It’s A.J. Preller’s world, and the rest of the baseball industry is just living in it.
OK, maybe that’s an overstatement. But true to form, Preller is pursuing a dizzying number of deals and seems virtually certain to make at least one major move before Tuesday’s trade deadline at 6 p.m. ET.
Will it be with the Nationals for right fielder Juan Soto? The Cubs for catcher Willson Contreras, left fielder Ian Happ and perhaps even reliever David Robertson? The Athletics for righty Frankie Montas and perhaps catcher Sean Murphy or outfielder Chad Pinder, all of whom played for Padres manager Bob Melvin in Oakland?
At this point, probably not even Preller knows. To some degree, he is exploring each of the above possibilities, according to major-league sources. He also has made a run at the Angels for Shohei Ohtani, not that anyone in the industry expects the two-way star to move.
Other GMs keep their pulse on the entire market, but few are as creative and aggressive as Preller. Some teams might act first on players in whom he has interest and close off certain options for the Padres. New avenues might open for certain clubs depending upon the course Preller pursues.
Preller has prospects to trade, shortstop C.J. Abrams and outfielder Robert Hassell III for starters, but also two high-ceiling players from the 2021 draft, shortstop Jackson Merrill and outfielder James Wood, both of whom are from Maryland, making them relative locals for the Nationals. Preller also has contracts he would like to move, most notably that of Eric Hosmer, who is owed the balance of his $20 million salary this season and $39 million from 2023 to 2025.
The Padres and Cubs have spoken about different concepts for the last 12 months, including one last summer that would have sent first baseman Hosmer and a top prospect to Chicago for an unspecified return. If the Padres land Contreras, it might compel the Mets to move on a J.D. Martinez-Christian Vázquez package from the Red Sox. The Mets, though, are exploring numerous other possibilities, sources said.
Besides the Padres, Montas is a target for the Twins, Yankees and Blue Jays (MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi first noted the Jays’ interest). The Astros, seeking a catcher, are among several clubs reporting a high price on Contreras. According to one source, they are focusing more on Vázquez.
The final hours will be intense. And Preller, as always, figures to be in the middle of the action.
Mookie, Trea, Freddie … And Soto, too?
Freddie Freeman and Juan Soto (Geoff Burke / USA Today)
Don’t rule out the Dodgers on Soto. They have been in contact with the Nationals, and if the Padres make a splash somewhere else, it might create the opening L.A. needs to pull off another deadline stunner.
All this assumes that Preller is willing to concede on Soto (unlikely, particularly if he fears the Dodgers are in the mix) and the Nationals indeed are willing to trade him (something no one will know until 6 p.m. Tuesday).
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman keeps tabs on every big name, a routine he followed even during his days with the budget-minded Rays. A year ago, the Dodgers came seemingly out of nowhere to beat out the Padres for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner. A more significant package would be required to land Soto, but imagine the Dodgers if they added him to a lineup that already included Turner, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. Frightening.
Brewers’ Hader: Truly available or not?
The Brewers are again listening to overtures for closer Josh Hader. The conversations might be little more than due diligence. But as the Brewers head toward their fifth straight postseason appearance, their motivation to trade Hader might be increasing.
Three reasons:
• Hader’s $11 million salary likely will increase to the $16 million range next season in his final year of arbitration before becoming a free agent.
• His preference to limit his appearances to one inning restricts his value to the club, and would be of particular concern in the postseason.
• Devin Williams, who has produced 30 straight scoreless appearances, striking out 47 in 28 2/3 innings, could replace Hader as the Brewers’ closer.
Hader, 28, has allowed just one run in his last four appearances, recovering from a difficult six-game stretch that increased his ERA from 1.05 to 4.50. Trading him only would make sense if the Brewers could acquire a hitter they desire, or young players who could help them address various needs.
For Blue Jays, a diminished need
For all the talk about the Blue Jays needing a left-handed hitter, they entered Sunday ranked second in the majors in OPS vs. right-handed pitching and third in runs per game. They do not appear strongly in the mix for Soto. They might not add a left-handed bat at all, focusing instead on relievers with swing-and-miss stuff.
The addition of any meaningful left-handed hitter likely would require the Jays to trade a right-handed bat, a complicated two-step process that likely would be difficult to pull off. The Jays also are mindful of disrupting their chemistry. Their right-handed hitting corner outfielders, Teoscar Hernández and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., are among the most popular players in their clubhouse.
Don’t get caught up in labels
Neither the Giants nor Red Sox are likely to be pure sellers. Both teams will be reluctant to concede when their playoff odds are hovering around 20 percent, and both will want to bounce back quickly in 2023.
Thus, the Red Sox are seeking major leaguers in return for rentals such as designated hitter J.D. Martinez and catcher Christian Vázquez. And the Giants, even if they move some of their own rentals — most notably, left-hander Carlos Rodón and outfielder Joc Pederson — figure to focus on improving their major-league athleticism and defense short-term.
The Rays, following their usual practice, are another club considering all angles. For example, at a time when they need offense, they might actually trade a hitter such as first baseman Ji-Man Choi.
The Astros, according to sources, are showing interest in Choi as a possible alternative to their apparent No. 1 choice at first, the Nationals’ Josh Bell. The Rays currently are playing short-handed with shortstop Wander Franco, and outfielders Manual Margot and Harold Ramirez on the injured list. But if they traded Choi, they would make other moves to recoup the offense they lost, trying to create the best possible 13-man position-player group.
Around the horn
• Bell, a native of Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, told me over the weekend that he wouldn’t mind a trade to Houston. Bell and his wife, Lia, welcomed their first child, a daughter named Noa, in December. Houston is about a 3 1/2-hour drive from Dallas, and Bell’s parents would be in a better position to help with the baby if he spent the final few months of the season with the Astros. He is a potential free agent.
• Reds infielder Brandon Drury, drawing interest from multiple clubs, is not certain to be traded. The Reds might be interested in exploring an extension with Drury, who turns 30 on Aug. 21 and slugged his career-high 20th homer as a pinch-hitter on Sunday. Of course, the Reds could always trade Drury and re-sign him as a free agent. But if they move him, they would lose their right to negotiate with him exclusively until the market opens.
• The Guardians are among the teams to express interest in the Athletics’ Murphy, but a deal remains more likely in the offseason than at the deadline. The A’s only will move Murphy in the next two days if sufficiently motivated. Otherwise, they prefer to wait until the offseason, when more teams will be open to adding a catcher.
