Morning Baseball Briefing – February 16
By Morgan Davis · Mon Feb 16 2026
Braves Face Starting Pitching Crisis : Hurston Waldrep is out indefinitely with a sore elbow and potential surgery, just days after Spencer Schwellenbach's injury announcement. Manager Walt Weiss expressed concern about the team's pitching depth heading into spring training. (Source) Harper Reacts to Phillies' Public Criticism : Bryce Harper admitted he was "taken aback" by president Dave Dombrowski's public critique of the team's 2025 performance, calling it "wild." Harper emphasized he creates his own motivation but acknowledged this offseason felt different. (Source) Machado Defends Dodgers' Historic Spending : Padres star Manny Machado said the Dodgers' aggressive free agency moves are "great for the game," despite the controversy surrounding their Kyle Tucker signing. The comments came as spring training camps opened. (Source) Yankees' Judge Fully Cleared for Workouts : Aaron Boone confirmed Aaron Judge has no limitations as spring training begins, with his elbow fully recovered. The Yankees are counting on a healthy Judge after last season's injury-shortened campaign. (Source) Castellanos Gets Fresh Start with Padres : Nick Castellanos expressed gratitude for his opportunity in San Diego after his trade from Philadelphia, saying the Padres "did their due diligence" and he's ready for a new chapter. (Source) College Baseball Opens with Upsets : Opening weekend saw multiple ranked teams fall, including Kentucky losing star shortstop Tyler Bell to a shoulder injury. UCLA remains the favorite for Omaha with shortstop Roch Cholowsky leading the charge. (Source)