Hey everyone, and welcome back to Baseball Bash!  Spring training begins this Friday, believe it or not, and I, along with the baseball world, am getting more and more excited by the day.  That being said, there have been a few developments in the MLB leading up to the beginning of spring training this weekend.

Shohei Ohtani

One of the biggest free agents following this season will be two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani.  Ohtani, if he keeps up the performance that he has had over the past few positions, could be looking to sign a contract as large as 500 million dollars, the largest contract in MLB history.  Many people are saying that his career is being wasted in Anaheim, and Ohtani moving to another other team would give him higher odds to see pitching appearances in the playoffs, and ultimately, the World Series.

For Ohtani, it seems that the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets would be the biggest suitors for him after his contract season with the LA Angels this year.  After all, his agent said recently that Ohtani has the “right to explore free agency”, and the Mets and Dodgers are some of the largest spenders in the league

given the Mets’ new owner(Steve Cohen) and the Dodgers current load of superstars the likes of Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Will Smith, and Max Muncy.  It will be interesting

to see where he ends up after this season.  I would like him to win a World Series.

 

Spring Training- a Guinea Pig Exhibition

With Spring Training starting one short day, it also means the new game rules will be taken for a spin.  As MLB.com writer Anthony Castrovince put it, we are about to embark on a spring exhibition season “unlike any other in baseball’s history.”  It makes sense when you consider the changes themselves- a pitch timer, the shift essentially becoming extinct, and so much more.  Spring training will allow for the league to make changes, if necessary, before the regular season starts.  This is a good move because it often is the case that making necessary changes can happen too late- so the spring training period serving as this buffer for the MLB to truly test out these rules at a professional level is important in giving the ideal season to fans, players, and coaches.

I am personally looking forward to the Yankees’ spring training as we will be able to see young prospects play with pros(just like the other teams).  One particular player is Anthony Volpe, a shortstop, who played a high school near where my hometown and is a phenom in his own right, has been building his way up rapidly in the minor leagues

, and even has been said by some people that he should be called up.  His fielding is outright masterful, but seeing him bat against pro

pitchers would be more telling for fans where he stands in terms of being called up.

Spring training is here, and I think that it will be one for the ages.  Cya soon, baseball!