• And finally, Nationals infielder Ehire Adrianza might one day be in the middle of the action of the deadline, but not as a player. Adrianza wants to become a general manager, and to that end, he is taking sports management courses online through the Honors College at Miami-Dade College.
The classes run during the school year on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. While those hours can be difficult for a major leaguer, Adrianza says the work helps take his mind off baseball.
(Top photo of Willson Contreras: Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports)
Who’s ready for some MLB All-Star Home Run Derby excitement? The most anticipated event of the summer is heading to Hollywood with some of the biggest names in the sport set to take aim at the Dodger Stadium bleachers on Monday, July 18 (8 p.m. ET on ESPN)
With the first participant in this summer’s eight-player field unveiled Monday, one thing is clear: Everyone will be trying to keep up with back-to-back derby champion Pete Alonso.
As the remaining contestants are announced heading into Thursday’s Home Run Derby bracket selection show (7 p.m. ET on ESPN), we’ll break down each player chosen — and his case for taking the belt from the Mets slugger known as The Polar Bear.
Announced field: Pete Alonso, Ronald Acuña Jr.
Play: ESPN’s Derby Pick’em
Pete Alonso
2022 HR total: 23 | Longest: 447 feet
Why he’s the home run king: Alonso has participated in two All-Star Home Run Derbies during his MLB career and twice ended the night as champion — and twice won a $1 million prize for his efforts.
In 2019, Alonso took down Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in an epic derby battle by blasting a total of 57 long balls in Cleveland. When the event returned in 2021, Alonso outslugged the field at Coors Field in Denver, topping Trey Mancini in the final round and hitting 74 total home runs — including 20 that traveled at least 475 feet.
After his 2021 win, Alonso said: “I think I’m the best power hitter on the planet. Being able to showcase that and really put on a fun display for fans, it’s truly a dream come true for me. When I was younger, my parents actually let me stay up past my bedtime to watch this.”
Clearly all those nights staying up watching paid off for the Mets slugger.
Derby fun fact: Alonso joined Ken Griffey Jr. (1998-99) and Yoenis Céspedes (2013-14) as the only back-to-back champions in derby history.
2022 home runs: 8 | Longest: 464 feet
Why he could take down Alonso: There might not be another player in this year’s field who plays with as much flair as Acuna does — and that could go a long ways in front of a star-studded crowd in L.A. While Acuña is known for his all-around skills and Alonso more for his slugging alone, their career home run totals show that the difference in power between the two NL East stars isn’t as big as you might think:
Acuna — 113 HR, 448 games
Alonso — 129 HR, 455 games
Why he might not: After coming back from an ACL injury suffered last July earlier this season, Acuña’s power stroke has been the last part of his game to return. So far in 2022, he has hit just eight in 53 games after hitting 24 long balls in 82 games before his season ended last summer.
Derby fun fact: Acuña appeared in the 2019 home run derby, eliminating Josh Bell in the first round before falling to, you guessed it, Pete Alonso in the semifinals. Acuna hit 19 home runs in the round, before Alonso hit 20 to move to the finals.
We’re all suckers for it. The departed free agent returns to where he started. Fans shower him with affection. Tears are shed, hugs exchanged. The passage of time makes the bittersweet moment less bitter, more sweet.
That’s what you thought you were seeing when Freddie Freeman returned last weekend to Atlanta, right? Well, we know now an undercurrent of anger fueled Freeman’s emotion, the bitter rivaling, perhaps even surpassing, the sweet.
Freeman’s decision to leave the Braves for the Dodgers was one of the most regrettable free-agent outcomes in recent memory, and one for which every party — the Braves, Freeman’s agents at Excel Sports Management, Freeman himself — bears responsibility.
The episode reflected much of what is wrong with professional sports in the 21st century. Teams more concerned with payroll efficiency than showing loyalty to players who rewarded them. Agents more concerned with setting a financial standard than honoring the wishes of their clients. Fan favorites bolting for other clubs because … well, why exactly?
Freeman’s decision to join the Dodgers on a six-year, $162 million free-agent contract seemed unfortunate the moment it happened more than three months ago. It looked even worse over the weekend, when Freeman shed enough tears to irrigate the playing surface at Truist Park for the next three months.
And incredibly, the saga is still not over.
On Sunday night, during ESPN’s broadcast of the Dodgers-Braves series finale, all baseball agents received a “do not contact Freddie Freeman” email from the Major League Baseball Players Association. The union only issues such orders at a player’s request. In such cases, the player generally wants to avoid being overwhelmed by calls or messages from his previous agency, or other agents interested in representing him.
Multiple agents said Sunday night that Freeman had decided to fire Excel. Freeman declined comment to The Athletic on Sunday and again on Monday. Casey Close, the lead agent at Excel, did not respond to requests for comment.
ESPN reported Tuesday that Freeman had left Excel, but Freeman still would not publicly confirm, describing the situation as “fluid.” At this point, it would be a shock if Freeman stayed with the agency. Perhaps he is just not ready, for whatever reason, to make the news official.
Freeman, 32, finally seems to understand he needs to move on, telling reporters Tuesday, “there needs to be closure,” after telling me in an interview for Fox Sports on Saturday, “I’m not looking to have any closure. I don’t want to close something that was so special to me for 15 years.” But to borrow a term that is frequently invoked by players, all of the parties involved need to “wear it.” One by one, here’s why:
The Braves
Let’s start with the Liberty Media ownership, which reported $568 million in total Braves revenue for 2021, a season in which, ahem, Freeman helped lead the team to its first World Series title in 25 years.
Liberty Media and the Blue Jays’ parent company, Rogers Communications, are the only two major-league ownerships that, as publicly traded entities, must report their earnings. The Braves’ success, both on the field and in the Liberty-owned Battery development adjacent to Truist Park, prompted Liberty to establish a second-straight payroll record, jumping from $131.4 million on Opening Day in 2021 to $177.8 million in ’22.
So, why draw the line with Freeman?
That choice, it seemed, rested largely with president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos, who, despite Liberty’s recent largesse, does not operate with unlimited resources. The Braves, even after their payroll boost, rank only ninth in the majors. So when Anthopoulos in Aug. 2021 offered Freeman a five-year, $135 million extension — $5 million more than the Cardinals gave an arguably superior first baseman, Paul Goldschmidt — he might not have been comfortable going much further. Whether he increased the offer to $140 million once Freeman was a free agent is in dispute.
My belief — and the belief of a number of agents and executives in baseball — is that Anthopoulos preferred the matter to play out precisely how it did, with the Braves trading for a younger, cheaper reasonable facsimile of Freeman, Matt Olson. Is Olson as good as Freeman right now? Probably not. But his eight-year, $168 million contract covers his age 28 to 35 seasons. Freeman’s deal with the Dodgers covers his age 32 to 37 campaigns.
