ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Mike Trout, the U.S. captain at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, remains under consideration as the roster for the 2026 tournament takes shape.
Manager Mark DeRosa said Tuesday that Trout is “in the mix” for one of the final spots, assuming Trout is healthy and comfortable with his role.
“We’re talking to him, we’re talking to a couple other players, and trying to figure out what Mike wants to do,” DeRosa said at the winter meetings.
The three-time American League MVP remains in a complicated place for the U.S., scheduled to play its first game of the tournament March 6 against Brazil in Houston.
A bruised left knee sent him to the injured list in May. It’s the same knee that required meniscus surgery in 2024, and the lingering issues kept him mostly at designated hitter last season. He still hit 26 home runs in 130 games, but his .232/.359/.439 slash line and elevated strikeout rate fueled questions about his health and WBC availability.
Trout has to weigh the spring training tournament against preparing for his 16th major league season. And DeRosa has to weigh carrying a full-time DH on a short, high-leverage roster.
“He’s got to be ready for ’26 with the Angels,” DeRosa said. “He didn’t play much defensively, if at all, so it’s a give and take — what he wants to do, what he feels comfortable with.”
The U.S. announced four more position players on Tuesday: designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, infielders Gunnar Henderson and Brice Turang and catcher Will Smith. They join captain Aaron Judge, outfielders Corbin Carroll and Pete Crow-Armstrong, and catcher Cal Raleigh.
National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes heads pitchers that include left-hander Matthew Boyd and reliever Garrett Whitlock.
General manager Mike Hill said his focus shifts heavily to pitching.
“We were respectful of everyone’s season and making sure they got through healthy,” Hill said. “Now that we’re into the offseason and gearing up for the tournament, we’ll amp up our pitching process. We’ll be spending the next few weeks finalizing the roster and trying to build the deepest staff we can.”
Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal remains high on the wish list.
“We want our best to participate,” Hill said. “He is obviously the two time reigning Cy Young Award winner, so there’s no question about his ability with all of our pitching. You know, we’re trying.”
Mexico announced Tuesday that outfielders Jarren Duran and Randy Arozarena will play for it. Australia said reliever Liam Hendriks will be on its roster. The Dominican Republic this week added infielder Elly De La Cruz and third baseman Junior Caminero.
DeRosa said his goal is to build a roster with defense, speed, versatility, balance. DeRosa is fueled by the 3-2 loss to Japan in the 2023 final, when Shohei Ohtani ended the game by striking out then-Angels teammate Trout.
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FILE - Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout celebrates after his solo home run against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game, Sept. 28, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij, File)
SEATTLE (AP) — It wasn't until Tuesday, or perhaps even as late as Wednesday's series finale against the Seattle Mariners that Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt realized just how good New York's rotation has been to start the year.
A day removed from Max Fried running his scoreless streak to 13 1/3 innings to begin the season, right-hander Cam Schlittler nearly matched the southpaw. Schlittler (2-0) yielded two hits in 6 1/3 innings and retired his last 16 batters, extending his season-opening shutout streak to 11 2/3 innings in New York's 5-3 win.
None of the Yankees' starters have given up more than one run during a 5-1 start, and the rotation has a 0.53 ERA across 33 2/3 innings.
“Hopefully we can keep that going," said Goldschmidt, who hit a three-run homer Wednesday. "They’ve been doing a great job. Really pounding the zone. Obviously our guys have good stuff. Haven’t walked too many guys, it seems like.”
Like Fried, Schlittler was simply sensational against Seattle, and he retired Mariners hitters in a variety of ways. The 25-year-old right-hander who also blanked the Giants over 5 1/3 innings last Friday relied nearly entirely on his three types of fastballs: a four-seamer, a cutter and a sinker.
“Early on, it was the four-seam. Middle of the game, it was the two-seam. And then later on, it was the cutter," Schlittler said. "So again, felt pretty strong with the game plan I had, and just attacking guys with those three pitches.”
New York manager Aaron Boone marveled at Schlittler's ability to tunnel those three pitches off one another, and in turn keep opposing hitters guessing.
Schlittler impressed last year during his rookie season, too, going 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA in 14 starts. But he also struggled with walks at times in 2025 and yielded nearly four free passes per nine innings.
Through two starts this year, Schlittler has not walked anyone. He struck out seven and needed just 79 pitches, 58 of them strikes, to get through 6 1/3 innings Wednesday.
“His calling card since he got in the organization was his ability to throw strikes with his fastball," Boone said. "And now, as he’s gone to another level from a stuff standpoint, that’s really served him well.”
Schlittler is hardly alone in having an excellent repertoire on a staff that figures to only improve in the coming weeks and months, at least on paper. Luis Gil, the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year, is in line to join the rotation in mid-April.
Left-hander Carlos Rodón, who experienced right hamstring tightness on Tuesday while going through his throwing program, continues to make progress in his return from elbow surgery. Former Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole, who missed the 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, remains sidelined, but could be back by late spring or early summer.
The group that's currently donning the pinstripes on the daily, though, isn't just getting the job done for a team with World Series aspirations.
“I think this staff’s dominant," Schlittler said. "The bullpen’s been great as well. So, I think the team as a whole, (we're) just feeding off each other and taking it into each game and each start and just keep rolling with it.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
New York Yankees head coach Aaron Boone, left, arrives on the mound to take New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler out of the game against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler throws against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
New York Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt celebrates a win over the Seattle Mariners with shortstop José Caballero, right, and right fielder Aaron Judge, left, after a baseball game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
