MLB Preseason Kicks Off: Key Players Switch Teams for 2026 Season

Live Major League Baseball action has returned. When the Yankees and the Orioles began their preseason game at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida on Friday at 1:05 PM ET, it marked the start of the 2026 Major League preseason.

Notable Player Moves

Several prominent players are debuting with new teams this spring. Framber Valdez, after many years with the Houston Astros, is now with the Detroit Tigers . Other significant moves include Bo Bichette (Toronto Blue Jays to New York Mets), Dylan Cease (San Diego Padres to Toronto Blue Jays), Sonny Gray (St. Louis Cardinals to Boston Red Sox), Willson Contreras (Cardinals to Red Sox), Ranger Suárez (Philadelphia Phillies to Red Sox), Freddy Peralta (Milwaukee Brewers to New York Mets), and Pete Alonso (New York Mets to Baltimore Orioles).

West Coast and Japanese Additions

In the Arizona desert, Alex Bregman will debut with the Chicago Cubs after previously playing with the Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox. Kyle Tucker, who played with the Cubs in 2025, has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Puerto Rican Edwin Díaz has moved from the Mets to the Dodgers, while Brendan Donovan joins the Seattle Mariners from the Cardinals, MacKenzie Gore heads to the Texas Rangers from the Washington Nationals, and Brandon Nimmo also joins the Rangers from the Mets. Venezuelan Luis Arráez is now with the San Francisco Giants after being traded from the Padres, and Dominican Edward Cabrera has moved from the Miami Marlins to the Cubs.

New Japanese Players and Ohtani’s Return

The preseason will also showcase new Japanese players in Major League Baseball. Munetaka Murakami will play for the Chicago White Sox, Kazuma Okamoto for the Toronto Blue Jays, and Tatsuya Imai for the Houston Astros. Shohei Ohtani is preparing to pitch in the Cactus League after returning to the mound in 2025 following shoulder surgery.

Friday’s Preseason Schedule

Friday featured five games between Major League teams, plus two meetings between Major League teams and university squads:

• Yankees vs. Orioles, 1:05 PM ET
• Royals vs. Rangers, 3:05 PM ET
• White Sox vs. Cubs, 3:05 PM ET
• Diamondbacks vs. Rockies, 3:10 PM ET
• Padres vs. Mariners, 3:10 PM ET
• Red Sox vs. Northeastern University, 1:05 PM ET
• Twins vs. University of Minnesota, 6:05 PM ET

Looking Ahead

The Major League regular season will start on March 25 in San Francisco, with a night game between the Yankees and the Giants. The following day will feature a more complete Opening Day schedule. The World Baseball Classic will kick off on March 5, with games in Tokyo, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Houston, and Miami, culminating on March 17 at loanDepot park in Miami.

The preseason marks the beginning of the journey for Major League stars as they prepare for a season with the ultimate goal of winning a championship in the fall.