Olson cost the Braves four prospects in their trade with the Athletics, but his $21 million average annual value left the team with more payroll flexibility than Freeman would have at $27 million or $28 million per. The Braves, who excel in scouting and player development, included catcher Shea Langeliers as the centerpiece of their deal with the A’s in part because they had another young catcher, William Contreras, who is emerging this season as a potential star.
Anthopoulos and the Braves, then, could very well end up looking smart. Their fans had no problem embracing Olson, who grew up in Lilburn, Ga. But Freeman was an immensely popular homegrown talent, a worthy heir to Hall of Famer Chipper Jones, precisely the kind of player who should spend his entire career with one team. If the Braves truly wanted him, they did not push hard enough.
Excel
The emotions Freeman displayed in Atlanta made it obvious that he is sensitive. He said he made it clear to Excel from the outset of discussions with the Braves that he wanted to stay in Atlanta. At that point, Excel’s mission should have been clear. Talk to other teams. Exert as much leverage as possible. But in the end, cut the best deal possible with the Braves.
Freeman wanted six guaranteed years, or at least, Excel wanted six guaranteed years for him. Excel can point to two superior offers made by the low-revenue Rays, according to ESPN — six years, $140 million or seven years, $150 million — as evidence that the Braves did not make a sufficient effort. But Excel should have known its client and known how he would react to leaving the Braves. If Freeman’s overwhelming priority was to be in Atlanta, nothing else should have mattered.
Excel will collect the commission on Freeman’s deal with the Dodgers, which at the standard baseball rate of 5 percent would be $8.1 million over the course of the deal. The loss of Freeman, however, would mark the second high-profile departure of a newly signed free-agent client from the agency in the past two months. Second baseman Trevor Story, who signed a six-year, $140 million contract with the Red Sox in a deal that became official on March 20, switched to Wasserman Baseball at the end of April.
Freeman had reason to trust Excel, which negotiated his eight-year, $135 million extension with the Braves in Feb. 2014. The agency, highly respected, represents Hall of Famer Derek Jeter as well as a number of current stars, including Goldschmidt, Clayton Kershaw, Kyle Schwarber, George Springer and — ahem — current Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson, who is in his walk year.
Excel, though, should have anticipated Freeman’s reaction. The agency ultimately secured a sixth guaranteed year from the Dodgers, but to what end? Freeman’s $162 million deal, considering higher tax rates in California and deferred payments in the contract, might be comparable in net value to the $135 million the Braves are known to have offered. And according to sources, one of Freeman’s motivations for leaving Excel would be to prevent the agency from trumpeting his deal as its latest triumph.
Freddie Freeman
So, who was running the show here, anyway? Freeman doesn’t work for Excel; the agency works for him. And it’s Freeman’s fault, more than anyone else’s, if he did not end up exactly where he wanted.
As much as he might have thought he made his desires clear to Close and Victor Menocal, the Excel representative with whom he usually communicated, Freeman should have been more directly involved in the process. He is not the first player influenced by his agent to seek the biggest contract over the most comfortable landing spot. He also would not have been the first player to overrule his agent even if it meant less money for both parties.
That said, Freddie doth fret too much.
The Dodgers were not exactly an undesirable landing spot for Freeman, who is from Orange County in Southern California. Freeman and his wife, Chelsea, have spent offseasons at their oceanside house in Corona Del Mar, an hour from L.A. And the team has made nine straight postseason appearances, an even more impressive run than the Braves’ four straight division titles.
Freeman, if he indeed leaves Excel, would not need an agent for contract negotiations until his current deal expires, and an attorney or business manager can help him with endorsements and other matters. He’s going to be just fine, though no one should be surprised if his outpouring of emotions last weekend raised eyebrows among his new teammates.
Kershaw seemed to send a not-so-subtle message to Freeman, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “I hope we’re not second fiddle. It’s a pretty special team over here, too.” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, though, defended his new first baseman’s reaction, telling The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, “If anyone has a problem with it, that’s on them. It shouldn’t be a problem. This guy has helped us win a s—-ton of games this year and will continue to do so.”
Fair enough, but last weekend turned out to be less a celebration than a realization of all that went wrong. A player, team and agency, all accomplished, combined to produce an unfortunate and unnecessary outcome. Too much bitter, not enough sweet.
(Top photo of Freddie Freeman: Bob Andres / Associated Press)
When Freddie Freeman left the Atlanta Braves and eventually landed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, there was shock within the industry because of Freeman’s long history with the Braves.
Now Freeman has fired the agency that represented him in his offseason negotiations, Excel Sports Management, according to multiple sources. Casey Close, who was the lead agent in Freeman’s talks with the Braves and Dodgers, did not immediately respond for comment.
In a statement to MLB.com, Freeman acknowledged his status with his agent is “fluid,” but did not confirm the firing.
“Last weekend in Atlanta was a very emotional time for me and my family,” Freeman told MLB.com. “I am working through some issues with my longtime agents at Excel. My representation remains a fluid situation and I will update if needed.”
The MLB Players Association sent an email to agents on Freeman’s behalf Monday, ordering agents to not contact the player. This is common practice when players do not want to be besieged by agents. Freeman is listed within baseball’s central system as currently being self-represented.
Freeman, 32, returned to Atlanta for the first time since signing with the Dodgers last weekend and was outwardly emotional, intermittently weeping from the time he first met with reporters before the three-game series began to when he was given a standing ovation by Braves fans near the end of Sunday Night Baseball.
Sources say Freeman indicated to some of his former teammates over the weekend that he was going to change agents, given his frustration with how his free agency concluded in March.
The Braves made a $135 million, five-year offer that was still on the table in the first days after the owners’ lockout ended. As reported in March, Close — the lead negotiator for Excel — contacted Alex Anthopoulos, the head of baseball operations for the Braves, and presented two proposals on behalf of Freeman significantly higher than that $135 million offer, giving the team an hour to respond. The Braves bumped their offer to $140 million, not close to Close’s proposals.
When that deadline passed, sources say, Close and Anthopoulos agreed that there were no offers on the table. The Braves — believing that Close’s deadline meant that Freeman was about to conclude a deal with another team, likely the Dodgers, quickly pivoted to make a blockbuster deal for Oakland Athletics All-Star Matt Olson and signed 27-year-old Olson to an eight-year, $168 million contract. That effectively ended any chance Freeman would return.
