Category: Baseball

Turns out, the Philadelphia Phillies were ale-ing last year.

Deciding their relationship ruptured when Nick Castellanos angrily brought a beer into the dugout after he was pulled from a game, the Phillies released the outfielder on Thursday even though they owe him $20 million for the final season of a $100 million, five-year contract.

Draught was an issue in a season that extended the team’s title drought.

In a four-page handwritten letter posted Thursday, Castellanos admitted he broke a team rule by bringing a Presidente beer into the dugout last June “after being taken out of a close ball game in front of my friends and family.” Phillies manager Rob Thomson made the move for defense with a 3-1 eighth-inning lead during a 5-2 win at Miami on June 16.

“I’m proud of him because he owned up to what he did and, hey, we all make mistakes,” Thomson said Friday. “Nick had helped us out in a lot of ways here. He’s had some big hits and big plays and helped us win a lot ballgames. So I do, I wish him all the best.”

During a season that ended with a Division Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Castellanos hit .250 — his lowest in a non-shortened season — with 17 homers and 72 RBIs.

Any team can sign Castellanos for the $780,000 major league minimum. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski had decided Castellanos wouldn’t report to the team for spring training — the 33-year-old did not have a locker assigned and two photos of him in the corridor of player images had already been removed.

“A lot of times when a good player has their role change with the club, it can cause some friction, and his role changed last year from where it was,” Dombrowski said. “I mean you played every single day for a lot years in a row, and so sometimes that can contribute to it. Sometimes, then, people have debates between themselves where they’re not all on the same page. But when you put all that together, sometimes you just need to make sure that you have a change of scenery.”

Castellanos’ minus-12 outs above average — how many outs they gain defensively over the average fielder at their position, according to MLB Statcast — tied the New York Mets‘ Juan Soto and the Los Angeles Angels‘ Jo Adell for 108th and last among 110 qualified outfielders.

Castellanos was removed for Johan Rojas, who took over in center as Brandon Marsh moved from center to left and Max Kepler from left to right.

“I then sat right next to Rob and let him know that too much Slack in some areas and too tight of restrictions in others and not [conducive] to us winning,” Castellanos wrote. “Shoutout to my teammates and Howie [Phillies special assistant Howie Kendrick] for taking the beer out of my hands before I could take a sip.

Castellanos said he “aired out our differences” after the game during a meeting with Thomson and Dombrowski.

“The conversation ended with me apologizing for letting my emotions get the best of me,” Castellanos wrote.

Castellanos was benched the next day for what Thomson said then was “an inappropriate comment.” Castellanos wrote that the Phillies told him not to divulge details to reporters.

“I was surprised that a lot of people didn’t see what was taking place at the time,” Dombrowski said.

Thomson doesn’t regret the messy details didn’t become public at the time.

“I thought it was appropriate what we did,” he said.

Castellanos appeared in 75 of the team’s final 90 regular season games and hit .133 with three RBIs in the four-game Division Series loss to the Dodgers. His production decline led to the decision as much as the beer beef.

“That wasn’t the final or determining factor, because if that was, we would have done that at that particular time,” Dombrowski said.

Philadelphia secured a replacement in December, agreeing to a $10 million, one-year contract with Adolis Garcia.

Reporting for the new season and hoping to win Philadelphia’s first title since 2008, Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber wished Castellanos the best.

“We’ve had a lot of really good memories here over the last four years, and he’s had some really big moments with us,” Schwarber said. “Hopefully, wherever he goes next, he’s able to keep going out there and keep doing his thing and keep having those big moments.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

The Philadelphia Phillies released outfielder Nick Castellanos on Thursday after the team was unable to make a deal to trade him. Castellanos then revealed he was benched last season after bringing beer into the dugout during a game.

The team wanted the situation resolved before its first full-squad workout at spring training, which is Monday.

Castellanos was benched last season after he made what Phillies manager Rob Thomson described as “an inappropriate comment” after he was pulled for a defensive replacement. Castellanos said in September that communication with Thomson had been “questionable, at least in my experience.”

On Thursday, Castellanos posted a hand-written note on social media explaining an incident in Miami that preceded his benching. He said he brought beer into the dugout after being taken out of a game and complained to Thomson about team rules. He said teammates took the beer away before he drank any.

Afterward, he went into the office with Thomson and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.

“We aired out our differences and the conversation ended with me apologizing for letting my emotions get the best of me,” Castellanos said, adding that he was benched the next game as punishment.

