Spring Training Guide West - 2021 by Times Media Group

TEAM SCHEDULES INSIDE!

e d i Gu

2021

Around the Horn

This season’s Spring Training sees a lot of new faces BY ETHAN GRENI Staff Writer

pring has �inally come back around, which means Major League Baseball isn’t far behind. It’s a special time of year for the Valley, as baseball fans across the country usually make their annual migration to the desert. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that’s mostly likely not going to be the case. The uncertainties of the 2020 season are behind us, though, and it’s time for ballplayers to get back to work. Spring Training begins Feb. 28, and we’ve got everything you need to know about all 15 Cactus League teams in 2021.

Arizona Diamondbacks: 2020 record – 25-35

The D-backs �inished last in the NL West in last year’s truncated season, missing the playoffs for the third year in a row. That being said, there were some positives to take away from 2020. Buckeye-raised right �ielder Kole Calhoun �inished top 10 in the NL in home runs and RBIs — 16 and 40, respectively — in his �irst year playing for his hometown team. With one more year on his contract and a club option for 2022, the 33-year-old will certainly look to keep his production near that level in 2021.

First baseman Christian Walker showed improvement in his second full season in the majors, batting a careerhigh .271 and �inishing third in the NL with 18 doubles. Despite committing three errors, he was top 5 among NL �irst basemen in assists (28), double plays turned (40) and �ielding percentage (.990). Coming into 2021, the D-backs core is largely the same as last year. A couple of notable departures are out�ielder Jon Jay, and former Arizona State pitcher Mike Leake. Jay, a career .283 hitter, struggled in his second stint as a Diamondback, batting .160 in just 50 plate appearances. Leake, who opted out of the 2020 season, posted a 3-3 record in 10 starts with a 4.35 ERA for the Dbacks after being acquired midseason in 2019. Arizona’s biggest offseason acquisition was veteran reliever Joakim Soria, signing him to a one-year, $3.5 million deal. The 6-foot-3 Soria, who turns 37 in May, had a 2.82 ERA in 22 appearances with the Oakland Athletics last season, and is considered a top contender for Arizona’s closing spot in 2021.

Chicago Cubs: 2020 record – 34-26

After winning the NL Central, the Cubs are still just four years removed from their World Series title. They had

David Peralta. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/ Arizona Diamondbacks)

a chance to make a deep playoff run in 2020, and drew a seemingly favorable matchup in the Wild Card series against the 31-29 Miami Marlins, who hadn’t been to the postseason since 2003. Unfortunately, the Cubs’ bats dried up as they managed to score just one run in the series and were swept in two games. A few notable players will not be returning to the Windy City this season, including fan-favorite out�ielder Kyle Schwarber, who signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Washington Nationals. The Cubs also traded veteran right-hander Yu Darvish to the San

Diego Padres, landing pitcher Zach Davies and several prospects. Darvish was named to the All-MLB First Team after the season. By far, the biggest acquisition for the Cubs this offseason was free agent left �ielder Joc Pederson, who signed a one-year, $7 million deal in February. Pederson, fresh off his �irst World Series championship with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is just two years removed from a 36-home run, 74-RBI season in 2019 that also saw him hit .249, all career bests.

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Chicago White Sox: 2020 record – 35-25

The White Sox took an important step in 2020, reaching the postseason for the �irst time since 2008. First baseman José Abreu was named AL MVP after leading the league in RBI with 60, �inishing second in home runs with 19, and fourth in average with .317. Shortstop Tim Anderson has emerged as a budding star, hitting over .320 for the second year in a row and winning his �irst Silver Slugger award. The club turned heads around the league in October when it hired Tony La Russa, 76, as its next manager. The Hall of Famer managed the team from 1979 to 1986 and hasn’t managed since leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series title in 2011. The Sox made another splash in December by trading for right-hander Lance Lynn from the Texas Rangers. Lynn has placed top 5 in the AL in

wins and strikeouts in each of the last two years and was considered the best pitcher on the market at last year’s deadline. He went 6-3 with a 3.32 ERA in 2020. Pitching was obviously a priority for the Sox, even though its collective 3.81 ERA last season was well below the league average (which is a good thing). Chicago signed free agent reliever Liam Hendriks, who was named the AL’s Reliever of the Year in 2020 and was named to the All-MLB First Team, to a three-year, $54 million contract. Also joining the club is familiar face Adam Eaton, who previously played in Chicago from 2014 to 2016. The right �ielder signed a one-year, $8 million contract after spending the last four years with the Washington Nationals, winning the World Series in 2019.

Cincinnati Reds: 2020 record – 31-29

Despite hitting a league-worst .212,

Cincinnati ended its seven-year playoff drought on the strength of their pitching, before losing to the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card series. The Reds’ biggest problem offensively was their heavy reliance on home runs. Over 60% of their total runs scored came on home runs, which is something the team will look to change in 2021. The club took a big hit in free agency, losing 2020 NL Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer to the Dodgers. Bauer is the only Reds pitcher to win the Cy Young. Finding a replacement for a pitcher of his caliber is nearly impossible. The team didn’t make many big acquisitions, but they did sign two-time All-Star closer Sean Doolittle to a oneyear, $1.5 million contract after trading previous closer Raisel Iglesias to the Los Angeles Angels for reliever Noé Ramirez. They also added depth relievers Edgar García, Brandon Bailey and Jeff Hoffman.

Cleveland Indians: 2020 record – 35-25 Big changes are on the horizon for Cleveland. This year is likely to be the �inal season of Cleveland Indians baseball before the club changes its nickname, and on the �ield, the team will look a bit different than in years past. In January, the Indians traded fourtime All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor and longtime starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco to the New York Mets for shortstops Andres Gimenez and Amed Rosario, plus a pair of prospects. Trade rumors had been circling the superstar Lindor for months, and the return wasn’t quite what many were expecting. The good news for Cleveland fans is that there is still a lot of talent on the roster. Right-hander Shane Bieber won the AL Cy Young in just his third season, dominating batters with his 1.63 ERA and incredible league-record 41.1%

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strikeout rate. The team also boasted a pair of Gold Glove winners in catcher Roberto Peréz and second baseman Cesar Hernandez, and a Silver Slugger in third baseman José Ramírez. In a division with rebuilding teams like Detroit and Kansas City, the Indians are still a threat to make the postseason.