Freeman reached out to some of his former Braves teammates and expressed shock that his negotiations had played out as they had. Within a week, Freeman had signed with the Dodgers for six years and $162 million, although the deal contains $57 million in deferred salary. That deal, in the end, could be worth less than the total value of the Braves’ offer, given the heavy deferrals and California state taxes.
Freeman was initially critical of the Braves’ handling of negotiations. Subsequently, Freeman spoke with Anthopoulos about what occurred during the talks and apparently made his peace with the organization. He wholly embraced the ceremonies last weekend, which included a ring presentation from his friend and former manager, Brian Snitker; Snitker, seeing Freeman’s emotion, encouraged him to relax.
Friends of Freeman in the Braves organization believe that his weekend-long emotion was tied, to some degree, to lingering anger and sadness that his negotiations concluded with him playing with a team other than the club that initially drafted him. Freeman was long considered the face of the Braves’ franchise, won an MVP Award in 2020 and shared in the World Series championship last fall.
Braves left-handed reliever Tyler Matzek, one of the bullpen stalwarts during Atlanta’s World Series run last year, will be placed on the 10-day injured list because of discomfort in his pitching shoulder.
The Braves announced the injury to Matzek after Monday’s loss to the Brewers and will make the roster move before Tuesday’s game in Milwaukee.
Matzek, who will undergo an examination Wednesday in Atlanta, told reporters that he began experiencing the shoulder discomfort two or three weeks ago. He cited back soreness during spring training as a possible reason for the latest injury.
“It was probably two weeks or three weeks [ago] that my shoulder started feeling uncomfortable,” Matzek said Monday, according to MLB.com. “I think I was just compensating for the lack of mobility in my back. I felt good trying to get through the back [injury]. I think it just spiraled into another thing.”
The hard-throwing Matzek has a 5.06 ERA in 13 appearances this season and has struggled with his control, allowing nine walks in 10⅔ innings. He was one of Atlanta’s top relievers last season, when he posted a 2.57 ERA in 69 outings, and was dominant during the postseason, going 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 15⅔ innings.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said rookie Spencer Strider will assume a more prominent role in Atlanta’s bullpen during Matzek’s absence. Strider tossed two scoreless innings Monday, lowering his ERA to 2.75.
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves reinstated outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. from the injury list Thursday, more than a week ahead of the team’s target date for his return from knee surgery.
Acuna is expected to hit leadoff Thursday night against the Chicago Cubs. He may initially split time between right field and designated hitter.
The defending World Series champion Braves have struggled at the start of the season and are still looking for their first series win after splitting the first two games of their three-game series with the Cubs.
The Braves will be looking for Acuna to provide a boost to their lineup after he showed in his rehabilitation stint with Triple-A Gwinnett that he has recovered from the surgery that ended his 2021 season.
Acuna was 2-for-5 for Gwinnett on Wednesday night and hit .368 with three stolen bases in six games.
Despite the strong showing by Acuna in his rehabilitation assignment, the Braves had appeared firm in their plan to remain cautious ahead of his projected return on May 6.
There had been some signs that Acuna was influencing that plan, however. On Wednesday, manager Brian Snitker said the team would wait until after Acuna’s scheduled nine innings with Gwinnett on Thursday night before deciding on his next game.
The Braves’ decision to activate Acuna could have been motivated by losing Eddie Rosario for eight to 12 weeks. Rosario, the MVP of the NL Championship Series last season, had a laser procedure on Wednesday to correct blurred vision and swelling in his right eye.
The Braves designated outfielder Alex Dickerson for assignment to clear a spot for Acuna on the active roster.
LOS ANGELES — Kenley Jansen entered Tuesday’s ninth inning to close out a game from Dodger Stadium as a member of the Atlanta Braves. His last out was Freddie Freeman, now a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Jansen couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of it.
“That’s weird as hell,” Jansen said after the Braves’ 3-1 victory, which came after his 186th career regular-season save from Dodger Stadium. “I’ve faced that guy so many times in all those Braves series. Now it’s vice versa. Yeah, it’s crazy, man. It’s crazy how the game is now. But it’s fun.”
Jansen had his sights set on returning to the Dodgers this offseason, just like Freeman expected to return to the Braves, but everything changed shortly after the lockout was lifted around the middle of March.
Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos reportedly turned down an ultimatum from Freeman’s representation and instead traded for Matt Olson, prompting the Dodgers to sign Freeman to a six-year, $162 million contract on March 16. The deal put the Dodgers on track to exceed the fourth tier of the luxury tax threshold, prompting the need to shed salary in order to fit Jansen into the budget. But the Braves gave Jansen a one-year, $16 million offer and needed a quick answer, prompting Jansen to spurn the Dodgers to join the team he grew up rooting for in Curacao on March 18.
A segment of a sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd initially greeted Jansen with boos as he entered from the right-field bullpen on Tuesday, but most of those who remained in attendance soon stood and clapped. The reaction was basically mixed, somewhat subdued, with Jansen’s trademark entrance song, “California Love,” no longer blaring from the speakers.
“It’s all about business now,” Jansen said. “I’m just happy to help my team win. That’s what I did. It’s OK. No hard feelings. I will love them. They will be in my heart forever.”
Jansen was celebrated with a video tribute minutes before Monday’s first pitch, and he then strolled onto the field with his wife and two of his kids to receive mementos from his first career save from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, third baseman Justin Turner and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.
The 34-year-old right-hander admitted that his adrenaline would be abnormally high for his first game against his longtime teammates, but he was able to keep emotions in check when he ultimately toed the rubber on Tuesday, retiring Will Smith, Mookie Betts and Freeman in order.
Jansen has been working on maintaining his focus.
“I’m just locked in — right here, right now,” he said. “It helps me. Just be in the moment. Be in the moment, be in the moment. Even this moment today was a moment with full emotions, but I enjoyed it. I enjoyed being out there.”
LOS ANGELES — One thing, more than any other, took Freddie Freeman by surprise during his first series from Dodger Stadium: the amount of times his new fans chanted his name, after more than a decade of hostility when he played for the visiting Atlanta Braves.
“They’re chanting every time I go up to bat,” Freeman said with a laugh, “like I gotta do something special every time.”
Those chants came again in the bottom of the first inning on Monday afternoon, when Freeman strolled to the batter’s box to face his former team to begin what promised to be an emotional series. This time, Freeman lived up to their expectations, lining the second pitch he saw into the gap in left-center field and over the fence for his first home run as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a storybook moment for a man who, until recently, never thought he’d play for any team other than the Braves.
