Astronomers observe a star that quietly transformed into a black hole

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - The formation of a black hole can be quite a violent event, with a massive dying star blowing up and some of its remnants collapsing to form an exceptionally dense object with gravity so strong not even light can escape. But, as new observations indicate, the process sometimes ‌can be a rather quiet affair.

Researchers have tracked a big and bright star that in its death throes virtually vanished from view as it apparently morphed into ‌a black hole without exploding as a supernova. It is now detectable only because of a subtle glow caused by leftover gas and dust heating up while being sucked inward by the newborn black hole's irresistible gravitational pull.

The star, ​named M31-2014-DS1, resided in the Andromeda Galaxy, a Milky Way neighbor, about 2.5 million light-years from Earth. A light-year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km).

M31-2014-DS1 may offer the best evidence yet of black hole formation without a supernova, the researchers said. They tracked how the star was luminous in four decades of observations before 2014, then brightened in 2015 before almost disappearing from view, consistent with transforming into a black hole.

"This provides observational evidence of black hole formation in real time, suggests that many black holes may form without supernova explosions and ‌shows that stars with masses as low as about 13 times ⁠that of the sun can form black holes," said astrophysicist Kishalay De of the Flatiron Institute and Columbia University in New York, lead author of the research published on Thursday in the journal Science.

Scientists have known for more than 50 years that black holes exist, but still have "very, very limited ⁠observational evidence for how stars turn into black holes," De said. "So this discovery provides an important insight into that process."

The star began its existence at least 13 times more massive than our sun. Over its relatively brief lifetime of 15 million years its powerful stellar winds expelled about 60% of its mass.

The explosion of a large star typically leaves behind an object called a neutron star that is highly ​compact, ​but not as much as a black hole. Such a supernova can produce a black hole depending upon ​the star's mass and other factors, though it is tough to confirm ‌through observations that this has occurred.

"In the supernova pathway, a massive star exhausts its nuclear fuel and its core collapses, briefly forming a neutron star. This collapse generates a shockwave," De said.

"If the shock succeeds, it completely expels the outer layers of the star as a bright supernova. However, in some cases we think that the remaining core is not pushed out and eventually falls back into the neutron star, making it collapse into a black hole," De added.

In a process called thermonuclear fusion, stars fuse hydrogen into helium in their cores, generating outward pressure that balances the incessant inward pull of gravity. When the nuclear fuel dissipates, the balance between inward and outward forces is upset and gravity causes the core to collapse.

For M31-2014-DS1, the shockwave ‌generated by the core collapse failed to muster enough energy to detonate the star.

"We call this a ​failed supernova," Flatiron Institute astrophysicist and study co-author Andrea Antoni said.

"Gravity therefore dominated, leading to the formation of a ​black hole," De said. "The star's outer envelope was gently ejected rather than explosively expelled. ​As this material expanded and cooled, it produced a transient infrared brightening. Afterward, the star lost its central power source and faded from view ‌across wavelengths."

The expulsion of the star's outer layers is about a thousand ​times less energetic than a supernova, Antoni said.

"For a ​star to vanish and implode as 'quietly' as this one did, we think that the key is that it's not spinning too fast before collapse so the majority of its mass falls straight in and only the outermost layers are sloughed off in the process," Harvard University astronomer and study co-author Morgan MacLeod said.

The newborn black hole has ​a mass roughly five times greater than the sun.

The researchers are ‌eager to learn how common it is for black holes to form in the quiet way. They already have identified another star that seems to have ​transformed into a black hole without an explosion.

"Presently, there are too many uncertainties on the theoretical side to know what percentage of core collapse deaths of ​massive stars lead to black hole formation," Antoni said.

(Reporting by Will Dunham, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

byDonna Devi

in

February 12, 2026

Astronomers observe a star that quietly transformed into a black hole

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - The formation of a black hole can be quite a violent event, with a massive dying star blow...

Read More

2 Israelis charged with using classified information to bet on Polymarket

TEL AVIV — TwoIsraelishave been charged in connection with the suspected use of classified information to place bets on the prediction platformPolymarket, authorities said Thursday.

The suspects, an army reservist and a civilian, were arrested on suspicion of placing bets on Polymarket "regarding the occurrence of military operations, based on classified information to which the reservists were exposed as part of their military duties," the Israeli Defense Ministry, police and the Shin Bet domestic security agency said in a joint statement.

Israeli authorities did not elaborate on what the bets related to, but the Israel Defense Forces stressed that "no operational harm was caused in this specific incident."

The suspects were arrested following an investigation that authorities said had found sufficient evidence to indict them for "serious security offenses" as well as bribery and obstruction of justice.

Neither indicted suspect has been publicly identified.