Colorado Rockies: 2020 record – 26-34

After missing the playoffs for the second year in a row, the Rockies decided it was time for a change. In early February, the team traded franchise centerpiece Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals for a package of prospects and young players. Arenado’s faith in the team reportedly diminished last year, presumably explaining the low return for the �ivetime All-Star third baseman. Arenado won the NL’s third base Gold Glove the

last eight years in a row and has won the last four Platinum Gloves. On the mound, righty reliever Daniel Bard turned out to be one of the best baseball stories of 2020. After not having pitched in the majors since 2013, Bard �inished with a 4-2 record in 23 appearances and a 3.65 ERA. He was 6/6 in save opportunities and won the NL’s Comeback Player of the Year award. The club will move forward with 34-year-old right �ielder Charlie Blackmon leading the way offensively. Although his power dipped in 2020, his .303 batting average shows he’s still got some juice left.

Kansas City Royals: 2020 record – 26-34

It’s been a rough go for the Kansas City Royals since winning the 2015 World Series, but things could be looking up. After back-to-back 100-loss seasons in 2018 and 2019, the Royals’ 26-34 record in 2020 roughly equates

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to 70-92 in a full season which is… not good, but still an 11-game improvement over the year prior. The team will miss 14-year veteran out�ielder Alex Gordon, who retired after last season. The 37-year-old was a three-time All Star, eight-time Gold Glove winner, and two-time Platinum Glove winner, having just won the award last season. The Royals made some decent additions to their squad this offseason, signing free agent lefty Mike Minor, �irst baseman Carlos Santana, veteran righty Ervin Santana, and resigned reliever Greg Holland. They also acquired left �ielder Andrew Benintendi from the Boston Red Sox for out�ield prospect Khalil Lee. The club also boasts four prospects in the MLB’s top 100 rankings, including shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., ranked No. 7. Witt, drafted second overall in 2019, has impressed Royals management thus far, and is estimated to make the big leagues as early as 2022. There’s still a long way to go for this team, but they may not be down for long.

Los Angeles Angels: 2020 record – 26-34

For a team �ielding likely the most talented player in baseball history, the Angels have not lived up to expectations. Star center �ielder Mike Trout, an eight-time All Star, has only seen postseason action once, getting swept in the 2014 ALDS by Kansas City. The club has made big acquisitions in recent years, bringing in players like Shohei Ohtani and Anthony Rendon, as well as manager Joe Maddon, but nothing has seemed to work. Losing four-time Gold Glove winning shortstop Andrelton Simmons in free agency didn’t help either. New Angels general manager Perry Minasian plans to keep the team competitive and traded for veteran right �ielder Dexter Fowler from the Cardinals. The soon-to-be 35-year-old is looking to rebound from a tough 2020 campaign that saw him limited to just 31 games while hitting .233, well below his career average. The Angels’ biggest concern last sea-

son was pitching, putting up the AL’s third-worst ERA at 5.09. To address it, the team signed lefty José Quintana to a one-year, $8 million deal, traded for former Reds closer Raisel Iglesias, and acquired Alex Cobb from the Baltimore Orioles.

Los Angeles Dodgers: 2020 record – 43-17

After years of playoff disappointment, the Los Angeles Dodgers �inally captured their �irst World Series title since 1988. The team was unstoppable for most of the year and aren’t likely to slow down in 2021. A few key pieces won’t be returning to LA in 2021, including Joc Pederson and left-hander Alex Wood. The gains far outweigh the losses, however, as they signed the biggest free agent pitcher on the market, Trevor Bauer, to a three-year, $102 million contract. The reigning NL Cy Young winner joins an already stacked rotation, featuring Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Julio Urías, and David Price, when healthy. The team also bolstered its bullpen by resigning Blake Treinen and trading for Corey Knebel from the Milwaukee Brewers. The Dodgers held the best ERA in the majors last year at just 3.02, and they might be even better this year. Pitching isn’t the only scary thing about this club. They led the majors in home runs last year with 118, averaging almost two a game. With players like Mookie Betts, Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, AJ Pollock and Max Muncy all returning in 2021, it’s tough to see another team usurping that throne. The reigning champions also added to their in�ield by acquiring Sheldon Neuse from the Athletics and re-signing third baseman Justin Turner to a two-year, $34 million contract. Turner has averaged over .300 in four of his seven seasons wearing Dodger blue, and quickly became a fan favorite through his play and iconic red hair. Neuse, 26, has only played 25 major league games to date, but has aver-

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Milwaukee Brewers: 2020 record – 29-31

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The Brewers took a step back in 2020, �inishing under .500 for the �irst time since 2016. They still managed to qualify for the postseason under last year’s expanded format but didn’t stand a chance against the powerhouse Dodgers in the Wild Card series. The club decided to move on from longtime left �ielder/free agent Ryan Braun, who leaves as the franchise’s all-time leader in home runs with 352. Experiencing a bit of a sophomore slump last year was second baseman Keston Hiura, who turned heads in 2019, making the MLB All-Rookie team. He’s a player who’s looking to rebound with a big 2021 campaign and is expected to switch to �irst base this year. Devin Williams, the reigning NL Rookie and Reliever of the Year, was fantastic last year and will try to continue that success. In 27 innings pitched, he posted a miniscule 0.33 ERA and struck out 53% of batters. Milwaukee’s biggest addition was signing free agent second baseman Kolten Wong to a three-year, $18 million deal. The longtime Cardinal will help solidify the team’s in�ield defense.

Oakland Athletics: 2020 record – 36-24

The A’s are a team stuck in a time loop. They develop great players who eventually become too good for the team to afford and lose them to teams with deeper pockets. This offseason was no different. In�ielders Marcus Semien and Tommy La Stella, pitchers Liam Hendriks, Mike Minor and Joakim Soria, and out�ielder Robbie Grossman all signed with other teams in free agency.

