MLB Weekly Digest: Spring Training Opens, WBC Fever, and "Robot Ump" Debuts

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As of today, the silence of the winter has officially been broken. Pitchers and catchers are reporting to camps across Florida and Arizona this morning, marking the beginning of a transformative 2026 season. From blockbuster roster reveals to the official arrival of “Robot Umpires,” here is the major news from around MLB this past week.

Team USA “Dream Team” Unveiled

On February 5, USA Baseball revealed its star-studded roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC). Analysts are calling this the greatest collection of American talent ever assembled for international play.

The Rotation: Team USA upgraded massively from 2023, featuring both reigning Cy Young winners: Paul Skenes (Pirates) and Tarik Skubal (Tigers). They are joined by stars like Logan Webb and Joe Ryan.
The Lineup: Captained by Aaron Judge, the roster includes MVPs Bryce Harper, Paul Goldschmidt, and Clayton Kershaw.
Injury Blow: The excitement was tempered yesterday by news that Diamondbacks star Corbin Carroll underwent surgery for a broken hamate bone. He is out for the WBC, with Kyle Tucker (now with the Dodgers) and Jackson Merrill emerging as top candidates to replace him.

The “Robot Ump” Era Begins

After years of minor league testing, the ABS (Automated Ball-Strike) Challenge System is officially live for the 2026 season.

How it works: Human umpires still call the game, but pitchers, catchers, and batters now have two challenges per game.
The Process: A player taps their helmet to trigger a challenge; the result is shown on the stadium video board via an animated hawk-eye graphic in under 15 seconds.
Impact: Spring Training games starting next week will be the first time fans see this system used in every MLB ballpark.

Blockbuster Transactions & Contract News

The “hot stove” remained red-hot even as players began arriving at spring facilities:

The Tigers Go Big: Detroit made a massive splash by signing left-hander Framber Valdez to a three-year, $115 million deal on February 10.
Alonso in Baltimore: Fans are eager to see Pete Alonso in an Orioles uniform for the first time following his record-breaking $155 million signing.
Pitching Carousel: This week saw several veteran arms find homes, including Miles Mikolas (Nationals), Jordan Montgomery (Rangers), and Chris Paddack (Marlins).
Dodger Retention: Los Angeles re-signed high-leverage reliever Evan Phillips to a one-year, $6.5 million pact on Wednesday.

Spring Training Medical Report

A wave of early injuries has already impacted Opening Day projections:

Jackson Holliday (Orioles): Will miss Opening Day following hamate bone surgery today.
Francisco Lindor (Mets): Underwent surgery Wednesday for a similar hand injury; the team is “optimistic” for a return by late March.
Kris Bryant (Rockies): Placed on the 60-day IL due to degenerative disc disease, another setback for the veteran slugger.
Justin Verlander (Tigers): In a “full circle” moment, the future Hall-of-Famer signed a one-year deal to return to Detroit, though his role in the rotation is being managed carefully this spring.

Key Dates to Watch

Event	Date
First Full-Squad Workouts	Monday, Feb 16
First Spring Training Games	Friday, Feb 20
World Baseball Classic Starts	Thursday, March 5
2026 MLB Opening Day	Wednesday, March 25