Lawyers for the reservist said in a statement to NBC News that their client "is a man with many rights who has made a significant contribution to the security of the state."

"Due to the broad gag order, it is not possible at this stage to relate to the matter in detail, but rather in the sense of what is not in the case," Ran Cohen Rochverger and Naor Alon Sosnosky said in a statement.

The statement added: "The indictment that was filed accuses our client of providing 'confidential information when he is not authorized to do so' after the State Attorney's Office was convinced that there was no reason to attribute to him what was initially investigated as suspicion — an intention to harm national security. No serious security offense or negative motive is attributed to our client in this context."

The lawyers added that they have "strong allegations" about the indictment, including "the flaws in it, selective enforcement and the improper and serious conduct of the investigative authorities, which led to a violation of security — and we are convinced that after these are presented, the case will end in a completely different way than when it was opened."

It was not immediately clear if the other defendant has legal representation.

"The defense establishment emphasizes that engaging in such betting activities, based on secret and classified information, poses a substantial security risk to IDF operations and to the security of the state," the defense ministry said in the statement.

A spokesperson for the IDF said in a statement: "The IDF views with utmost severity any act that endangers the security of the state, particularly the use of highly classified information for the purpose of personal gain."

The IDF statement called it a "grave ethical failure and a clear crossing of a red line," and added that disciplinary action would be taken against anyone found guilty of such crimes. "In response to the incident, measures have been taken and procedures will be reinforced across all IDF units to prevent similar cases from recurring," it said.

Polymarket allows users to buy and sell shares on financial exchanges representing potential future outcomes, which are priced between 0.00 and 1.00 USDC, a cryptocurrency pegged to the value of the dollar. The platforms pay out depending on the outcome, but users are trading with each other and not against "the house" as with a traditional sportsbook.

Polymarket has multiple ongoing bets related to foreign policy and military action, including many relating to Israel.

On one titled "US strikes Iran by...?" users have bet the equivalent of $239 million.

Another, titled "Will Israel strike Gaza on...?" which expires Feb. 28 has had the equivalent of more than $1.4 million in bets.

One Polymarket gamblermade more than $400,000last month betting that the U.S. military would depose President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela.

U.S. users were previously banned from Polymarket and some have called for it to be regulated, amid broader concerns that prediction markets could be used to profit from access to classified information. Congressman Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y.,introduced legislation last monthto crack down on public officials making money from prediction platforms.

Polymarket did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News.

Omer Bekin reported from Tel Aviv, and Patrick Smith from London.

byDonna Devi

in

February 12, 2026

2 Israelis charged with using classified information to bet on Polymarket

TEL AVIV — TwoIsraelishave been charged in connection with the suspected use of classified information to place bets on the prediction plat...

Read More

CIA makes new push to recruit Chinese military officers as informants

By Michael Martina

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Just weeks after a dramatic purge of China's top general, the CIA is moving to capitalize on any resulting discord with ‌a new public video targeting potential informants in the Chinese military.

The U.S. spy agency on ‌Thursday rolled out the video depicting a disillusioned mid-level Chinese military officer, in the latest U.S. step in a ​campaign to ramp up human intelligence gathering on Washington's strategic rival.

It follows a similar effort last May that focused on fictional figures within China's ruling Communist Party that provided detailed Chinese-language instructions on how to securely contact U.S. intelligence.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe said in a statement that the agency's videos had reached ‌many Chinese citizens and that it ⁠would continue offering Chinese government officials an "opportunity to work toward a brighter future together."

Last month, China's defense ministry announced that Zhang Youxia, second-in-command under Xi ⁠as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), was under investigation, the highest-profile removal of a senior Chinese military leader in decades.

The short CIA video posted to its YouTube channel appeared aimed at exploiting domestic political ​fallout ​from Beijing's years-long crackdown on military corruption that has hit ​the upper echelons of the People's Liberation ‌Army (PLA) beyond Zhang.

"Anyone with leadership qualities is bound to be subject to suspicion and ruthlessly eliminated," the fictional officer in the video says in Mandarin. "Their power is built on countless lies," he says, referring to superiors.

The CIA has said it is confident that the online campaign is penetrating China's "Great Firewall" internet restrictions and reaching the intended audience.

"Our past videos reached millions of people and inspired ‌new sources," a CIA official told Reuters on condition ​of anonymity, without providing details.

The CIA has been investing ​heavily into countering China and has tried ​to rebuild its spy network in the country after Beijing crippled its reach ‌by killing or imprisoning numerous U.S. sources ​between 2010-2012, according to ​reports.

American officials say China's spy agencies have worked tirelessly to recruit current and former U.S. employees, and in recent years Beijing has published accounts of what it says are U.S. ​spy rings it has uncovered ‌in China.