Castellanos, who turns 34 on March 4, hit .250 with 17 homers and 72 RBIs in 147 games for the NL East champions last year. He was going into the final season of a $100 million, five-year contract, but Dombrowski said Monday the Phillies were talking to other teams about him.

Adolis Garcia is expected to replace Castellanos in right field after he signed a $10 million, one-year contract with Philadelphia in December.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is optimistic that major-leaguers will play in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Manfred, speaking following an owners meeting Thursday, said there are still issues to resolve with the Major League Baseball Players Association before those Olympic aspirations are a reality, but “I think we’re a lot closer to there than we were the last time we talked about it,” he said.

The six-nation baseball tournament will be played from July 13-19 at Dodger Stadium. MLB is planning for an extended All-Star break between July 9 and July 21, with the All-Star Game likely at San Francisco on July 11.

An agreement with the union is needed.

“I sense a lot of momentum towards playing in LA in 2028,” Manfred said. “I think we are going to get over those issues. I think people have come to appreciate that the Olympics on U.S. soil is a unique marketing opportunity for the game. I think we had a lot of players interested in doing it and, you know, I feel pretty good about the idea (that) we’ll get there.”

In addition, an agreement is needed on insurance to cover player contracts for time with Olympic teams.

The United States will have an automatic berth in the both the baseball and softball tournaments and the top two other nations from the Americas in next month’s World Baseball Classic will earn berths.

MLB did not allow players on 40-man rosters to participate in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, when Nippon Professional Baseball interrupted its season and Japan beat the U.S. 2-0 in the gold medal game.

Manfred was also asked if the involvement of Casey Wasserman, the prominent businessman and talent agent who has recently lost clients because of his appearance in recently released government files on Jeffrey Epstein, would deter the league from participating in the Olympics. He declined to comment on Wasserman, who is the chairman of the Los Angeles games, saying, “Look, our dealings are not with Casey. Our dealings are with the institution of the Olympics.”

Manfred on Dodgers: ‘Great teams’ good for baseball

The addition of star outfielder Kyle Tucker by the Los Angeles Dodgers to what already was among the highest payrolls again sparked debate over whether management will propose a salary cap in collective bargaining this year.

Manfred said there hasn’t been much movement in salary cap talks.

Tucker, the right fielder who is considered one of the best players in baseball, is the latest accomplished veteran brought in by the Dodgers, who have three of the top eight current contracts by average annual value. Los Angeles also signed top closer Edwin Diaz to bolster its bullpen.

“Look, I think great teams are always good for baseball,” he said. “I think with respect to this particular great team, it added to what we have been hearing from fans in a lot of markets for a long time about the competitiveness of the game. But great teams are always good baseball.”

Bargaining is likely to start this spring on a labor contract to succeed the deal that expires Dec. 1.

“We’re in the preparation process,” Manfred said. “We haven’t agreed on a calendar with the MLBPA and it does take two to tango, as they say, but historically after opening day we kind of get started.”

WBC insurance process

Manfred said there likely isn’t a way around insurance issues that have come up for MLB-contracted players planning to play in next month’s World Baseball Classic. Several stars, including Puerto Rico’s Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa, were left off their countries’ rosters because the WBC insurer wouldn’t cover them.

“We like that, when they say they want to play, obviously,” Manfred said. “But then to have a problem with the insurance and the guy being unable to play, we recognize that. I’m just not sure that there is a way around it.”

The tournament is co-owned by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association. Insurance is provided by National Financial Partners.

“In order to get clubs comfortable with the idea that guys should play earlier in games they otherwise would not play, we had to protect them financially,” Manfred said.

Coach’s boxes

Owners approved a rules change requiring first- and third-base coaches to remain in the marked coaching boxes. Coaches have frequently moved toward home plate, in a better position to better relay signs from the defensive team that may pick up.

Decline of regional sports networks

MLB will produce and distribute local television broadcasts of at least 14 teams this season following financial problems of Main Street Sports Group’s FanDuel Sports Network.

“The RSN situation has an impact on our revenue growth because the decline there is a drag on what is otherwise a growing industry,” Manfred said. “It is true that the smaller markets have been hit harder than the larger markets, which impacts revenue sharing. Having said both of those, I think longer term, our content is inherently valuable. We deliver tons of eyeballs, and I think when we have an opportunity to get to market in 2028, we’re going to be just fine.”

Manfred said the 14 teams are “probably making a little less than they made under their old contracts.”

“The key word there is old,” he added. “The reason those contracts aren’t there anymore was they were not economic given the cord-cutting that’s going on.”