To �ill the void left by Semien at shortstop, the A’s acquired two-time All-Star Elvis Andrus from the Texas Rangers for a package including fan-favorite designated hitter/left �ielder Khris Davis. “Khrush,” as he is known in Oakland, is just three years removed from leading the major leagues in home runs with 48 back in 2018. The team also signed veteran in�ielder Jed Lowrie for his third stint in Oakland and acquired lefty reliever Adam Kolarek from the Dodgers. The good news for the A’s is they �inally got over the �irst-round hump in the postseason after knocking out the White Sox in the Wild Card series. Despite being the only AL West team to �inish over .500 in the regular season, they fell to their division rival Houston Astros in the ALDS. They’ll look to be back in the postseason for a fourth straight year in 2021.

San Diego Padres: 2020 record – 37-23

The 2020 Padres were a revelation under �irst-year manager Jayce Tingler, ending a 14-year postseason drought and �ielding one of the most exciting teams in recent memory. The dynamic duo of third baseman Manny Machado and shortstop Fernando Tatís Jr. turned the Padres into mustwatch television, and with big additions to an already-strong pitching staff, they could be even better this year. The team acquired starting pitchers Yu Darvish and Blake Snell in separate deals, giving them an incredible one-two punch to start their rotation, followed by All-MLB Second Teamer Dinelson Lamet. Darvish is a four-time All Star who was named to the All-MLB First Team last year, and Snell won the AL Cy Young with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018. As if the Padres weren’t scary enough, they’ve also got two top-10 prospects ranked on MLB’s top 100: lefty pitcher MacKenzie Gore, and shortstop CJ Abrams. There was talk of Gore making

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SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL GUIDE 2021

Diamondbacks Preview Calhoun, Soria and Peralta add excitement to the snakes BY JORDAN ROGERS Staff Writer

ith the 2020 World Series Champions Los Angeles Dodgers and one of the most exciting teams in baseball in the San Diego Padres headlining the National League West division, the Arizona Diamondbacks will look to improve upon a forgettable, shortened 2020 season that saw them �inish with a 25-35 record, good for last in the division. Two years removed from being in the thick of the Wild Card heap, the question now is: How will the team improve and who will need to step up to help put the team back in that spot? As a team, the Diamondbacks’ offense slashed .241/.312/.704 during the 2020

season and will almost certainly need better seasons from guys like Eduardo Escobar and Ketel Marte if those numbers are to improve. Both players are coming off of strong 2019 campaigns but regressed quite a bit during the 2020 season. In 2020, Escobar hit just .212 while tallying four home runs and 20 RBIs. Marte found himself in the MVP race during the 2019 season and while he did hit .287, the power numbers were not close to his 2019 season as he left the yard just twice and had 17 RBI. Marte’s season was good, but not great. And if the Diamondbacks are to be chasing down a playoff spot, they will need a great season in 2021 from arguably their best player. The team will need continued strong efforts from guys like Kole Calhoun and

Kole Calhoun. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/ Arizona Diamondbacks)

David Peralta. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/ Arizona Diamondbacks)

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David Peralta. Calhoun hit .223, but he homered 16 times and had 40 RBI in a shortened 60-game season. While the average is well below league average, the way baseball is played now offers players the ability to hit subpar for average but make up for it in the power numbers. With his consistent Gold Glove-caliber play in right �ield, Calhoun can afford the low average numbers. Peralta put together another strong campaign in the 2020 season that saw him hit .300 with �ive home runs and 34 RBI. Both players will need another good season in 2021. The Diamondbacks were a middle-ofthe-pack defensive team in 2020 having committed 35 errors with a .983 overall �ielding percentage and a 0.0 team de-

fensive wins above replacement (dWAR). Calhoun and Peralta were Gold Glove Award �inalists for 2020 in left and right �ields, but defensive captain Nick Ahmed had a down season defensively at shortstop. Having won the Gold Glove Award in 2018 and 2019, Ahmed regressed in 2020 with a .963 �ielding percentage and a 0.7 dWar. Calhoun, Peralta and Marte will likely man the out�ield on most days and all three play solid defense. That said, the focus is really on the in�ield. The team turned 54 double plays throughout the season, which, in theory is really good as the season was just 60 games. But with

�� D-BACKS PREVIEW �� 10

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D-BACKS PREVIEW �� 8

Christian Walker (-0.4 dWAR) and Josh Rojas (0.0 dWAR) likely drawing starts throughout the season, the Diamondbacks in�ield plays a “feast or famine”type game that will be important for fans to watch throughout the season. Pitching as a whole has to be the biggest area of concern for fans for the upcoming season. As a team, the Diamondbacks compiled a 4.33 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. As far as starting pitching goes, better seasons will be needed from guys like former top prospect Luke Weaver and 2019 free agent acquisition Madison Bumgarner. Weaver started 12 games for the team a season ago and went 1-9 with a 6.58 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Bumgarner spent some time on the IL last season due to a mid-back strain, but over nine starts, he went 1-4

with a 6.48 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. There were some bright spots last season that fans can certainly look forward to seeing pitch during the 2021 season. Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and trade deadline acquisition Caleb Smith all threw well last season. Gallen went 3-2 in 12 starts and pitched to a 2.75 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. At times, he looked like a true ace. While there is a huge question mark surrounding Kelly as he will be returning from surgery to relieve symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome, he was pitching very well at the time of his exit. Kelly went 3-2 with a 2.59 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP over �ive starts and the team anticipates he will be ready to go come time for Spring Training. Smith was acquired in the deal that sent center �ielder Starling Marte to the Miami Marlins. Smith, who was a former top prospect for Miami, pitched just 11 in-

