On the heels of some early morning information out of St. Petersburg, listed here are three issues we’ll be keeping track of across the baseball world all through the day at this time:
1. Spring Coaching begins! (For one membership):
Dodgers gamers are reporting to camp at this time, marking the official starting of Spring Coaching for the membership. Whereas most golf equipment are reporting subsequent week, L.A. and San Diego are each reporting early in preparation for the Seoul Collection, the place the Dodgers and Padres will kick off the 2024 common season with a two-game set in South Korea. That collection is about to start on March 20, simply over per week earlier than Opening Day for the opposite 28 golf equipment happens again within the states on March 28. With the Dodgers’ spring ending per week early, the membership is kicking preparations for the season off forward of time as properly to make sure its gamers get a full Spring Coaching.
It’s been an thrilling offseason for Dodgers followers, highlighted by the membership’s acquisition of two-way famous person Shohei Ohtani. Trying past their most well-known acquisition, L.A. overhauled its rotation by including Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and James Paxton to a bunch that already featured the likes of Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller. In addition they reworked the outfield combine with the additions of Teoscar Hernandez and Manuel Margot, in addition to a reunion with Jason Heyward.
2. Kershaw to endure bodily:
Longtime franchise face Clayton Kershaw returned to the Dodgers earlier this week on a two-year deal earlier this week. The tentative pact between the perimeters is pending a bodily, which is able to happen at this time. After pitching by shoulder woes final season to submit a robust 2.46 ERA in 131 2/3 innings of labor, Kershaw went below the knife again in November. Assuming the contract turns into official post-physical, the membership might want to open up a 40-man roster spot for Kershaw going ahead.
Happily, with camp opening for the membership at this time, the Dodgers will now be capable of place gamers on the 60-day injured listing, which removes them from the 40-man roster for the size of their keep on the IL. With Kershaw not anticipated again on a pitcher’s mound till August on the earliest, the veteran figures to be positioned on the 60-day IL himself alongside righties Tony Gonsolin (Tommy John surgical procedure final August) and Dustin Could (Tommy John revision and flexor surgical procedure final July).
3. Manfred to carry press convention:
As famous by Evan Drellich of The Athletic, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred is predicted to talk with reporters later at this time following the conclusion of the house owners’ conferences in Florida. The feedback from Manfred come not solely on the cusp between the offseason and the return of baseball, but in addition amid a push for MLB gamers to take part within the 2028 Summer time Olympics. Previous to the World Collection again in October, Manfred declined to debate potential rule modifications for the 2024 season, although he famous that any modifications can be smaller than those carried out final yr. 2023 noticed the league implement a pitch clock, bigger bases, and infield shift restrictions amongst different guidelines.