Changes in team control

Teams approved two changes in controlling owners: Cincinnati Reds CEO Phil Castellini succeeds his father Minnesota Twins board member Tom Pohlad takes over from takes over from his younger brother Bob.

Manfred said of the San Diego Padres‘ sale process: “There is robust interest in what is viewed as a really appealing asset.”

Executive council

Milwaukee chairman Mark Attanasio and Baltimore control owner David Rubenstein were voted to the eight-man executive council, replacing Arizona managing general partner Ken Kendrick and Seattle chairman John Stanton. The council also includes San Francisco chairman Greg Johnson and Cleveland chairman Paul Dolan (whose terms expire in 2027) and Miami chairman Bruce Sherman and Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno (2028) and New York Mets chairman Steve Cohen and Athletics managing partner John Fisher (2029).

Corporate deals

MLB approved extensions of its contract with Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. and of the deals for Comcast Corp. and Cox Communications Inc. to carry the Extra Innings package of out-of-market TV broadcasts.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Strength of pitching might be what separates the 2026 World Baseball Classic favorites from the rest of the field like it was in 2023, but make no mistake: the best sluggers in the world will make sure to leave their mark on this year’s tournament.

FOX Sports Research ranks the top-10 hitters in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, and to no surprise, the superstars of Major League Baseball are well-represented:

[RELATED: Full World Baseball Classic broadcast schedule]

Since making his big-league debut in 2019, Tatis has brought the juice. The shortstop-turned-right fielder is a menacing hitter from the right side of the plate with mammoth power. Tatis, who’s a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, led the National League with 42 home runs in 2021, boasts a career .513 slugging percentage and is among the most electric players in the sport.

Speaking of power, Schwarber will be playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. The left-handed hitter has a level, compact swing from the left side that generates an absurd amount of power and production. Last season, Schwarber totaled a National League-high 56 home runs and 132 RBIs and posted a career-best .563 slugging percentage. He has averaged 46.8 home runs and 108.5 RBIs per season from 2022-25.

It’s all about Acuna being healthy, because when the career-long Braves star is on the field, he’s one of the most gifted players in the sport (Acuna has played fewer than 100 games in three of the last five seasons). Acuna, who won the 2023 NL MVP and boasts a career .524 slugging percentage, is an impact hitter who hits for both contact and power and wreaks havoc on the basepath. He’s a three-time Silver Slugger and five-time All-Star.

Rodriguez can do it all. He can hit for both contact and power, runs well, has a plausible arm and is a terrific center fielder. The face of the Mariners for the better part of his MLB career (2022-present), Rodriguez has earned three All-Star nods, blasted 30-plus home runs in two seasons and posted a career-high 6.8 wins above replacement in 2025, a season which saw Seattle come one win short of winning its first AL pennant; Rodriguez hit four home runs across Seattle’s 12 postseason games.

Guerrero is one of the most dangerous hitters that MLB has to offer. Just take this past postseason, as the Blue Jays star totaled eight home runs and 15 RBIs, while posting a .397/.494/.795 slash line. Guerrero, a two-time Silver Slugger, is a balanced hitter who has a great deal of power but also seldom strikes out and will lay off pitches. In 2021, Guerrero, a career .288 hitter, was the runner-up for the AL MVP Award.

5. Seattle Mariners C Cal Raleigh (USA)

Even before a 2025 campaign that saw Raleigh hit an MLB record 60 home runs for a catcher and be the runner-up for the 2025 AL MVP, Seattle’s backstop was already among the best at his position. A switch-hitter, Raleigh averaged 32 home runs per season from 2023-24 and was a Gold Glover in 2024. He’s smooth behind the plate, an impact hitter from either side of the plate and arguably the best all-around catcher in the sport.

Many of the compliments that one could give Soto in his 2018 rookie season are the same as the ones that are given to him in the present. He’s an elite hitter who works the count, drives the ball to all fields and is battle-tested in postseason play. Soto, a six-time Silver Slugger with 42.6 wins above replacement for his career, is disciplined in the batter’s box, slugs at a high rate, hit 42 home runs per season from 2024-25 and just stole an NL- and career-best 38 bases in 2025.

Witt is a force to be reckoned with. He’s an extra-base-hitting machine who creates noise on the bases, has become an elite shortstop and averaged 8.3 wins above replacement per season from 2024-25. Witt has led the AL in hits in each of the last two seasons, while winning the 2024 AL batting title (.332) and leading the AL with 47 doubles in 2025. Moreover, over his four-year MLB career (2022-25), Witt has averaged 26.3 home runs, 93.3 RBIs, 37.0 stolen bases and 5.4 wins above replacement per season, while posting a combined .290/.340/.504 slash line.