The Face of the D-backs David Peralta says the fans make baseball fun BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Executive Editor

rizona Diamondbacks out�ielder David Peralta stands at the top of the dugout stairs, slapping high �ives to teammates who make gamechanging plays. That scene was frequent until the 2020 season, when COVID-19 killed that tradition. Chase Field and other Major League ballparks were quiet, save for ambient crowd noise. Peralta couldn’t meet autograph hounds or toss baseballs to kids. “We’re here because of the fans,” Peralta said. “Without fans, baseball wouldn’t be here. I like to throw balls to kids, give a ball to a kid or say hi. I like to put a smile on little kids’ faces. “That makes my day. It was hard for me not to do that last year. It was hard in situations where we got a big base hit. The crowd wasn’t there cheering. That’s what you’re looking for.” Peralta did have some company near his spot in left �ield. He and his wife,

Jordan, placed stuffed animals in seats. Tucked between the toys were individual photos of Jordan and their two children So�ia and Isabella. “I was talking to the D-backs and I said I need something in the left �ield,” Peralta said. “I don’t want to be alone in left �ield. I would play around and pretend they’re real people. Every time myself or any player hit a home run over there, we would donate something to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. We donated the teddy bears. That was a good cause.” Although the COVID-19 pandemic presents a �luid situation, the D-backs home opener is now slated for Friday, April 9, against the Cincinnati Reds. Peralta has been bulking up and working out his healthy body since November. “I’m fully healthy,” he said. “That is a big deal for me. When you know you’re going to go through the off season full, 100% healthy, that changes your mentality, the way you’re going to work out, how much are you going to do.

nings after being acquired, but he threw well to a 2.45 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. The stability of the starting rotation will be important to the team’s success. The bullpen is a huge question mark at the moment. Due to last season’s lack of success, the Diamondbacks were “sellers” at the trade deadline and shipped off Andrew Cha�in to the Chicago Cubs and fan favorite Archie Bradley to the Cincinnati Reds. While the team and general manager Mike Hazen have not done a lot of replenish what was lost, Stefan Crichton stepped into the closer role pitched to a 2.42 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP while picking up �ive saves. Hazen did sign veteran relievers Chris Devenski and Ryan Buchter to minor league deals and both of those players �igure to work their way into the bullpen, but the splash move of the offseason so far has to be the addition

of veteran Joakim Soria. Soria has been consistent throughout his career. He has 223 career saves and 789 career strikeouts. With the team’s bullpen being as young as it is, Soria will be entering his age 36 season and could work into a sort of mentorship role to the young guys while also stepping into the closer role in 2021. Entering 2021’s edition of Spring Training, the Diamondbacks have as a good a chance as any to push for a wild card spot. After the Dodgers, Padres and now maybe the New York Mets, the National League is made up of a lot of good, but not great teams. That leaves the door open for the Diamondbacks to make some serious noise. The team is not without its �laws, but there is plenty of talent to be able to right the ship and have a successful 2021 season.

David Peralta. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/ Arizona Diamondbacks)

“I think everything was a challenge last year. Everyone wearing the masks, tests every other day, playing with no fans, no hanging out with teammates after the game.” At the same time, he said, he and his D-backs teammates understood the �luid situation and “just followed the rules.” “We made it through,” he said. “There were hard moments. There was a lot of stuff we wanted to do during the season — sign autographs, take pictures — and we couldn’t do it. When we were looking around during the game or batting practice, there were empty seats. It wasn’t

right. It was a little bit depressing. “But everything was for a good reason.” As COVID-19 ravaged the world, Peralta stayed safe at the family’s Florida home. Floridians were allowed to visit the beach, and Peralta took a month off to rest. “It was a tough moment for the whole world, especially ballplayers,” he said. “We travel a lot and don’t get a lot of time to spend with the family. “It was good for us to spend time together. A lot of times we have to play on the road for 10 days. By the time I got back from the game, they were sleeping. I just look at the good side.”

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Arizona Diamondbacks

Chicago Cubs

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted) Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

 Home

Wednesday

Game Schedule February/March

 Away

Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

Mar. 1 MIL

CHI

SEA

1:10 p.m.

21 CWS

28 CWS

OAK

CHI

Monday

COL

CLE

16 OAK

12:05 p.m.

SEA

CLE

LAD

TEX

6:05 p.m.

CLE

LAA

CIN

6:05 p.m.

LAD

LAA

MIL

1:10 p.m.

CIN

TEX

Mar. 1 SD

12:40 p.m.

LAA

CIN

TEX

12:05 p.m.

Monday

Tuesday

Mar. 1 CLE

LAD

COL

1:10 p.m.

CLE

12:00 p.m.

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

SEA

23 CWS

LAA

Thursday

LAD

6:05 p.m.

SEA

COL

CLE

LAD

CLE

MIL

CHI

SEA

CWS

1:10 p.m.

SEA

6:05 p.m.

CIN

Saturday

19 OAK

6:05 p.m.

COL

CIN

LAD

6:05 p.m.

MIL

18 CWS

LAA

1:10 p.m.

17 OAK

LAA

TEX

6:05 p.m.

COL

Monday

Tuesday

CHI

MIL

Mar. 1 CWS

CHI

MIL

1:10 p.m.

LAD

CIN

TEX

6:05 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

CIN

CHI

LAD

7:10 p.m.

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

CHI

TEX

CIN

SEA

6:05 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

LAD

23 CHC

24 OAK

CIN

TEX

SEA

CLE

LAA

CLE

6:40 p.m.

MIL

1:10 p.m.

COL

1:10 p.m.

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

Feb. 28 SF

SEA

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Los Angeles Dodgers

 Home  Away

Wednesday

LAD

14 OAK

12:05 p.m.

Sunday

Tuesday

Mar. 1 LAA

Game Schedule February/March

Friday

Monday

Feb. 28 MIL

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

Feb. 28 TEX

1:10 p.m.

OAK

Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

OAK

Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

Los Angeles Angels

 Home  Away

Wednesday

TEX

15 CWS

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

Wednesday

Game Schedule February/March

 Away

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

Feb. 28

Kansas City Royals Sunday

Tuesday

 Home

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

Feb. 28 COL

1:10 p.m.

Chicago White Sox

CLE

TEX

LAD

7:10 p.m.

CLE

SEA

6:40 p.m.

MIL

COL

1:10 p.m.