Welcome to LA where the players play. pic.twitter.com/pps1QUGXFZ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 19, 2022
Later, after the Dodgers had completed a 7-4 victory, Freeman did his best to shoot down the home run’s significance. There was “no poetic justice,” he said. Only happiness in reuniting with an organization he openly still adores.
“I know there’s storylines,” Freeman said, “and everyone wants to run and say this and that, but the only storyline today was I was just happy to see my friends again.”
About a half-hour earlier, Freeman was on the field alongside his wife and three children to receive the Silver Slugger Award he won last season. Also by his side were Braves manager Brian Snitker and hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, both of whom were instrumental in Freeman’s development as one of the best hitters in the sport.
Moments later, a video tribute played for Kenley Jansen, the Dodgers’ celebrated former closer, who was greeted by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, third baseman Justin Turner and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman with framed mementos from his first career save in the summer of 2010.
Monday’s series opener between the Dodgers and Braves presented a rare, emotionally charged pairing of two franchise icons who coincidentally — and, in both instances, shockingly — signed free-agent contracts to join each other’s former team last month.
Jansen, the converted catcher who saved 350 regular-season games in a dozen years with the Dodgers, got lost on his way to the visiting clubhouse early in the afternoon and admitted that “the adrenaline is definitely up” for his return to L.A. Freeman, a 12-time All-Star and one-time MVP who won the World Series in the last of his 12 years with the Braves, said his emotions were “all over the place.”
“Obviously, there’s just a lot of emotion going on right now,” Freeman said in front of a hoard of media members in the Dodgers dugout less than four hours before the first pitch, “but a lot of good emotion.”
The first person Freeman saw when he stepped off the elevator was Braves head athletic trainer George Poulis, who proceeded to snap his photo.
“Oh, geez, I’m not ready,” Freeman told him.
Later, Freeman visited the Braves clubhouse and passed around hugs. He met privately in Snitker’s office. Then he saw the Braves’ general manager, Alex Anthopoulos, who traded for Freeman’s replacement, Matt Olson, while Freeman remained a free agent. Freeman greeted Anthopoulos as “world champion.” The two got emotional as they spoke in the first-base dugout, so Freeman decided to move the rest of the conversation inside so that cameras wouldn’t catch them.
Anthopoulos nearly broke down when he addressed reporters the day after acquiring Olson from the Oakland Athletics. Freeman — clearly hurt and admittedly surprised — angrily dismissed Anthopoulos’ tears during his introductory news conference with the Dodgers. But the two spoke over FaceTime for three hours about a week later.
“That was the closure I needed,” Freeman said. “Now, it’s just happiness in seeing him and friendship, because we spent so much time together over the last four years trying to win a World Series, and to be able to accomplish that — it was just good to see him.”
Jansen, who won his ring with the Dodgers during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, signed a one-year, $16 million contract with the Braves on March 18, two days after Freeman agreed to terms on a six-year, $162 million deal with the Dodgers. Freeman’s deal complicated matters for Jansen. It put the Dodgers too close to the third tier of the luxury tax threshold, prompting the need to shed salary in order to fit Jansen’s contract. The Braves, the team Jansen grew up rooting for in Curacao, came with an offer and needed a quick answer. Jansen took it.
The emotions of joining another team hit him shortly thereafter, during phone conversations with Turner and Clayton Kershaw.
“Growing up in baseball, playing for one team is like leaving your parents to go to college or whatever you want to call it,” Jansen said. “It was exciting to see what the future held, being on a new team, and also it was very emotional.”
Freeman guessed that he had already distributed 25 hugs and shed tears four times when he addressed the media at around 3:30 p.m. local time. It was his first time seeing them all since they took part in a parade nearly six months ago. The Braves’ manager of video operations, Rob Smith, was wearing his World Series ring, and Freeman playfully told him to take it off. Freeman won’t get his until late June, when the Dodgers play the Braves on the road and he returns to Truist Park for what promises to be another emotional series.
“It’s been a lot,” Freeman said. “Every day, emotions are going in and out. I didn’t know what to expect coming into today and how the emotions were gonna play, but when I saw everybody, it was just pure happiness. It really was. Just seeing all the guys and staff members. Just giving hugs and saying, ‘I miss you.'”
LOS ANGELES — One thing, more than any other, took Freddie Freeman by surprise during his first series from Dodger Stadium: the amount of times his new fans chanted his name, after more than a decade of hostility when he played for the visiting Atlanta Braves.
“They’re chanting every time I go up to bat,” Freeman said with a laugh, “like I gotta do something special every time.”
Those chants came again in the bottom of the first inning on Monday afternoon, when Freeman strolled to the batter’s box to face his former team to begin what promised to be an emotional series. This time, Freeman lived up to their expectations, lining the second pitch he saw into the gap in left-center field and over the fence for his first home run as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a storybook moment for a man who, until recently, never thought he’d play for any team other than the Braves.
Welcome to LA where the players play. pic.twitter.com/pps1QUGXFZ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 19, 2022
Later, after the Dodgers had completed a 7-4 victory, Freeman did his best to shoot down the home run’s significance. There was “no poetic justice,” he said. Only happiness in reuniting with an organization he openly still adores.
“I know there’s storylines,” Freeman said, “and everyone wants to run and say this and that, but the only storyline today was I was just happy to see my friends again.”
About a half-hour earlier, Freeman was on the field alongside his wife and three children to receive the Silver Slugger Award he won last season. Also by his side were Braves manager Brian Snitker and hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, both of whom were instrumental in Freeman’s development as one of the best hitters in the sport.
Moments later, a video tribute played for Kenley Jansen, the Dodgers’ celebrated former closer, who was greeted by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, third baseman Justin Turner and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman with framed mementos from his first career save in the summer of 2010.
Monday’s series opener between the Dodgers and Braves presented a rare, emotionally charged pairing of two franchise icons who coincidentally — and, in both instances, shockingly — signed free-agent contracts to join each other’s former team last month.
Jansen, the converted catcher who saved 350 regular-season games in a dozen years with the Dodgers, got lost on his way to the visiting clubhouse early in the afternoon and admitted that “the adrenaline is definitely up” for his return to L.A. Freeman, a 12-time All-Star and one-time MVP who won the World Series in the last of his 12 years with the Braves, said his emotions were “all over the place.”
“Obviously, there’s just a lot of emotion going on right now,” Freeman said in front of a hoard of media members in the Dodgers dugout less than four hours before the first pitch, “but a lot of good emotion.”
The first person Freeman saw when he stepped off the elevator was Braves head athletic trainer George Poulis, who proceeded to snap his photo.
