A late-night free-agent surprise

It takes a lot to divert Gerrit Cole from the art of pitching, yet even the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner can’t help but gush about the top of the new-look Yankees lineup.

The Dodgers got their first real look at what Tyler Glasnow can give their new-look rotation. After a somewhat glitchy debut last week, the right-hander was on point in three near-perfect innings in which he struck out five batters.

Spencer Strider has a long way to go to be in Greg Maddux’s category. But along with possessing one of the game’s best arsenals, the current Atlanta ace possesses an advanced intellect, much like the one that guided Maddux through his Hall of Fame career.

Wyatt Langford, MLB Pipeline’s sixth-ranked prospect, started slowly this spring. But his timing may be coming around after he drove an opposite-field homer 430 feet.

If left-hander Framber Valdez isn’t concerned about his performance in his first Grapefruit League outing of 2024, then nobody else should be, either.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand knows that no one can replace Joey Votto, but after the longtime Cincinnati stalwart gave the rookie some instruction last season, the young slugger plans to give it his best shot.

From 2017-18, only three pitchers won more games than Luis Severino. Only seven had more strikeouts. He made the American League All-Star team both years. “I have some in the tank,” he said after hitting 97 mph in his spring debut.