OAK

COL

Feb. 28 OAK

Mar. 1 COL

13 CWS

20 OAK

TEX

LAA

CWS

COL

CIN

SEA

6:40 p.m.

LAA

7:10 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

MIL

LAA

7:10 p.m.

CHI

17 CWS

1:10 p.m.

CIN

SEA

CHI

6:05 p.m.

CLE

TEX

26 OAK

1:10 p.m.

CLE

SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL GUIDE 2021

Cincinnati Reds

Cleveland Indians

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted) Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Game Schedule February/March

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

Mar. 1 OAK

CHI

MIL

12:10 p.m.

COL

LAA

LAD

COL

6:05 p.m.

SEA

6:05 p.m.

CLE

MIL

1:10 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

TEX

SEA

6:40 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

25 CWS

13 OAK

6:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

OAK

MIL

6:05 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

CHI

6:05 p.m.

TEX

Milwaukee Brewers Monday

Tuesday

LAA

1:10 p.m.

SEA

1:10 p.m.

SEA

CIN

12:10 p.m.

CLE

TEX

Saturday

Sunday

TEX

12:00 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

MIL

LAA

CIN

MIL

CHI

1:10 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

CHI

LAD

COL

1:10 p.m.

COL

CWS

OAK

1:10 p.m.

LAD

1:10 p.m.

TEX

1:10 p.m.

10 OAK 17

CLE

1:10 p.m.

Friday

COL

1:10 p.m.

LAA

CHI

1:10 p.m.

26 CWS

1:10 p.m.

Monday

Saturday

Sunday

CHI

1:10 p.m.

TEX

Mar. 1 LAD

1:10 p.m.

CWS

Monday

Tuesday

1:10 p.m.

CIN

6:05 p.m.

14 CWS

CLE

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

21 OAK

LAD

CIN

6:05 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

SEA

CHI

1:10 p.m.

24 LAA

LAA

1:10 p.m.

23 CWS

MIL

CLE

1:10 p.m.

SEA

LAD

SEA

1:10 p.m.

CHI

6:40 p.m.

12:10 p.m.

San Diego Padres Game Schedule February/March

 Home  Away

Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

Thursday

1:10 p.m.

OAK

Friday

Sunday

Saturday

Monday

Tuesday

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

Mar. 1 CIN

 Home  Away

Wednesday

1:10 p.m.

TEX

1:10 p.m.

Wednesday

CIN

12:40 p.m.

Feb. 28 LAD

CLE

Tuesday

Feb. 28 AZ

20 CWS

Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

Thursday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

1:10 p.m.

Friday

Oakland Athletics

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

Mar. 1 AZ

Thursday

Game Schedule February/March

 Home  Away

Wednesday

SEA

15 OAK

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

Feb. 28 CWS

Wednesday

Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

Mar. 1 KC

12:05 p.m.

Sunday

Tuesday

Feb. 28 CIN

6:05 p.m.

11 CWS

6:05 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

LAD

6:05 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

LAA

6:05 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

Monday

Game Schedule February/March

 Home  Away

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

Feb. 28 COL

Colorado Rockies

MIL

1:10 p.m.

CHI

COL

1:10 p.m.

MIL

24 CWS 31

TEX

1:10 p.m.

SEA

LAA

CHI

LAD

SEA

Feb. 28 SEA

Mar. 1 CHI

1:10 p.m.

CIN

6:05 p.m.

LAA

TEX

1:10 p.m.

CIN

12:05 p.m.

LAA

CLE

MIL

1:10 p.m.

COL

CWS

MIL

CHI

6:05 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

COL

1:10 p.m.

CIN

TEX

1:10 p.m.

16 CWS

1:10 p.m.

LAD

6:40 p.m.

12 OAK

18 OAK

CLE

1:10 p.m.

TEX

6:40 p.m.

LAD

1:10 p.m.

SEA

6:40 p.m.

LAA

12:10 p.m.

�� SCHEDULES �� 14

SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL GUIDE 2021

SCHEDULES �� 13

San Francisco Giants

Seattle Mariners

Game Schedule February/March Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted) Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Game Schedule February/March

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

Mar. 1 TEX

Monday

Tuesday

Game Schedule February/March

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Games start at 1:05 p.m. (unless noted)

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

Feb. 28 LAA

CIN

Texas Rangers

LAD

MIL

1:10 p.m.

LAD

22 CWS

28 OAK

29 OAK

TEX

CLE

CHI

COL

CWS

1:10 p.m.

LAA

SEA

MIL

6:40 p.m.

COL

CIN

CHI

Feb. 28 SD

Mar. 1

LAA

MIL

1:10 p.m.

SEA

6:40 p.m.

MIL

1:10 p.m.

CLE

1:10 p.m.

LAD

1:10 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

6:40 p.m.

CIN

CHI

1:10 p.m.

CLE

1:10 p.m.

TEX

1:10 p.m.

LAA

6:40 p.m.

CHI

COL

6:40 p.m.

LAD

25 OAK

CWS

1:10 p.m.

CIN

6:40 p.m.

OAK

1:10 p.m.

6:40 p.m.

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TEX

6:05 p.m.

6:40 p.m.

LAD

COL

CLE

CHI

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19 CWS

6:40 p.m.

COL

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Tuesday

 Home  Away

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Dates, times and teams are subject to change.

1:10 p.m.

CLE

Monday

CHI

CWS

COL

1:10 p.m.

MIL

CLE

LAA

MIL

LAA

SEA

1:10 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

CIN

6:05 p.m.

11 OAK

12 CWS

CIN

6:05 p.m.

6:40 p.m.

LAD

6:05 p.m.

MIL

1:10 p.m.

SEA

6:05 p.m.

