There’s a new No. 2 in the New York Yankees’ rotation behind Gerrit Cole. A familiar face is getting a fresh start leading the Cincinnati Reds. Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani & Co. are preparing a title defense.
There was plenty to see as baseball returned Wednesday for most big league clubs, with pitchers and catchers working out at sites across Arizona and Florida. The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers got an early start ahead of their opening series in Tokyo on March 18 and 19, and a few clubs won’t get going until Thursday.
The Yankees welcomed back Cole, the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner, after he chose to remain with New York rather than opt out of his contract, which runs through 2028.
“The intention wasn’t to do anything but stay,” Cole said. “I was happy to be where my feet were back in Yankee Stadium.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Cole did not make the offseason contract situation a distraction.
“He came in and talked about it openly after the fact,” Boone said. “He kind of put us at ease a little bit and a laugh. Certainly, I’m excited he came back. Great pitchers get attractive on the market. As great as he’s been, you never know.”
Cole is joined in the rotation by Max Fried as they try to return to the World Series and win their first title since 2009.
New York fell to the Dodgers in five games, lost Juan Soto to the rival Mets in free agency, then signed Fried to a $218 million, eight-year contract, the largest for a left-handed pitcher. Fried went 54-25 with a 2.81 ERA over the past five seasons with Atlanta and was instrumental in the Braves’ 2021 World Series victory over the Astros.
Terry Francona watched his first workout as Cincinnati Reds manager. The Reds went 77-85 last season but have promising young talent led by speedy infielder Elly De La Cruz and ace Hunter Greene. Francona won two World Series titles with Boston and took Cleveland to the playoffs six times from 2013-23, including the 2016 World Series.
“I think the normal thought is, ‘it’s the first day’ and everybody wants to go out and throw 100 (mph),” Francona told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “So, I reminded them today, the pitchers, that, hey, there’s a progression here. Regardless of how old you are, get ready because you can’t make the club in the training room.”
The Dodgers added even more star power this offseason with two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell…