All articles tagged with #center field
The Minnesota Twins placed Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list with a right hip strain retroactive to July 6 and recalled Alan Roden, creating a center-field gap for a club in the AL playoff race; replacements such as Kreidler, Clemens, Martin and Fedko are options, but none match Buxton’s production, and return timing is unclear.
The Dodgers acquired center fielder Alek Thomas from the Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league outfielder Jose Requena, with the Dodgers designating Michael Siani for assignment to open a spot. Los Angeles will assume roughly $1.4 million of Thomas’s remaining arbitration salary and will start him in Triple-A for now, adding a defense-first outfielder to their depth chart as Arizona reshuffles its outfield.
Angels star Mike Trout said he intends to play center field primarily this season, with club leadership on the same page, though he’ll split time in the corners during spring training. The 34-year-old veteran, coming off a knee-related year and not appearing in center last season, argues center is less taxing and wants the bulk of his playing time there, while also DHing occasionally. His five-year, $360 million extension and durability questions remain in play as he eyes a full season health-wise.
Mike Trout indicated he would prefer to play center field again in 2026, a move he has discussed with Angels manager Kurt Suzuki. He says center field is more comfortable and less taxing on his body than DH or right field, a key consideration after a string of injuries that kept him from a full season since 2020. With Taylor Ward traded away, the Angels have outfield options like Jo Adell, Jorge Soler and Josh Lowe, but Trout’s health and performance will be crucial as the team, coming off a last-place finish in 2025, reassesses its roster.
San Francisco signs Harrison Bader to a two-year, $20.5 million contract (max $21 million with incentives), adding a premier defensive center fielder after a strong 2025 season (.277/.347/.449 with 17 homers in 501 PA) while the Giants’ offense may rely on defense and rotation depth; the deal keeps payroll considerations in mind as SF continues to explore other moves like second-base targets.
In a landmark 2026 Hall of Fame voting cycle, Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones became the first two center-fielders elected in the same year, a rare event that signals changing attitudes toward the position and the influence of a wave of new voters; Beltrán’s induction came amid the Astros sign-stealing controversy and suggests anti-cheating sentiment among many voters, while Jones surged from a minuscule first-year total to a final 78.4% with help from first-time voters. The ballot also produced big jumps for Félix Hernández, Chase Utley and Andy Pettitte, hinting at further inductions; the new-voter impact, especially from MLB.com-linked writers, reshapes the landscape, and Manny Ramírez and Ryan Braun fell short in the PED era narrative, though Alex Rodríguez remains on the ballot, suggesting the PED cloud is finally thinning but not entirely gone.
The Angels acquired Josh Lowe in a three-team trade and are evaluating him for the center-field job, hoping his left-handed bat adds balance to a right-handed outfield. Lowe has limited center-field experience and mixed defensive metrics, so he may serve as a bridge until top prospect Nelson Rada is MLB-ready.
Pirates' center fielder Oneil Cruz made a costly error and displayed a lack of effort in a game against the Rangers, which contributed to the team's loss. Despite his inexperience and recent struggles, the manager chose to give him another chance, emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes.
Pete Crow-Armstrong, a 23-year-old Chicago Cubs outfielder, has rapidly risen to prominence with his exceptional defense, speed, and power, becoming a fan favorite and league standout in his breakout season, after overcoming injuries and early struggles.
St. Louis Cardinals' new ace Sonny Gray is working his way back from a hamstring strain and may miss the opening series, while reliever Keynan Middleton will start the season on the IL due to a forearm strain. The team is considering bullpen options to fill Middleton's absence. Additionally, the Cardinals are undecided on their center field starter, with prospects Victor Scott II and Michael Siani in contention alongside Dylan Carlson.
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge, who missed 42 games last season due to a toe injury sustained in a collision with the right-field fence, believes the injury will require ongoing maintenance throughout his career. Despite the setback, Judge is optimistic about the upcoming season and is prepared to play smarter to avoid future injuries.
The Yankees' acquisition of Juan Soto in a trade has raised concerns about Aaron Judge's move back to center field, a position that is physically demanding and could increase the risk of injury for the 6-foot-7, 282-pound player. While Judge is willing to play wherever needed to help the team win, the team's roster construction currently points to Soto in right field, Judge in center, and Alex Verdugo in left. The Yankees' decision to regularly use Judge in center field contrasts with other teams, like the Dodgers and Phillies, who are proactively moving their star players to less taxing positions to reduce wear and tear.
The Philadelphia Phillies' offense struggled in consecutive Octobers, with the lineup swinging at too many pitches out of the strike zone. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski acknowledged the need to address this issue and expressed confidence in the team's core players. However, he stated that center fielder Johan Rojas will have to earn the everyday job and contribute offensively to secure a position on the big-league club next year. The Phillies' top priority this offseason is re-signing Aaron Nola or finding a suitable replacement for the rotation, with the goal of building a World Series-contending roster in 2024.
Jasson Dominguez, the rookie center fielder for the New York Yankees, was scratched from Sunday's lineup due to right elbow inflammation. Dominguez has made an impressive start to his major league career, hitting four home runs in his first seven games. Isiah Kiner-Falefa replaced him in center field for the game against the Brewers.
Seattle Mariners' center fielder Julio Rodríguez wowed fans and fooled everyone with a spectacular home run-robbing catch against the San Diego Padres. After making a diving catch earlier in the game, Rodríguez timed his jump perfectly at the wall and hid the ball in his glove, tricking everyone, including the announcers and the batter, Fernando Tatís Jr. The catch helped preserve Logan Gilbert's scoreless outing, as he threw seven innings of one-hit ball with 12 strikeouts, leading the Mariners to a 2-0 win and extending their winning streak to six games. This marked the second time Rodríguez has made such a catch this year, adding to his highlight-filled week that included stealing home and a strong performance at the plate.