27 OAK

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SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL GUIDE 2021

Hometown Hero Kole Calhoun is ready to see fans in the outﬁeld BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Executive Editor

ole Calhoun is counting down the weeks to Spring Training. It’s an exciting time of year for him, and it marks a fresh start for the Buckeye native’s team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. It’s “fresh” in more ways than one. Most of his teammates have returned, and last year’s rookies may get to play in front of fans, albeit a select audience. Still, it’s an improvement over last year. “For rookies, it was their �irst year in the league and their dream became a reality,” Calhoun said. “However, they had half of that reality and half of that dream.” Calhoun is well known for gamesaving catches in right �ield, a position

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he said has been “pretty comfortable” for him. “I’m not trying to make a cool catch,” he said. “I’m just having fun doing it. I’m blessed that I’m able to go out and have fun.” Unfortunately, he didn’t have the crowd to back him up. “It was sad to see a foul ball go into the stands and nobody run after it,” Calhoun said. “We had the crowd noise simulated as much as they could. I noticed it more in the out�ield, when it was time to take a break and look around. “With nobody behind or around you, it feels more like the minor league or college, where there weren’t a lot of people.” During the offseason, Calhoun took a break from baseball and toured the Paci�ic Northwest, Idaho and Montana with his wife and two children.

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Kole Calhoun. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/Arizona Diamondbacks)

“We took road trips and tried to stay safe as much as we could,” he said. “I trained like I did last season, here at my house. “We drove through Idaho and some of Montana. Later on, we took a trip through Portland and Washington. We’re a road trip family. It was de�initely different, and we de�initely had to stay a little smart and safer. We were able to get away from home a little bit. When it got a little out of hand in December with COVID, we buckled down and stayed safe. “My wife traveled a lot as a child,

which is kind of cool. A few years back, we did a tour of the New England states. Hopefully, if everything is going right in the world, I think we might venture out and go to Europe.” Now that he’s home, Spring Training is in the forefront of his mind. “This year, we get a full Spring Training and I get to compete with these guys,” the ASU alum said. “Last year, we got pretty close as a team. We had some young guys come up and help out and get their feet wet in the big leagues. This year’s an open book.”

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Kole Calhoun. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/Arizona Diamondbacks)

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SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL GUIDE 2021

Joakim Soria (Courtesy Oakland A's)

Family Man

saves. When asked about becoming the new closer, Soria said anyone who’s in the bullpen, working the ninth inning, should be “the guy.” Teammate David Peralta is looking forward to learning from Soria. “He’s such a nice guy,” he said. “I met him one time. I can’t wait to talk to him. He has so much experience. He’s been in the league for a long time. What we have now is our best team and we’re going to surprise a lot of people.” For Soria, he said this offseason was a different one for him. He had to wait a bit longer for a deal, but he never wavered. “It was a different offseason for me,” Soria said. “There was a wait, but I wasn’t desperate. I knew that following (last season), it would be tough for the teams and the players to come along and sign people. “I was waiting, preparing myself and putting myself in a better position — the best position I could for whenever a team called me. I wanted to be ready.”

Soria said the team contacted him at the beginning of free agency and stayed in contact with him until his signing. “He was always somebody we had on our radar,” Hazen said. “Knowing his history, knowing his ability to pitch in the back end, rebuilding our bullpen continues to be a priority to us.” But for Hazen, it wasn’t just about his ability on the �ield. “From a makeup standpoint as well, as we started to really dig in behind the scenes, the way people talk about him as a person and as a competitor was a big �it for us,” he said. Hazen said he believes Soria can offer direction to a very young bullpen and become a valuable addition to the 2021 Diamondbacks. “He’s got good stuff,” Hazen said. “He’s got the ability to get swings and misses. He’s got a good breaking ball for righties that we felt like was something that we wanted to add to the arsenal of our bullpen to give Torey (Lovullo) that weapon.”

New D-backs Joakim Soria wants to be ‘the guy’ BY JORDAN ROGERS Staff Writer

amily is important to Joakim Soria and that could have attracted the D-backs to the veteran relief pitcher, whose off-season home is in Scottsdale. “I have an amazing wife,” Soria said. “She takes good care of me and an amazing family. I think that is one of the keys. I am honestly just a simple guy that tries to do the best every time I go out there and play as hard as I can and everything else just follows. I live here in Arizona, which will make it way easier on my family, especially during these times.” The Arizona Diamondbacks finalized a one-year, $3.5 million deal with him on Feb. 8, the same day he was introduced. According to General Manager Mike Hazen, Soria was a natural �it. Hazen said that establishing leadership in the

bullpen is essential and Soria, who will enter his 14th season in Major League Baseball, can help provide that. Soria, 36, is a two-time American League All-Star who ranks second among active pitchers in innings, third in appearances, fourth in saves and sixth in strikeouts. Born in Monclova, Mexico, Soria leads all Mexican-born pitchers in saves and appearances. He will become the 12th Mexican-born player to play with the Diamondbacks and is excited to get out in Arizona’s Hispanic community. “I think I can have an impact in the Hispanic community here,” Soria said. “Not just playing baseball, but outside (the game), too.” Though the role as closer is believed to be an open competition, Soria may just be a favorite for the job with his experience pitching the ninth. He has recorded �ive seasons of 20 or more

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SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL GUIDE 2021

Looking to Repeat

Trevor Bauer. (Courtesy LA Dodgers)

LA Dodgers are stacked with the Trevor Bauer acquisition BY NICHOLAS BARKER Contributing Writer

pon Spring Training, the Los Angeles Dodgers will begin their quest for their second title in a row and eighth in team history. The Dodgers experienced heartbreak in 2017 and 2018 after losing back-toback World Series, and just three years later, they will look to make history and become just the 14th team to win two titles in a row. Last season, the Dodgers came into the unprecedented and incredibly shortened season as the favorites once again. For the last couple of years, the Dodgers have entered each season with great odds to win the title, but they were never able to win the �inal game until last season. The Dodgers took advantage of the 60-game season, comfortably winning the NL West. In the playoffs, the Dodgers swept the Milwaukee Brewers and the San Diego Padres in the �irst two rounds of the playoffs, before being on the brink of

elimination in the NL championship series. Down 3-1 to the Atlanta Braves, the Dodges dug themselves out of a massive hole and beat the Braves via a Game 7 homerun by 2019 MVP Cody Bellinger. The Dodgers went on to beat the Tampa Bay Rays in six games to capture their seventh ring. The Dodgers have arguably become even better as spring training approaches with the signing of 2020 Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer, who pitched for the Cincinnati Reds last season. Bauer started 11 games of the 60-game season, winning �ive of them. He �inished with a career low 1.73 ERA and a career high of 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The Dodgers rotation already consists of three-time Cy Young winner and 2014 NL MVP Clayton Kershaw, �ifth-year pitcher Walker Buehler, 2012 Cy Young winner David Price and many

other young pitchers who most de�initely will make for a tough day for any hitter. Bauer, who was left to choose his landing spot between the New York Mets and the Dodgers, made his an-