The high-stakes spy games are part of an escalating military and technological rivalry ​that many observers deem to be a new form of cold war.

(Reporting by Michael ​Martina; Editing by Don Durfee and Nick Zieminski)

byDonna Devi

in

February 12, 2026

CIA makes new push to recruit Chinese military officers as informants

By Michael Martina WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Just weeks after a dramatic purge of China's top general, ...

Read More

NBA All-Star 2026: Will the new USA vs. World format work? Breaking down this weekend's big questions

With an awfully busy2026 NBA trade deadlinenow in the rear-view mirror, the NBA now trains its gaze on Los Angeles, site of the annual midseason basketball exhibition/convention/trade show/sugar rush that isAll-Star Weekend.

Here are a few things to keep an eye on as the league's best and brightest strut their stuff across three days of basketball-like activities, decidedly un-basketball-like activitiesprominently featuring The Rizzler and Joey Fatone, and — yet again — a revamped, rebooted game format:

Will the new All-Star format work?

75th NBA All-Star Game: 5 p.m. ET Sunday (NBC/Peacock)

After"final score: 211-186"didn't work for anybody two years ago, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and his crew of problem-solvers at the league office decided to try to shake things up in pursuit of an answer to stem the tide of the years-long trend: the once-proud Sunday showcase devolving into, ostensibly, a "we're just here so we won't get fined" glorified shootaround. That led to atournament-style structurefeaturing rostersdrafted by the "Inside the NBA" crew, with four teams — "Young Stars," "Global Stars," "OGs" and the winners of the Rising Stars Challenge — competing in curtailed pickup-style games in a two-round competition to eventually crown a winner.

The result? Nobodyreally seemed to try any harderin three shorter games than they did in the standard-length affair. Nobodyseemed to enjoy the changes, fromKevin Hart's running commentarytoMrBeast showing up to sponsor a 3-point shooting exhibition. The whole stop-and-start endeavor ran long and wrapped up late, the finale was asuncompetitive as ever, and theratings plunged.

So: Back to the drawing board!

"It just makes me think if there was a game of the World vs. USA, that would be interesting," San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyamatold reportersbefore last year's game. "That would be even better."

As it turned out, the big fella was onto something. This year's tweak from Silver and Co.? Athree-team tournament featuring two rosters of American-born players and one of international players, competing in a round-robin tournament consisting of four 12-minute games.

[Subscribe to Yahoo Sports NBA on YouTube]

In the first game, Team USA Stars (Scottie Barnes, Devin Booker, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Anthony Edwards, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Johnson and Tyrese Maxey) will take on Team World (Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo*, Deni Avdija, Luka Dončić*, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander**, Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Pascal Siakam, Alperen Şengün, Karl-Anthony Towns).

* BothAntetokounmpo(calf) andDončić(hamstring) are currently sidelined due to injury; it's unclear whether they'll actually be suiting up Sunday.

** Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain)will miss the All-Star Game; Şengün was named as his replacement.

In the second game, Team USA Stripes (Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Stephen Curry***, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, Norman Powell) will take on the winner of the opener. In the third game, Stripes will take on the team that lost the opener.

*** Curry (knee)will miss the All-Star Game; Brandon Ingram was named as his replacement.

After the third game, the two teams with the best record will advance to face each other in the championship game. (If all three teams are 1-1 after the third game, point differential will serve as the tiebreaker.)

Will these changes generate the intended ratcheting-up of intensity that Silver and Co. are seeking? Will the decision to go USA vs. The Worldatthismoment in historyperhaps bring about someunintendedconsequences, like so many other changes instituted by the league office over the years?

Will even further shortening the games — 12 minutes tops, with theevent scheduleallotting 50 minutes between Games 1 and 2, 30 minutes between Games 2 and 3, and 45 minutes between Game 3 and the championship — put some pep in everybody's step? I'd guess that the longer gaps between the first two and final two games will make space for some kind of brand activation; I haven't seen Kevin Hart's name on a press release, but let's keep our heads on a swivel out there.

Will basketball fans come away from the festivities waxing poetic about the avalanche of talent from all over the world currently on display in the NBA game? Or, will a weekend that seemingly remainstilted toward content creation, influencers, marketing partnerships and the ongoing grasp for the ever-elusive hem of the garment of What's Next— once again — leave fans wondering whether something that's seemed broken for years might not actually be able to reset and heal?

We'll find out the answers to those questions, and plenty more, soon enough. This much, though, we know is true: With the opening game scheduled for 5 p.m. and a 7:10 p.m. ET tip in the championship game, it'll all end a lot earlier. That's something, you know?