Trying to find a weakness in Judge’s game is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The AL MVP in three of the last four seasons, Judge has terrorized opposing pitchers since his first full season in the big leagues in 2017. He has a crisp, overwhelming swing and has led the AL in intentional walks in each of the last two years. Judge — who has totaled 50-plus home runs in four seasons, 10-plus wins above replacement in two seasons and plays right field at a high level — has also led the AL in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, OPS+ and walks in each of the last two seasons. Judge has put himself in Yankees’ Mount Rushmore territory.

When Ohtani is hitting and pitching at the same time — like he was last season — he’s the best baseball player on the planet. Sticking with the bat, he’s a year removed from becoming the first player to post a 50-50 season (50 home runs and 50 stolen bases) in MLB history. Ohtani has elite strength and power from the left side of the plate, sending pitches that are up in the strike zone near the concourse with ease. He has also led the NL in slugging percentage, OPS, OPS+ and runs scored in each of the last two seasons. Ohtani, who’s a four-time league MVP and has now won back-to-back World Series with the Dodgers, is a force at the plate, on the mound and on the basepath.

Honorable mentions:

• Arizona Diamondbacks IF Ketel Marte (Dominican Republic)
• Baltimore Orioles IF Gunnar Henderson (USA)
• San Diego Padres IF Manny Machado (Dominican Republic)
• Philadelphia Phillies IF Bryce Harper (USA)
• Chicago Cubs IF Alex Bregman (USA)

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

All-Stars, MVPs, and Cy Young winners. Plenty of MLB’s best players will be taking the diamond and representing their countries at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. 

FOX Sports announced the U.S. broadcast schedule for the tournament, which will begin Wednesday, March 4 and conclude with the much-anticipated Championship Game at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins, on Tuesday, March 17 (FOX, 8 p.m. ET).

In all, the WBC’s 47 games will air across FOX Sports’ family of networks (FOX, FS1, FS2 and FOX Deportes), as well as the FOX Sports App and Tubi. All matchups will also be available to stream live and on-demand on FOX One. Additionally, 41 out of the 47 contests will air in Spanish across a combination of FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App, Tubi and FOX One.

The tournament will begin with Pool C play in Tokyo on March 4, with the remaining three pools – Pool A in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Pool B in Houston; and Pool D in Miami – beginning on Friday, March 6. 

Pool B features the star-studded Team USA, whose squad includes top players like Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. FOX will broadcast its first game when the USA plays its opening game against Brazil at Daikin Park (home of the Houston Astros) on Friday, March 6 at 8 p.m. ET.

FOX will carry a total of seven games, including two quarterfinal games: in Houston on Friday, March 13 at 8 p.m. ET, and the matchup in Miami on Saturday, March 14 at 9 p.m. ET. FOX will also carry the Championship Game on Tuesday, March 17 at 8 p.m. ET.

FS1 coverage, which will include 19 contests, will be headlined by coverage of the semifinals in Miami on Sunday, March 15 at 8 p.m. ET and Monday, March 16 at 8 p.m. ET. In addition, FS1 will air highly anticipated pool play matchups between Korea and Japan on Saturday, March 7 at 5:00 a.m. ET; Cuba and Puerto Rico on Monday, March 9 at 7:00 p.m. ET; and the Dominican Republic and Venezuela on Wednesday, March 11 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Here’s the entire WBC broadcast schedule:

World Baseball Classic Schedule

All times are ET.

March 4 (Wednesday)

Chinese Taipei vs. Australia: 10 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

March 5 (Thursday)

Czechia vs. Korea: 5 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

Australia vs. Czechia: 10 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

March 6 (Friday)

Japan vs. Chinese Taipei: 5 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

Cuba vs. Panama: 11 a.m. on FS2/FOX Deportes

Mexico vs. Great Britain: 1 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

Puerto Rico vs. Colombia: 6 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

USA vs. Brazil: 8 p.m. on FOX/FOX Deportes

Chinese Taipei vs. Czechia: 10 p.m. on FS2

March 7 (Saturday)