Cody Bellinger. (Courtesy LA Dodgers)

nouncement via YouTube. “This season is about adding to our legacy, and I can’t wait Dodger fans,” Bauer said. Bauer had his introductory press conference on Feb. 11 where he expressed his interest in playing with the Dodgers and being back in his hometown, where he attended UCLA over a decade ago. “I am a long-time Dodger fan, and I couldn’t be more excited to be here with the group that we have,” Bauer said. “I’m excited to get on the �ield here shortly and get going.” While adding Bauer to the rotation is great, the Dodgers also lost a couple of keys players in the rotation. Alex Wood, a member of the Dodgers starting rotation for the last �ive years, signed with the San Francisco Giants this offseason, and Pedro Baez, a member of the organization for the last seven years as a relief pitcher, signed a two-year deal with the Houston Astros. The two biggest names they lost in

�� DODGERS �� 27

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SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL GUIDE 2021

Spring Training Dining Indulge in these specials near the ballparks BY ANNIKA TOMLIN Staff Writer

pring Training games play nearly every day of the week at �ields that are scattered across the Valley. Near each location are a variety of dining options for the whole family. Here are several restaurants that offer specials for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Los Sombreros offers an array of Mexican food along with weekly specials.

Four Peaks 8th Street

What’s a baseball game without beer and bratwurst? Not much, says Four Peaks. That’s why the Tempe brewery is letting spring baseball fans make a “short stop” into its 8th Street Pub to spend time before each 1 p.m. game held at Sloan Park. Fans will be able to enjoy $20 lunch packages that include a brat (made with Four Peaks beer, of course) and a side, a �light of four core beers (Kilt Lifter, Hop Knot, Peach Ale and WOW Wheat Ale), a pint of your choice, and a koozie to use at the game. 1340 E. Eighth Street, Suite 104, Tempe, 480-303-9967, fourpeaks.com.

Hash Kitchen has seven hashes ($14$18) to satisfy everyone’s cravings.

Hash Kitchen

Spring Training games begin early, but so does Hash Kitchen. Don’t miss out on the restaurant’s legendary build-yourown bloody mary bar ($13) that includes over 50 craft toppings for you to stack up your drink! Craving breakfast? Try one of the seven different legendary hashes ($14 to $18) to satisfy your cravings. Feeling lunch instead? Hash has salads ($12 to $18) and burgers and sandwiches ($13 to $15). Dine in or order online. 2855 W. Ray Road, Suite 4, Chandler, 480-909-4270, hashkitchen.com. See website for additional locations.

Humble Pie

Fans can grab a peach ale as part of the Four Peaks $20 lunch package.

Going to a weekday afternoon game? Humble Pie has a lunch steal for anyone who orders a Za’Zone (margherita, pesto veggie, pepperoni and sausage calzone) with a salad (house or Caesar) for $11.99 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday, dine-in only. Stop in for brunch on the weekends and grab one of the breakfast dishes ($9.99) and a brunch cocktail ($5). 3890 W. Happy Valley Road, Glendale, 623-580-4300, humblepieusa.com. See website for additional locations.

Humble Pie dishes up world-class wood oven pizzas priced between $11 and $15.

Los Sombreros

Los Sombreros is ready to welcome Spring Training fans to its locations with daily specials. On Mondays, La Casa (house) margaritas are $4; and on Tuesdays, taco meals are $6. The savings continue on Wednesdays, when guests receive 20% off carry-out orders with code CARRYOUT (not valid on delivery). Bottles of Tumbleweed wine are half off on Thursdays. Brunch and bottomless mimosas are served from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 2534 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale,

480-994-1799, lossombreros.com. See website for additional locations.

Mavrix

Bring in your Spring Training ticket stub and get a Bucket of Beer including �ive bottles of your choice for $15, plus 50% off any one appetizer including wild fries ($10 to $15), nacho stack ($12 to $17), chicken wings or the cheese and charcuterie ($17). Not valid with group events or other offers. Maximum one discount per person, per visit.

�� DINING �� 24

SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL GUIDE 2021

DINING �� 23 9139 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, 480291-7500, mavrix. com.

The Lola

The Lola at Westgate is offering guests 20% off their bill when they bring in their sameday Spring Training ticket stub. Try the award-winning Dbacks burger, made with a brisket/chuck blend patty topped with smoked pork chipotle barbecue sauce, muenster cheese and bacon aioli ($16). Finish it off with a mini pizookie topped with ice cream ($8). 6770 N. Sunrise Boulevard, Glendale, 623-877-5225, thelolaaz.com.

BEST WINGS

The Sicilian Butcher

The 5-foot Sicilian in strada board is the signature family favorite for $15 per person at The Sicilian Butcher.

For dine-in or takeout, The Sicilian Butcher is a great pairing for game days. Families can feast on authentic Sicilian food with any of the restaurant’s four charcuterie board options (ranging from $14 to $16, and its massive family favorite board priced at $15 per person). Its menu also includes customizable pastas and meatball buckets and salads. Happy hour is all day, every day in the bar area. 15530 N. Tatum Boulevard, Phoenix, 602-775-5140, thesicilianbutcher.com. See website for additional locations.

