The Week That Was: February 10-16

The week Alex Bregman betrayed the Tigers.

Baseball is back!

Perhaps that’s a slight overstatement, but pitchers and catchers reported for all clubs last week, full squads will report soon, and it has been truly delightful to start seeing photos pour in out of both Florida and Arizona. We’re seeing players sporting new jerseys, formerly injured players showing how well-healed they are (we see you pitching, Shohei!), and it’s just the best time of the year to get super excited about the season to come.

So let’s jump into the highlight (and a major lowlight) of this past week.

Alex Bregman signs… somewhere else

Well, we spent a good chunk of time hoping and waiting to see if the Tigers would make a push to sign free agent third baseman Alex Bregman, and it did seem like they were one of the major contenders to land him. Unfortunately, this week in the worst Valentine’s gift possible, Bregman signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox .

Bregman’s contract, for three years and $120 million is certainly a disappointment to Tigers fans, but it should feel like a positive step that the Tigers were willing to make a serious effort to land him.

• Bregman shared how he feels confident in the Red Sox approach to winning .
• Here’s how much of Bregman’s contract is being deferred.
• Scott Harris responds to missing out on signing Bregman .
• Does the Red Sox signing of Bregman indicate they’re on a mission to win?

Marcus Stroman

Marcus Stroman has sparked a fair amount of discussion to start Spring Training. First, he was a no-show for the first two days of pitchers and catchers reporting to Yankees ’ training camp, and it has now come out that he is rejecting any suggestion that he might be shifted to the Yankees’ bullpen.

While this is certainly in character for Stroman who has never shied away from expressing himself or believing in his value, it might be creating some pause for the Yankees. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal shares that he doesn’t expect Stroman to still be in Yankee pinstripes by the time Opening Day rolls around.

Only time will tell.

• Stroman has been defiant about being bumped to the bullpen .
• Aaron Boone discusses Stroman’s absence from Spring Training .

Quick Hits

• Who are the top 100 players in baseball right now? (Number one will not surprise anyone.)
• Not only is Shohei Ohtani back on the mound, he has a new approach to throwing .
• Paul Skenes is experimenting with two new pitches .
• Which rookies could make the biggest impact in 2025?
• Juan Soto doesn’t seem to mind if he ruffles some Yankees fan feathers .
• This past weekend SNL celebrated 50 years, so here’s a retrospect of Athlete appearances on SNL .
• Likewise, here are the best baseball moments of SNL’s history .
• Is Giancarlo Stanton likely to appear on Opening Day?
• Clayton Kershaw shares why he decided to come back for the 2025 season .
• Which five teams had the best offseasons?
• A look at Anthony Rendon’s latest setbacks .
• Who are the top candidates to receive a big extension?
• The A’s will pay tribute to Rickey Henderson with a patch this season .
• How did the New York subway inspire a specific line of Topps baseball cards?
• Has banning the shift really made any major changes to how the game is played?

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