Korea vs. Japan: 5 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

Colombia vs. Canada: 11 a.m. on FS2/FOX Deportes

Nicaragua vs. Netherlands: Noon on Tubi

Brazil vs. Italy: 1 p.m. on FOX Sports App

Panama vs. Puerto Rico: 6 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

Israel vs. Venezuela: 7 p.m. on FS2

Great Britain vs. USA: 8 p.m. on FOX

Chinese Taipei vs. Korea: 10 p.m. on FS2

March 8 (Sunday)

Australia vs. Japan: 6 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

Colombia vs. Cuba: Noon on FS2

Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic: Noon on FOX/FOX Deportes

Great Britain vs. Italy: 1 p.m. on Tubi

Panama vs. Canada: 7 p.m. on FS2

Nicaragua vs. Israel: 7 p.m. on Tubi

Brazil vs. Mexico: 8 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

March 9 (Monday)

Korea vs. Australia: 6 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

Colombia vs. Panama: Noon on FS2

Dominican Republic vs. Israel: Noon on FS1/FOX Deportes

Brazil vs. Great Britain: 1 p.m. on Tubi

Cuba vs. Puerto Rico: 7 p.m. on FS1

Venezuela vs. Nicaragua: 7 p.m. on FS2

Mexico vs. USA: 8 p.m. on FOX/FOX Deportes

March 10 (Tuesday)

Czechia vs. Japan: 6 a.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

Canada vs. Puerto Rico: 7 p.m. on Tubi

Israel vs. Netherlands: 7 p.m. on FOX Sports App/FOX Deportes

Italy vs. USA: 9 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

March 11 (Wednesday)

Canada vs. Cuba: 3 p.m. on FS2/FOX Deportes

Italy vs. Mexico: 7 p.m. on Tubi

Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela: 8 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

March 13 (Friday)

Quarterfinals

1. Pool C runner-up vs. Pool D winner: 6:30 p.m. on FS2/FOX Deportes

2. Pool A runner-up vs. Pool B winner: 8 p.m. on FOX/FOX Deportes

March 14 (Saturday)

Quarterfinals

3. Pool B runner-up vs. Pool A winner: 3 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

4. Pool D runner-up vs. Pool C winner: 9 p.m. on FOX/FOX Deportes

March 15 (Sunday)

Semifinal

1. QF1 winner vs. QF2 winner: 8 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

March 16 (Monday)

Semifinal

2. QF3 winner vs. QF4 winner: 8 p.m. on FS1/FOX Deportes

March 17 (Tuesday)

Championship

SF1 winner vs. SF2 winner: 8 p.m. on FOX/FOX Deportes

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

After coming up just short in 2023, the USA has a roster that has it as the favorite entering the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The big difference? Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb headline an impressive pitching staff.

USA’s journey will begin with pool play. All four of its games in Pool B will be played at Daikin Park (home of the Houston Astros) against Mexico, Italy, Great Britain and Brazil. The Americans’ quarterfinal game would also be in Houston before the semifinals and Championship Game take place at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins.

[RELATED: Full World Baseball Classic broadcast schedule]

You can catch all the action on FOX. Here’s when you can tune in to watch Team USA this March:

USA Pool B Schedule

March 6

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March 7

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March 9

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March 10

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Quarterfinals

If Team USA advances as the first-place team in Pool B, it will play in Houston at Daikin Park on March 13 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. If it finishes second in Pool B, it will play in Houston on March 14 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1. 

Every game in the knockout stage of the tournament will be on FOX Deportes, as well.

Semifinals

The two semifinals will be played on March 15 and 16 at loanDepot Park in Miami. If the USA advances from the quarterfinals after winning Pool B, it will play on Sunday, March 15 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. If the USA advances coming out of Pool B as the runner-up, it will play on Monday, March 16, at 8 p.m. ET.

Final

The WBC final will be in Miami on Tuesday, March 17, at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

The World Baseball Classic is going to be memorable. But because of its worldwide scheduling, it is also going to be on at all hours of the day. 

You’ll need to plan for that with alarms and early or late bedtimes.

[RELATED: Full World Baseball Classic broadcast schedule]

To help you out, we have identified the best matchup of each day in pool play — as well as hypothetical contests for the rest of the tournament — so you can know when it’s time to wake up to catch some international baseball.

Pool Play

March 4, Chinese Taipei @ Australia, 10 p.m. ET on FS1

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The World Baseball Classic kicks off with Chinese Taipei taking on Australia in Tokyo, Japan in Pool C play. Neither is favored to win either their pool or the WBC at large, but none of that matters on day one — the fact the tourney is here at long last is reason enough to tune in.