“Oh, geez, I’m not ready,” Freeman told him.
Later, Freeman visited the Braves clubhouse and passed around hugs. He met privately in Snitker’s office. Then he saw the Braves’ general manager, Alex Anthopoulos, who traded for Freeman’s replacement, Matt Olson, while Freeman remained a free agent. Freeman greeted Anthopoulos as “world champion.” The two got emotional as they spoke in the first-base dugout, so Freeman decided to move the rest of the conversation inside so that cameras wouldn’t catch them.
Anthopoulos nearly broke down when he addressed reporters the day after acquiring Olson from the Oakland Athletics. Freeman — clearly hurt and admittedly surprised — angrily dismissed Anthopoulos’ tears during his introductory news conference with the Dodgers. But the two spoke over FaceTime for three hours about a week later.
“That was the closure I needed,” Freeman said. “Now, it’s just happiness in seeing him and friendship, because we spent so much time together over the last four years trying to win a World Series, and to be able to accomplish that — it was just good to see him.”
Jansen, who won his ring with the Dodgers during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, signed a one-year, $16 million contract with the Braves on March 18, two days after Freeman agreed to terms on a six-year, $162 million deal with the Dodgers. Freeman’s deal complicated matters for Jansen. It put the Dodgers too close to the third tier of the luxury tax threshold, prompting the need to shed salary in order to fit Jansen’s contract. The Braves, the team Jansen grew up rooting for in Curacao, came with an offer and needed a quick answer. Jansen took it.
The emotions of joining another team hit him shortly thereafter, during phone conversations with Turner and Clayton Kershaw.
“Growing up in baseball, playing for one team is like leaving your parents to go to college or whatever you want to call it,” Jansen said. “It was exciting to see what the future held, being on a new team, and also it was very emotional.”
Freeman guessed that he had already distributed 25 hugs and shed tears four times when he addressed the media at around 3:30 p.m. local time. It was his first time seeing them all since they took part in a parade nearly six months ago. The Braves’ manager of video operations, Rob Smith, was wearing his World Series ring, and Freeman playfully told him to take it off. Freeman won’t get his until late June, when the Dodgers play the Braves on the road and he returns to Truist Park for what promises to be another emotional series.
“It’s been a lot,” Freeman said. “Every day, emotions are going in and out. I didn’t know what to expect coming into today and how the emotions were gonna play, but when I saw everybody, it was just pure happiness. It really was. Just seeing all the guys and staff members. Just giving hugs and saying, ‘I miss you.'”
The start of the 2022 MLB season has finally arrived!
Beginning with seven Opening Day games on Thursday and continuing with the rest of MLB in action Friday, it’s time to welcome in a new year on the diamond. To celebrate baseball’s return, we’ve asked our experts to weigh in on what they are most excited to watch — and make a fearless Opening Day prediction.
Be sure to refresh this page early and often for our live updates and takeaways from every Opening Day game on both Thursday and Friday.
Season preview: Power ranks | Predictions | Moves that rocked the offseason ESPN+: Passan’s predictions | How Opening Day was saved | 2022 changes Play: ESPN Opening Day classic | ESPN fantasy baseball: Sign up for free!
Thursday’s Opening Day schedule
All times Eastern
7:05 p.m. on ESPN+ (delayed): Mets (Megill) at Nationals (Corbin) 8:00 p.m. on ESPN2: Reds (Mahle) at Braves (Fried) 9:38 p.m.: Astros (Valdez) at Angels (Ohtani) 9:40 p.m.: Padres (Darvish) at Diamondbacks (Bumgarner)
Friday openers: Red Sox-Yankees, White Sox-Tigers, A’s-Phillies, Orioles-Rays, Dodgers-Rockies, Mariners-Twins, Marlins-Giants and Rangers-Blue Jays
Zack’s back
Zack Greinke has been one of the best pitchers in the majors for almost two decades, and he cut his teeth as a young member of the Kansas City Royals from 2004 to 2010. Now he’s back on his original team and picking up right where he left off, throwing 5⅔ innings and giving up just five hits and one run against the Cleveland Guardians on Opening Day.
Superstar slugger Albert Pujols announced that 2022 will be his final season in the majors after signing a one-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals in March. He spent the first 11 seasons of his MLB career with the Cardinals, winning two World Series titles and three National League MVP awards. As Pujols approached the plate for his first at-bat of the season Thursday against the visiting Pirates, fans showered him with cheers.
What an ovation for @PujolsFive.
Chills. #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/2fDKdbPlPA
— MLB (@MLB) April 7, 2022
First home run of the year
Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner hit the first home run of the MLB season. He smashed a pitch by Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes out of the park in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Dingers are BACK! @nico_hoerner with the first homer of 2022! #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/Hdj49DuhIt
— MLB (@MLB) April 7, 2022
First run of the year
After three innings, the first run of the season is on the board. Brewers outfielder Lorenzo Cain hit a groundout to first, but Andrew McCutchen was able to make it home to give visiting Milwaukee a 1-0 lead over the Cubs in the top of the fourth.
Lo Cain drives in Cutch for our first run and lead of the year!#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/bxxcVyxjMr
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 7, 2022
Welcome to the league
Getting called up to the majors is a big moment for any baseball player. Leading up to Opening Day on Thursday, players were notified that they made their teams’ rosters, which produced some touching moments for the teams and players.
During the Chicago Cubs’ spring training game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday, pitcher Ethan Roberts was notified by manager David Ross that he made the Opening Day roster. Roberts, who was drafted by the Cubs in 2018, was visibly emotional after receiving the news. The Cubs’ first game of the season is against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.
.@Cubs pitcher Ethan Roberts was told he made the big league club.
Julio Rodriguez, the No. 3 prospect as ranked by ESPN, got the nod for the Seattle Mariners’ Opening Day roster. He signed with the team as an international free agent in 2017. Rodriguez is slated to start in center field and will make his debut on Friday against the Minnesota Twins.
Rodriguez was full of excitement when manager Scott Servais broke the news. Things got even better for the 21-year-old when he was informed that his parents will be in attendance for his first MLB game.
There’s no better feeling than when you work your whole life for something and you see it unfolding right before your eyes.🙏🏽💙 I’m just grateful for the opportunity and I will make the best of it.🤞🏽 https://t.co/YqTeMS4j02
— Julio Rodriguez🇩🇴🦁 (@JRODshow44) April 5, 2022
The Kanas City Royals drafted Bobby Witt Jr. second overall in the 2019 MLB draft. Roughly three years later, he will make his big league debut, starting at third base for the team against the Cleveland Guardians. The 21-year-old was all smiles after hearing he made the Royals’ Opening Day roster … and later recorded his first hit.
