In case you missed the news yesterday, the White Sox have postponed today’s game, their home opener. It’s going to be decently warm in Chicago today, 19 degrees, but there are apparently high winds and the risk that a rainstorm is going to blow through around game time. Here in Calgary it’s blizzarding sideways, but, sure, I’m sure some warm rain is uncomfortable too.
Not much for news today. The Jays have officially sent Angel Bastardo back to the Red Sox. That was always the most likely outcome when he didn’t make the team, although there was a chance someone could trade for him. His rough spring probably foreclosed that opportunity, so now he’s back in Boston’s system.
Bonus pools for the 2026 draft were announced. The Jays have the second smallest pool, ahead of only the Dodgers. Their first selection gets knocked back 10 places for trying too hard to win exceeding the second luxury tax threshold. That means they don’t go until 39th overall. eight teams will pick twice before they get to go, and the Rockies will be on the clock three times. They got a compensation pick after the fourth round for the Mets signing Bo Bichette after he rejected the Jays’ Qualifying Offer, but lose that pick and their second rounder for signing Dylan Cease after he rejected the Padres’ QO. After their ‘first rounder’, then, they pick in the third (103rd overall), 4th (131st), 5th (164th), 6th (193rd), 7th (222nd), and every 30 picks thereafter. So they’re going to have a hard time infusing any premium talent into the system this winter, although there’s plenty of gold to be panned in the later picks.
Finally, it’s opening day for all the leagues below AAA (which opened the same day the Majors did). Only the A ball Dunedin Blue Jays actually play today, though, at 4:30pm ET. They haven’t announced a starter yet, but top prospects Jojo Parker and Blaine Bullard should be in the lineup. They’ll face sixth overall pick Seth Hernandez, so it’ll be a good test from the jump. The AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats and A+ Vancouver Canadians open their seasons tomorrow night.