March 5, Czechia @ Republic of Korea, 5 a.m. ET on FS1

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Korea is one of the better teams in Pool C and at the tournament — maybe not elite like Team USA or Japan, but capable of making some noise and hanging with any of the best. This one requires an early wakeup, but you get to see an intriguing Czechia squad as well. 

March 6, United States @ Brazil, 8 p.m. ET on FOX

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If you want to see Team USA in its first action of the tournament, it’s in primetime against Brazil, one of the biggest longshots of this year’s WBC. The USA has a loaded rotation – Aaron Judge, Tarik Skubal, Cal Raleigh to name a few stars – and this team is favored to win it all.

March 7, Republic of Korea @ Japan, 5 a.m. ET on FS1

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Japan, the Pool C favorite, takes on its most significant competition in the Republic of Korea. Shohei Ohtani isn’t pitching, but watching him at the plate is always a treat, and this is a chance to see new MLB players Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto in action as well for the defending WBC champions.

March 8, Colombia @ Cuba, 12 p.m. ET on FOX

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Neither Cuba nor Colombia are expected to be a WBC power this year, but neither is one that can be ignored by the competition. That makes this game even more vital for both teams. Anything can happen in a tournament setting, and a win here increases the chances that either gets to stick around beyond pool play.

March 9, Dominican Republic @ Israel, 12 p.m. ET on FS1

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The Dominican Republic’s lineup is ridiculous, as expected — Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, Oneil Cruz, Julio Rodriguez, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Juan Soto all in one place? Even the big-spending Dodgers haven’t pulled that off (yet).

March 10, Canada @ Puerto Rico, 7 p.m. ET on Tubi

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If Canada is going to get out of pool play, it will likely need a win against Puerto Rico late into the schedule. Josh Naylor will try to power Canada to a win, while Denzel Clarke is a threat to catch any ball that hasn’t cleared the fence. And also some that have.

March 11, Dominican Republic @ Venezuela, 8 p.m. ET on FS1

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This very well might be two of the top-five teams in the whole tournament facing off, and on the last day of pool play. Chances are good that the game will be for more than just Pool D bragging rights. The Dominican lineup is loaded, but Venezuela has Ronald Acuna Jr., Eugenio Suarez, Willson Contreras, Salvador Perez and Maikel Garcia, so it’s got plenty of pop, too.

Quarterfinals

Based on the current betting odds and favorites for pool play, here are the matchups you can expect in the quarterfinals and beyond.

March 13, Pool A Runner-Up (Canada) @ Pool B Winner (United States), 8 p.m. ET on FOX

Canada has talent, but this is probably the end of the road for the team given the tremendous pitching of the United States. You will want to watch either way, since a display of dominance or an upset is great television regardless.

March 14, Pool D Runner-Up (Venezuela) @ Pool A Winner (Japan), 9 p.m. ET on FOX

Under the assumption that the Dominican Republic wins Pool D and Japan wins on its home turf in Tokyo, we end up with Venezuela taking on the defending champions in the quarterfinals. Venezuela is an underdog here, but only slightly — this would be a serious clash.

Semifinals

March 15, Quarterfinal Winner (Puerto Rico) vs. Quarterfinal Winner (United States), 8 p.m. ET on FS1

Puerto Rico is favored to win Pool A, and here it would be in action against the would-be winner of Pool B – should the USA win the potential quarterfinal against Canada. Regardless of which starter is on the mound for the USA, viewers should be in for a treat.

March 16, Quarterfinal Winner (Japan) vs. Quarterfinal Winner (Dominican Republic), 8 p.m. ET on FS1

Will Japan’s pitching, sans Ohtani, hold up against the intense lineup of the Dominican Republic? That would be must-watch TV, and not just because it’s the lone game on the schedule.

Championship

March 17, Semifinal Winner (United States) vs. Semifinal Winner (Japan), 8 p.m. ET on FOX

The odds say that Japan does return to the Championship Game, leaving us with a rematch of the 2023 edition. Does the USA have the arms to get through this time? Or is a half-operational Ohtani still the most dangerous opponent around?

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

It’s time to dust off those ball bags — MLB spring training has commenced. 

Pitchers and catchers are starting to report to both Arizona and Florida for all 30 teams with Opening Day on March 25. Rosters are getting finalized and every team’s new offseason additions are getting their reps in – not to mention the much anticipated World Baseball Classic that will see the world’s best players compete on the international stage. 