🙏 blessings! https://t.co/f7j64EV7Ya
— Bobby Witt Jr (@BwittJr) April 5, 2022
Bobby has arrived! @MLB Hit No. 1 is a big one!#OpeningDay // #TogetherRoyal pic.twitter.com/jtEdB7Cz2o
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 7, 2022
Seiya Suzuki made his MLB debut against the Brewers on Thursday. In March, he signed a five-year deal with the Cubs. Before joining Chicago, he played in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league, in which he was a four-time All-Star and three-time Golden Glove winner. In the bottom of the fifth, Suzuki hit a ball into left field for the first hit of his MLB career.
First @MLB hit for @suzuki_seiya_sb! pic.twitter.com/pAgxYuPD8a
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 7, 2022
Opening Day well wishes
The Atlanta Braves begin their quest to defend their World Series title against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday. The Georgia Bulldogs, who won the College Football Playoff National Championship in January, wished the team good luck on their upcoming season.
From one champ to another, happy opening day!#GoDawgs #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/sgBVEoLEt1
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) April 7, 2022
The Chicago Bears shouted out to both the White Sox and Cubs ahead of their first games of the MLB season.
🗣️ PLAY BALL!
Good luck this season, @Cubs & @whitesox! pic.twitter.com/UspXNOkTJG
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 7, 2022
Takeaways from Thursday’s action
Cardinals defeat Pirates 9-0: It was turn back the clock day at Busch Stadium: Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright were all in the starting lineup for the Cardinals for the first time since Sept. 9, 2010. While the Cardinals cruised to a 9-0 victory behind Wainwright’s six scoreless innings and Tyler O’Neill ‘s five RBIs, it wasn’t quite the storybook return to St. Louis for Pujols that everyone desired.
“He’s back,” intoned the Cardinals’ PA announcer during pregame introductions and Cardinals fans gave Pujols a standing ovation as he hugged former Cardinals greats like Mark McGwire and Jim Edmonds. In his first at-bat, Pujols wiped away some tears as the fans chanted “Al-bert! Al-bert!” — echoing the joyful chorus heard so many times during his initial 11 seasons with the Cardinals. He flew out to left field and would finish 0-for-5, twice reaching on errors.
Can he help the Cardinals? That’s the risk in bringing an aging all-time great back. If he struggles, it puts rookie manager Ollie Marmol in a tough spot. Pujols started this game against a right-hander — Marmol wasn’t about to sit him on Opening Day — but will primarily serve as the DH against left-handers. Let’s hope there’s enough juice left in the bat to help in that small role. –David Schoenfield
Royals defeat Guardians 3-1: Before today’s Opening Day start, the last time Zack Greinke pitched for the Kansas City Royals was 12 years and more than 2,000 innings ago. As many things as age changes, it cannot rob Greinke of what’s always been his greatest asset, even better than his fastball or slider or changeup: his mind. Greinke’s approach to pitching, combined with the stuff of his youth, made him elite and will forge his path toward the Hall of Fame.
To see him on Thursday afternoon, carving up a Cleveland Guardians lineup in a 3-1 victory highlighted by top prospect (No. 2 on Kiley McDaniel’s top 100 list) Bobby Witt Jr.’s go-ahead RBI double in the eighth inning, was to see a master craftsman making art in real time.
The radar gun doesn’t light up as it once did, and the batters don’t swing and miss as they used to, but Greinke, through location, sequencing and other tricks of the trade, still understands how to get outs. Some lineup will prove more difficult to traverse than others. One strikeout in 5 2/3 innings is not a long-term recipe for success, even with Kansas City’s phenomenal defense. And yet Greinke, now 38, left to a huge ovation in his return. On the day the future of the franchise debuted, the prodigal son returned, different than before, same as ever. –Jeff Passan
Cubs defeat Brewers 5-4: The first game of the 2022 MLB season provided a reminder that you never know what you are going to see when you go to the ballpark. Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner hit the first home run of the 2022 season off reigning NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes. Yes, you read that right. Hoerner, who hadn’t hit a long ball in two seasons, became the first player to follow up a homerless year with a dinger on Opening Day since Emilio Bonifacio in 2009. Burnes, on the other hand, walked the first batter he faced in 2022, after the Brewers ace set a major league record by striking out 58 before issuing his first base on balls a season ago. Yeah, you can’t predict baseball.
All in all, Burnes walked three batters in five innings on Thursday — including issuing a free pass to Japanese rookie Seiya Suzuki, who walked twice, had a single and scored a run in his MLB debut. — Jesse Rogers
Opening Day predictions and what we can’t wait to see
What’s the one thing you are most excited to watch on Opening Day?
Bradford Doolittle: I’m in Minneapolis for a Twins-Mariners series that was pushed back a day because of some inhospitable early spring weather. The upside is that I get two Opening Days and can watch the debut of Bobby Witt Jr. in Kansas City on a screen of some sort Thursday before getting to see Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez firsthand on Friday. We haven’t always seen the most exciting prospects on Opening Day (Witt is No. 2 and Rodriguez is No. 3 on Kiley McDaniel’s top 100 prospect list), so this is a wonderful thing. A great American League Rookie of the Year race is on.
Jesse Rogers: The debut of Cubs rookie Seiya Suzuki. He’s a multiple-tools player with power to all fields and a rocket of an arm. As noted in the recent collective bargaining agreement battle, most rookies don’t make a lot of money — but Suzuki signed a five-year, $85 million contract this offseason, so eyes will be on him throughout the baseball world. He has a chance to be the next big star on a team suddenly void of them. Thursday is his first chance to show fans across the city of Chicago what they’re getting.
David Schoenfield: The most fascinating team to watch in April might be the Padres. There is a lot of pressure on a team that now runs one of the highest payrolls in baseball and is coming off a losing season. They collapsed down the stretch, and while the rotation is healthy again, the Padres will have to play a couple of months without Fernando Tatis Jr. So on Opening Day, I want to see how Yu Darvish looks after going 1-8 (6.16 ERA) in the second half. I want to see how new manager Bob Melvin sets up his late-game bullpen. I want to see if Ha-Seong Kim can not only fill in for Tatis but hit like he did in Korea after struggling in his debut season. I want to see which Manny Machado shows up. The Padres begin with 14 games against the Diamondbacks, Giants, Rangers and Pirates — a golden opportunity to get off to a hot start and put 2021’s disappointment behind them.
