By Raúl Germán Bautista.- The training camps of the Big Leagues will begin on February 20, in Florida and Arizonaand a few weeks into the start, numerous star players, including several Dominicans, have not yet signed a contract.
Among the highest profile free agents are Kyle Tucker, Framber Valdez, Luis Arráez, Ranger Suárez, Marcell Ozuna, Cody Bellinger, Alex Bregman, Eugenio Suárez, Paul Goldschmidt, JT Realmuto y Bo Bichette, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, inter alia.
In addition to Valdez and Ozuna, the list of Dominican players without a contract includes Starling Marte, Gary Sánchez, Carlos Santana, Willi Castro, Jorge Mateo, Miguel Andújar, Manuel Margot, Eloy Jiménez, Luis García, Seranthony Domínguez, José Leclerc, Héctor Neris, Miguel Castro, Rafael Montero and Génesis Cabreraamong others.
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The general list includes more than 50 relievers without a contract, in addition to more than 30 starters. There are also more than 40 infielders, 21 outfielders and three designated hitters.
MLB SPRING TRAINING BEGINS FEBRUARY 20
The spring training schedule of the Major League Baseball (MLB) will start on February 20 with seven games, including duels between the New York Yankees y los Baltimore Oriolesin Sarasota, Florida, and the Chicago Cubs against the Chicago White Sox, in Mesa, Arizona.
The initial card also includes the Diamondbacks vs. Rockies, Padres vs. Mariners and Royals vs. Rangers. That day, games will also be played between the Boston Red Sox and Northeastern University, as well as between the Minnesota Twins and the University of Minnesota.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, champions of the World Series, will debut on February 21 against the Los Angeles Angels, in Tempe, Arizona.
On March 3 and 4, 14 games will be held in which MLB teams will face national teams preparing for the World Baseball Classic. The United States will face the San Francisco Giants on March 3 and the Colorado Rockies the next day, both in Scottsdale.
The third edition of the Spring Breakout, which brings together the best prospects of the organizations, will be held from March 19 to 22.
The A’s and Angels will play March 7-8 in Las Vegas, a city the A’s plan to move to for the 2028 season.
In preparation for the MLB opener in San Francisco on March 25, the Yankees will face the Cubs on March 23-24. On those same dates, the Detroit Tigers will face the Cubs as a prelude to their Opening Day, scheduled for March 26 in San Diego.
Regular-season stadium exhibition games, March 22-24, include the Freeway Series between the Dodgers and Angels, a two-game series between the Orioles and Nationals, a Royals series in Texas, a Cleveland series in Arizona and a Cincinnati series in Milwaukee.