Here are all the notable news and last-minute dealings as teams ramp up to Opening Day:

Feb. 11

Castellanos could be traded in next two days

The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to trade right fielder Nick Castellanos in the next two days, according to a report from The Athleticon Wednesday.

Castellanos, a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger Award-winner, was told not to report to the Phillies’ Spring Training facility as the parties work toward a resolution, per the report.

Francisco Lindor undergoes surgery

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said he’s optimistic shortstop Francisco Lindor will recover for opening day after having surgery on Wednesday to repair a broken hamate bone in his left hand.

Lindor was evaluated by a hand specialist after experiencing soreness in the area around his hand and wrist this week. “People are saying six weeks for return of play,” Mendoza said, referencing a timeline that could threaten Lindor’s status for the start of the season.

“Knowing Lindor, I’m not gonna bet against him. This is a guy that’s played through broken toes and the low back (injury) two years ago when he barely walked and he continued to play through it. So we’re still optimistic that he’s going to be available for us on opening day, but we’ve just got to wait and see.”

Lindor is the third prominent player to suffer hamate bone injuries in the opening week of spring training, following Arizona outfielder Corbin Carroll and Baltimore second baseman Jackson Holliday.

When asked about the sudden rash of hamate injuries, Mendoza said: “It’s baseball, you know. I guess it’s back to baseball season. … This is a pretty common one. It’s just rare that, you know, in the span of, what 24 hours, we got three really good players going down with the same injury. But I don’t make too much out of it.”

The Houston Astros‘ star closer has felt “arm soreness,” with imaging revealing that Hader has “bicep inflammation,” putting his status for Opening Day in jeopardy, according to The Athletic.

Last season, Hader, a six-time All-Star, recorded a 2.05 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 76 strikeouts, 2.3 wins above replacement and was 28 of 29 in save situations across 52.2 innings pitched. His 2025 campaign ended in August, though, due to a shoulder injury.

Corbin Carroll Fractures Hand, To Miss WBC

Arizona Diamondbacks star outfielder Corbin Carroll won’t play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic after breaking his right hamate bone in batting practice on Tuesday, ESPN reported on Wednesday morning. Carroll is having surgery for the injury on Wednesday and could begin the 2026 MLB regular season on the injured list.

Carroll, a two-time All-Star who was set to play in his first career World Baseball Classic for Team USA, has led the National League in triples in each of the last three seasons.

Holliday to undergo surgery

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday will have surgery on Thursday to repair a broken hamate bone in his right hand and will miss opening day.

Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias announced Wednesday that Holliday sustained the injury while taking batting practice last week.

Holliday, 22, hit .242 with 17 home runs, 55 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 2025. He was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2022.

Elias also said Wednesday that third baseman Jordan Westburg is recovering from a right oblique injury that could delay his participation in spring training games.

The switch-hitting outfielder will miss the next five-to-six months due to left labral surgery, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider announced. Santander, who’s entering the second season of a five-year, $92.5 million deal with the Blue Jays, was limited to just 59 combined games in 2025 (regular season plus postseason) due to a shoulder injury. In the regular season, he totaled just six home runs, 18 RBIs and -1 wins above replacement, while posting a .175/.271/.294 slash line.

The season prior (2024), Santander was an All-Star for the Baltimore Orioles, hitting a career-high 44 home runs and averaging 35 home runs and 95.3 RBIs per season from 2022-24.

Feb. 10

Kris Bryant on 60-Day IL; Rockies Sign Tomoyuki Sugano

The Rockies will continue to be without one of their oft-injured big signings through at least two months.

Colorado placed infielder/outfielder Kris Bryant on the 60-day injured list due to a degenerative lumbar disc disease (lower back). The slugger has appeared in just 170 games with the Rockies since agreeing to a $182 million, seven-year contract in March 2022.

In addition to playing Bryant on the IL, the Rockies added Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano to their rotation on Tuesday, agreeing to a $5.1 million, one-year contract with the right-hander.

Sugano, 36, went 10-10 with a 4.64 ERA in 30 starts with Baltimore last year. He pitched in Japan before agreeing to a $13 million, one-year contract with the Orioles in December 2024. Sugano played for the Yomiuri Giants for 12 seasons, winning three MVP awards in Nippon Professional Baseball’s Central League.

Juan Soto changing positions

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns announced that Juan Soto will be shifting from right field to left field next season. Soto has extensive experience at both corner outfield positions but has primarily started in right field over the last two years. Last season was Soto’s first with the Mets and saw him total -7 defensive runs saved in right field. At the same time, the six-time Silver Slugger totaled a career-high 43 home runs, 105 RBIs, a National League-high 38 stolen bases and 6.2 wins above replacement, while posting a .263/.396/.525 slash line.

