Diamondbacks News
(SI.com) Diamondbacks’ Eduardo Rodriguez Has a Chance to Flip Ugly Narrative
Rodriguez is entering the third year of a four-year, $80 million deal he signed ahead of 2024. He was not brought on to be an ace, but rather to bring veteran stability to the D-backs’ rotation after posting a career year in Detroit during the 2023 season.
The results have not yet begun to show to that degree. An article from Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly listed Rodriguez as the worst-value contract on Arizona’s roster.
(Arizona Sports) Who will be the Diamondbacks’ closer? Answer may come during 1st save situation
The Arizona Diamondbacks have not named their closer to start the 2026 season, and they simply may not.
Manager Torey Lovullo said Wednesday he is close to announcing his rotation behind Opening Day starter Zac Gallen. The closer role, however, will likely be revealed when Arizona faces its first save situation.
“You’ll probably figure it out as I’m doing it,” Lovullo said. “That’s kind of the mindset I’ll have right now. I love where a few guys are at.
(NBC Sports) OREL HERSHISER, LUIS GONZALEZ, AL LEITER, AND NEIL WALKER NAMED ANALYSTS FOR NBC SPORTS’ MLB OPENING DAY DOUBLEHEADER:
Jason Benetti handles play-by-play, joined by analysts and World Series heroes Luis Gonzalez and Orel Hershiser.
Gonzalez, a five-time All-Star, played 19 MLB seasons (1990-2008), highlighted by eight years with the Diamondbacks. In Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, Gonzalez hit the game-winning single as Arizona won its first championship. The Fall Classic heroics capped his best statistical season as he won the Silver Slugger with a .325 batting average, 57 home runs and 142 RBI. An analyst for select Diamondbacks games, Gonzalez won the 2005 Branch Rickey Award for community service.
MLB News
(Yahoo! Sports) MRI reveals Seiya Suzuki strained PCL in WBC; Cubs yet to decide if he will go on IL ahead of Opening Day
An MRI revealed that Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki has a strained PCL after injuring his right knee Saturday while trying to steal second base during Samurai Japan’s 8-5 loss to Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell called the update “good news” and noted that the injury is “minor in nature,” according to MLB.com.
(CBS Sports) Building a dream Team USA roster for the 2030 World Baseball Classic
This raises an interesting hypothetical insofar as the 2030 WBC is concerned: What might the Team USA lineup and rotation look like four years from now?
This, of course, is a highly speculative exercise given that, you know, it’s four years away, which means we’re going to have to make some (lightly) educated guesses as to which players, young to young-ish in the here and now, are at the top of their guild come 2030. In other words, expect a lot of roster turnover from the current team (speaking of which, only one player in Team USA’s starting lineup on Tuesday night — Kyle Schwarber — was in the lineup for the 2023 title game).
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