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The Wigwam

The Wigwam is running weekly specials at three of its on-site restaurants during Spring Training. Margarita

Mondays at Wigwam Bar and Red’s Bar & Grill from 4 p.m. to close features $5 prickly pear or traditional margaritas. Taco and Tequila Tuesdays at Wigwam Bar between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. include two tacos for $6, and specialty chicken, beef or pork tacos and tequila tasting. Whiskey and Wine Wednesday is from 5 to 9 p.m. at Litch�ield’s, where guests can spice up their week with a �light of three whiskeys for $18 and half off select bottles of wine. Beer and Burger Thursdays at Red’s Bar & Grill feature draft beer and a burger of the guest’s choice for $14. 300 E. Wigwam Boulevard, Litchfield Park, 866-976-6894, wigwamarizona.com.

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SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL GUIDE 2021

ROUND-UP �� 6

his debut last year, so don’t be surprised if the Padres give the 2017 third overall pick a look in 2021. With the combination of power and pitching the Padres possess, the Dodgers’ biggest threat could come from their own division.

San Francisco Giants: 2020 record – 29-31

The Giants missed the playoffs for a fourth straight year by the skin of their teeth under new manager Gabe Kapler. The team scored the �ifth-most runs in the NL, largely on the back of All-MLB Second Team out�ielder Mike Yastrzemski. “Yaz,” as he’s known by fans, has only played two seasons in the majors at age 30, but has provided a signi�icant boost offensively, hitting .297 last year while leading the team with 35 RBI. San Francisco added second baseman Tommy La Stella and pitchers Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood through free agency to round out their roster. DeSclafani struggled last year in Cincinnati, but earned himself a one-year, $6 million contract with the Giants in the hopes of

Kyle Seager. (Courtesy Seattle Mariners)

Manny Machado. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)

bouncing back. La Stella is a career .274 hitter who earned his �irst All-Star nomination with the Angels in 2019.

Seattle Mariners: 2020 record – 27-33

The Mariners haven’t played postseason baseball since 2001. The last time the Mariners made the playoffs, the �irst Harry Potter movie hadn’t even been released in theaters yet. Not that Mariner

fans need to be reminded of that fact, but it shows just how desperate this team is to break that streak. Third baseman Kyle Seager led Padres inﬁelder Fernando Tatis Jr. the team with 40 RBI, but it was (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres) AL Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis who stole the show in Seattle. 60-game season roughly equates to 103 The 25-year-old out�ielder led the team over a full schedule, which would’ve been with 11 home runs and a .262 batting their �irst 100-loss season since 1973. average and was selected for the award Texas also had the worst batting averunanimously. The team also featured age in the AL at just .217. They didn’t get two Gold Glove winners, �irst baseman much help from their pitching staff either, Evan White and shortstop J.P. Crawford. registering the �ifth-worst ERA in the There is help on the way though, and league at 5.02. They also committed the in the not-so-distant future. Out�ielders fourth-most errors in the AL with 40. To Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez are put it simply, this team needs help everyranked as MLB’s No. 4 and No. 5 pros- where. pects, respectively, and could see action To remedy this, new general manager on a Major League �ield soon. Kelenic Chris Young made several moves. He seems to be the closer of the two to signed 2018 All Star righty Mike Foltynemaking the big leagues, so keep an eye wicz to a one-year, $2 million contract. He also brought in former Rangers out�ieldout for his name in 2021. The team is also reportedly in agree- er Delino DeShields on a minor league ment on a multiyear contract with free contract, with an invitation to Spring agent reliever Ken Giles, who is likely to Training. By far the biggest move of the Rangers miss the entire 2021 season after havoffseason was trading longtime shortstop ing Tommy John surgery. Giles was considered one of the top closers in base- Elvis Andrus to Oakland for a package inball before his 2020 struggles. cluding slugger Khris Davis. Davis hit 133 homers and knocked in 335 runs from 2016-2018, leading the majors in home Texas Rangers: runs in 2018 with 48. He hasn’t been any2020 record – 22-38 where close to that form the last two seaThe Rangers haven’t fared well since sons, but with just one more year on his their 95-win season in 2016, but 2020 contract, the team isn’t taking too much was especially rough. Their 38 losses in a of a risk.

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free agency were not in the bullpen, they are two players who have played key roles the last couple of seasons, Joc Pederson and Enrique (Kiké) Hernandez. Pederson, who played out�ielder for the Dodgers, spent the last couple of years smashing home runs into the Dodger Stadium stands. He has hit a few key home runs for the Dodgers in playoff games, and he has signed a deal with the Chicago Cubs. As for Hernandez, he has spent the last six seasons in the Dodgers organization and has played a huge role in

Cleveland Indians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Colorado Rockies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kansas City Royals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim . . . .

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the last couple of playoff runs for the Dodgers. Hernandez always seemed to get a big hit when the Dodgers needed it the most. He has signed a two-year deal with the Boston Red Sox. Blake Treinen, who will be returning for his second season as a Dodger, recently signed two-year deal. The Dodgers are loaded with pitchers, and they have arguably seven starting pitchers who can be used in the rotation every week. Kershaw, Bauer and Buehler are no doubt the top three, but will Price, Julio Urias, Dustin May or Tony Gonsolin crack the rotation each week? Having seven starting-caliber pitchers is most

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de�initely a good problem to have for an organization looking to make its fourth World Series in the last �ive years. Relief pitcher Adam Kolarek was recently traded to the Oakland Athletics for in�ielder Sheldon Neuse and minor league pitcher Gus Varland. Kolarek pitched in 20 games this past season, giving up just two earned runs all year. Neuse last played for the Athletics in 2019 where he hit .250, and Varland has spent the last couple of years pitching for the Oakland minor league team. Aside from pitching, the Dodgers signed Bellinger and Corey Seager to 1-year contracts for the upcoming sea-

son. The Dodgers have a star-studded lineup each game, and they will most certainly be tough to out each game. The 2021 season is supposed to start on April 1, but there is still no of�icial word on if that date will stick and how many games will be played next season. The Dodgers will look to become the �irst repeat World Series champions since the New York Yankees won three straight, from 1998-2000. Spring Training is set to begin Feb. 17, with pitchers and catchers the first to report, and games are expected to begin on Feb. 28 in the Cactus League.

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SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL GUIDE 2021

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