It’s come full circle as the 43-year-old future Hall of Famer returns to the club where he became a breakout star. Justin Verlander, the three-time Cy Young winner, inked a one-year deal for $13 million. Verlander has 266 victories are tied with Bob Feller and Eppa Rixey for 34th on baseball’s career list, while his 3,553 career strikeouts are eighth and closely trailing Don Sutton with 3,574.

Verlander now bolsters an already stacked rotation that includes two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez, who also signed with Detroit in free agency. Verlander was traded to Houston in August 2017 and helped the Astros win the World Series that same year and again in 2022. Now he gets an opportunity to chase a third championship with the Tigers, who are looking for the franchise’s first title since 1984.

Feb. 9

Phillies desperately trying to trade outfielder

Philadelphia president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said that the team is “doing everything” it can “to make a move” regarding outfielder Nick Castellanos. The 33-year-old Castellanos is entering the final season of a five-year, $100 million contract and coming off a 2025 campaign that saw him post a career-low -0.8 wins above replacement, while posting a .250/.294/.400 slash line. 

He also posted -11 defensive runs saved in right field (138 starts/143 appearances).

Ketel Martel: ‘Happy’ to stay with D-Backs 

Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte said he remains happy staying with Arizona despite an offseason of speculation that the All-Star could be traded. 

“We talked a lot and hashed some things out, talked it all through and everything is great,” Marte said ahead of reporting to spring training early. “[GM] Mike [Hazen] knows I love the D-backs, I love my teammates. Everyone knows what type of player I am, and I’m just happy it all worked out and [that] I’m here.”

Hazen said that he did listen to offers but that a potential deal “never ended getting that close.”

“I felt like I had to do my job just to listen to what people had to say. He’s a superstar player for us, and has been for a long time, and is going to continue to be,” Hazen said. 

In his nine seasons for the Diamondbacks, Marte has made three All-Star teams, won two Silver Slugger Awards, finished third (2024) and fourth (’19) in NL MVP Award voting, as well as being named MVP of the 2023 NL Championship Series. Marte will take part in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic. 

Saalfrank to miss 2026

Arizona Diamondbacks left-handed pitcher Andrew Saalfrank will miss the season after shoulder surgery, the team confirmed on Monday.

The 28-year-old was expected to be an important part of the team’s bullpen after compiling a 1.24 ERA over 28 appearances last season. The Diamondbacks did not say how Saalfrank got hurt, adding manager Torey Lovullo will address the injury on Tuesday.

It’s another hit for the pitching staff, which already is without relievers A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez, along with ace starter Corbin Burnes, for the first few months of the season. All three are recovering from elbow surgery and hope to be back during the summer.

Saalfrank called the surgery a “tough pill to swallow” on social media, adding that “the game of baseball can be a brutal one, but it’s also given me some of the best moments of my life, and I don’t expect that to change moving forward.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

We don’t have to wait until Opening Day to see baseball’s best. The World Baseball Classic is back, and starting on March 4, the world is watching. 

Check out everything you need to know to tune in.

How to Watch the 2026 World Baseball Classic

FOX is your exclusive home to the WBC with games spread across the FOX family of networks. 

FOX is set to air seven games, including three Pool B games featuring the United States team, two Quarterfinals games and the World Baseball Classic Championship Game on Tuesday, March 17 from Miami’s loanDepot Park. The remaining matchups will air across FS1, FS2, the FOX Sports app, FOX One and Tubi. 

The U.S. is favored to win the tournament despite losing to Japan in the final in 2023.

How to Stream the 2026 World Baseball Classic

All 47 games will be available for streaming. Catch the action on the following streaming options:

• FOXSports.com and FOX Sports App
• FOX One
• Tubi

FOX Deportes will also carry 28 tournament games in Spanish, including all four Quarterfinals games, two Semifinals contests, and the Championship Game. Streaming services that carry FOX networks, like YouTube TV or Fubo, can be used to stream the tournament.

When is the 2026 World Baseball Classic

The tournament starts on March 4, 2026 at 10 p.m. ET with Chinese Taipei vs Australia and is capped off on Tuesday, March 17. 

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Team USA starts pool play on Friday, March 6 against Brazil.

View the full WBC schedule here.

Who is Playing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic?

20 teams will take to the diamond in this year’s tournament. Below are the pools, where they will play and teams.