306 at The Sphere, 2024

There aren’t many venues that are cooler in the country than the Sphere in Paradise, Nevada. Built in 2023, it features 580,000 square feet of LED displays and measures 366 feet tall and 516 feet wide. A year after its construction, the UFC decided to host one of its biggest events there. 

Headlined by “Suga” Sean O’Malley taking on Merab Dvalishvili for the Bantamweight Championship, UFC 306 was also a celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day, and dubbed “Noche UCF.” Throughout the night, incredible visuals representing Mexican culture were featured on the Sphere’s massive screen.

MLB Speedway Classic, 2025

The 2025 MLB Speedway Classic brought baseball into the roaring world of motorsports, transforming a racetrack into a diamond. The Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves played a game at Bristol Motor Speedway with over 91,000 fans present, setting the attendance record for a MLB regular-season game. The venue combined features of a traditional ballpark, such as dugouts and backstops, with the scale and layout of a speedway. 

Grand Prix of Arlington, 2026

INDYCAR is headed to Arlington, Texas, this year, bringing two “American institutions together.” From March 13-15, INDYCAR will unveil a brand-new stop right outside AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. 

This will be the first-ever Grand Prix of Arlington and the third stop on the INDYCAR calendar, after the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway.

Freedom 250, 2026

For more information on INDYCAR’s newest event, check out the links below:

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Superstars will be in abundance at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, especially on the United States and Japan rosters, but that’s not the case for other countries.

Houston Astros stars Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa and New York Mets star Francisco Lindor aren’t cleared to compete in the esteemed baseball tournament for their respective countries.

Here’s what’s going on:

Insurance at the heart of the issue

Altuve (Venezuela), Correa (Puerto Rico) and Lindor (Puerto Rico) are among the players who can’t participate in the World Baseball Classic due to not being granted the proper insurance to play; an insurance policy is in place that financially protects MLB teams if a player gets hurt in the tournament.

“Due to the criteria for WBC insurance coverage, Jose Altuve was looking forward to participating in the WBC and representing Venezuela, but unfortunately is not eligible to do so,” the MLBPA said in a statement. “Jose is obviously disappointed in this result, but he is looking forward to getting to spring training and preparing himself for a successful season.”

Altuve, who suffered a thumb injury in the 2023 WBC and missed the beginning of the 2023 MLB regular season due to the injury, underwent foot surgery in November; Correa has missed extensive time due to back, rib, finger and foot injuries, among other issues throughout his MLB career; Lindor underwent elbow surgery in October.

“Due to the cleanup procedure that Francisco Lindor had on his right elbow earlier this offseason, he will not be participating for team Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic,” the MLBPA said in a statement. “Francisco is obviously disappointed that he will be unable to participate. However, because of WBC insurance constraints, he is ineligible to play in WBC games. “He will participate fully in all spring training activities.”

Puerto Rico is in trouble

Additionally, Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios and Cincinnati Reds reliever Emilio Pagan, who would each play for Puerto Rico, haven’t been cleared. The country is considering withdrawing from the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Dr. Jose Quiles, the President of the Puerto Rico Baseball Federation, said.

“We are considering not participating in this edition [of the WBC]. It’s a discussion we’ve already had,” Quiles said. “If we are not playing under equal conditions, we will not participate. It’s a decision that is almost, almost, made. We are issuing a warning. We’ll see what happens in the coming days, and we will make a final decision.”

Precedent

In the 2023 World Baseball Classic, reliever Edwin Diaz — who signed a five-year, $102 million contract with the Mets just four months earlier — suffered a torn right patellar tendon in a celebration pile after a Puerto Rico victory. Diaz subsequently missed the entire 2023 MLB season.

Prior to the 2023 WBC, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw wasn’t able to secure the needed insurance coverage to play due to concerns about his back.

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