Joon Lee: I’m with David on this one. The Padres are at a fascinating inflection point in the tenure of AJ Preller with the injury of Tatis and the level of financial investment in this team’s core. According to multiple sources, the Padres club chemistry suffered under Jayce Tingler, so the addition of Melvin will completely shake up the team’s locker room dynamics. I’m interested to see which Darvish shows up on Opening Day and how former Cy Young winner Blake Snell fares in his second season in San Diego after struggling to put up numbers akin to his tenure in Tampa Bay. Especially after the trade for Eric Hosmer fell through and Tatis’ injury, the team will need its high-salary players to play better in 2022.
Buster Olney: I’m in Atlanta, and I’ll be fascinated to see the reception for new first baseman Matt Olson — and I’d expect that it will be loud and lasting. If anybody is going to replace Freddie Freeman at first, Olson is the perfect candidate given his local roots, his age, his power. If the Braves’ magic script from last year’s World Series is still in play, then Olson will get a pivotal hit — and the Atlanta fans will go wild. What a story that would be.
Coley Harvey: I am beyond excited to be joining Buster in my hometown of Atlanta, where I’ll have a front-row seat for a coronation that’s been a generation in the making. And as a lifelong supporter of all things ATL, 404, Chick-fil-A and Waffle House, the 10-year-old inside me still can’t believe one of the pro teams from his city is finally about to have another banner-raising night. The Braves’ 1995 and 2021 championships and Atlanta United’s MLS title in 2018 are all we’ve got! After the 28-3 memes and jokes, the City Too Busy To Hate more than deserves to celebrate last October’s World Series win one more time. Atlantans have earned it.
Alden Gonzalez: I’ll be at Angel Stadium on Thursday, and because of that I’ll be the luckiest of us all. Shohei Ohtani will be on the mound and he will be in the lineup, beginning what promises to be another enthralling season as a two-way player. The talk around Angels camp this spring centered on whether Ohtani can actually be better this year, given how he improved as a pitcher and how he grew comfortable with the two-way role as the season progressed. It sounds impossible — until you realize how special this man is.
Tim Keown: The Mets got Max Scherzer to team with Jacob deGrom, and they’re Opening Day starter is … Tylor Megill. Next to the Pirates’ JT Brubaker, Megill is the most non-Opening Day starter on Opening Day. Even Oakland has Frankie Montas, even though there’s a chance he could be traded before Friday’s first pitch in Philadelphia. This might not mean a whole lot — Scherzer is supposed to be back soon, maybe even for the second game — but is sure feels like an omen.
Jeff Passan: All due respect to Bobby Witt Jr., whose debut I’ll see in person, but the greatest show in sports is performing today on a different stage. For the first of hopefully many times this season, Shohei Ohtani spends his day pitching in the top half of innings and hitting in the bottom half. He will do that thing where he throws 100-mph pitches and hits 100-mph rockets. His magnificence knows no bounds. And as a bonus Opening Day treat, the Shohei Ohtani Rule — which allows him to remain in the game as a hitter after he’s yanked as a pitcher — gets its first whirl.
It’s time to call your shot: What is your one Opening Day prediction that will definitely come true?
Doolittle: Albert Pujols is going to homer in St. Louis. Even if it turns out to be the only homer he hits all season, there is no way this doesn’t happen. There are a lot of young Cardinals fans in St. Louis who have only heard about Pujols from their parents. It’s tremendous that they get to experience him this year as he moves on from a Hall of Fame career.
Rogers: Corbin Burnes will one-hit the Cubs — and Suzuki will be the only hitter to get to him. Chicago has little left-handed pop, while right-handed opponents compiled a miniscule .179 batting average against him in 2021. With a right-handed-hitting player at first base and right field — two positions often reserved for lefty power hitters — the Cubs will be at a disadvantage against top righties all season. Trying to hit against Burnes on Thursday, in 40 degree weather, will make things that much more difficult.
Schoenfield: Machado got off to a slow start in 2021, but with Tatis out, the Padres need him to hit from the get-go. He hasn’t hit Diamondbacks starter Madison Bumgarner that well during his career (.212/.257/.515), although three of his seven hits off him are home runs. I say he goes yard twice off MadBum as the Padres win their opener.
Olney: He’s not pitching on Opening Day, but I’ll call that this will be the last year that future Hall of Famer Jacob deGrom is with the Mets. Steve Cohen has demonstrated he’s ready and willing to invest in any way he feels can help the Mets, but there are just too many variables involved for deGrom to return — the questions about his health now, his health moving forward, and most importantly, what he wants. We’ll look back at his assertion that he’s opting out of his contract in spite of his recent injury as the first true signal that he’s headed elsewhere.
Gonzalez: Rodriguez and Witt Jr. will each hit home runs in their major league debuts. The two highlight what looks like an incredibly deep AL Rookie of the Year field, along with Spencer Torkelson. Eventually Adley Rutschman and Riley Greene will join them. Not included in this list: Wander Franco, who exceeded his rookie eligibility last year but will play in his first full season in 2022. He might be the biggest star of them all. The young talent in the sport is amazing right now — and I only accounted for one league.
Keown: We’ll all be reminded that Mike Trout not only exists but remains the best player in the sport. The eyes of the game will be on Shohei Ohtani to start the Angels’ opener against the Astros, but by the end of the fourth or fifth inning, it’ll be Trout’s night.
Lee: Shohei Ohtani will come out of the gates strong on Opening Day, showing that last year wasn’t a mirage and that it’s possible to pitch and hit at a high level across multiple seasons — and opening up the idea that teams could potentially develop more two-way players, not necessarily at the level of Ohtani, but to maximize the value of every roster spot.
Harvey: OK, so Austin Riley’s Grapefruit League showing wasn’t the strongest (.214, 6-for-28), but I’m banking hard on him having a big opening night. This will happen in what will be his first game at Truist Park since the World Series. At home last postseason, he hit .419 (13-for-31) with five extra-base hits. He’ll tap into that hitting success again in front of another raucous and frenzied Atlanta crowd, giving fans some late-inning magic.
Passan: Last we saw Max Fried, he was throwing six shutout innings for Atlanta in a World Series-clinching game. Prior to that, he had the lowest second-half ERA of any pitcher (1.74). And today, in front of a Truist Park crowd ready to fete its world champions, Fried gets the ball against a Cincinnati Reds team that traded its best hitter amid an ugly teardown. All of which is to say his pitching line will be 6 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 1 walk and 9 strikeouts — and he’ll be in Cy Young contention throughout the season.