How many names from the rosters for the Ruffles Celebrity Game do I, a 43-year-old father of two, recognize?

Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game: 7 p.m. ET Friday (ESPN)

You're not going to believe this, but the answer — for a second straight year — is 13 of 22! More than half! A robust shooting percentage of 59.1% — whatVin Baker shot from the free-throw line during the 1997-98 season! Tremendous work by me.

I know we all remember every single possession of last year's Celebrity Game likeLeBron holding court after a playoff game, but just in case you need a refresher, it ended with Barry Bonds' team beating Jerry Rice's team, and with Rome Flynn taking home MVP honors:

Flynn is back to try to become just the third player in Celebrity Game history to win consecutive MVP awards, joining Jaleel White and Frankie Muniz. (NOTE: This may not be true, but I'm not looking it up, and you can't make me.) He'll be playing for a team coached by three Antetokounmpo brothers — sorry, Kostas; maybe next year — and Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts. Among those joining him on Team Antetokounmbros: All-Pro Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, Brazilian soccer legend Cafu, ex-NBA players Jeremy Lin and Tacko Fall, comedian/actor Keegan-Michael Key, Charlotte Hornets owner Rick Schnall, and rapper GloRilla, who'll get to spend All-Star Weekend with beau Ingram, which is nice.

Also on Team Antetokounmbros: NBA newsbreaker Shams Charania, who will have to put his phone(s) down for at least alittlewhile to run up and down the court … which gives Sam Amick, Jake Fischer, Chris Haynes, Chris Mannix and Marc Stein a chance to do the funniest thingever.

They'll be squaring off against a team coached by actor/comedian Anthony Anderson and basketball trainers/content creators Chris Brickley and Lethal Shooter. Their roster includes Pro Bowl L.A. Chargers receiver Keenan Allen, Canadian Olympic sprinting champion Andre De Grasse, ex-NBA player Jason "White Chocolate" Williams, actor Simu Liu, music producer/name to yellMustard, and Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia. One can only hope that Nikola Jokić decides to make time to sit courtside andrenew some unpleasantries.

Which Rising Stars will shine brightest?

Castrol Rising Stars: 9 p.m. ET Friday (Peacock)

For the fifth straight year, the rebooted rookie-sophomore challenge will feature four seven-player teams competing in a three-game Friday night mini-tournament. With the event shifting to Peacock this year, the three teams of first- and second-year NBA players will be coached by Hall of Famers-turned-NBC/Peacock commentators Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. A fourth composed of G Leaguers (and rookie Yang Hansen, who has played three G League games and made 32 NBA appearances in Portland, and rookie Yanic Konan Niederhäuser, who has played all of one game for the G League's San Diego Clippers this season, compared to 32 for the big club) will be coached by fellow NBC/Peacock commentator Austin Rivers.

Team Melo plays Team Austin. Team Vince plays Team T-Mac. The winners square off for the crown. In each of the first two games, the first team to 40 points wins. In the championship game, though, it's first to 25, because, y'know, let's keep this thing moving.

Melo got the first pick in the Rising Stars draft, and selected Dallas Mavericks phenom Cooper Flagg. As someone whorecently wrote a big takeout on how Flagg's real-time growthhas put him into some rarefied air among first-year prospects …

… I can't fault Melo's drafting much. What Icanfault, though, is the fickle nature of the midfoot, becauseFlagg's left one is now sprained, which means he will miss this game. Boo, I say. Boo!

Melo's squad could still wind up just fine, considering healsolanded Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper from San Antonio. I'm not entirely sure how much having a pair of defensive demons will help in this particular context, but it ought to be cool seeing Donovan Clingan try to block everything and Collin Murray-Boyles generally Draymond his way around out there. They might be the team to beat …

… unless, of course, Kon Knueppel — Flagg's old roommate and his chief rival for Rookie of the Year honors — just decides he will not be denied. Intrigue!

The full Rising Stars rosters:

• Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)*

• Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets)

• Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)

• Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)

• Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans Pelicans)

• Donovan Clingan (Portland Trail Blazers)

• Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto Raptors)

* Flagg will miss the Rising Stars Challenge with a left midfoot sprain.

Advertisement

• Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets)

• Kel'el Ware (Miami Heat)

• Tre Johnson (Washington Wizards)

• Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards)*

• Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma City Thunder)

• Jaylon Tyson (Cleveland Cavaliers)

• Cam Spencer (Memphis Grizzlies)

*Sarr will miss the Rising Stars Challenge with a hamstring injury.

• VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers)

• Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans)

• Kyshawn George (Washington Wizards)

• Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls)

• Egor Dёmin (Brooklyn Nets)

• Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies)

• Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies)

Team Austin

• Sean East II (Salt Lake City Stars)

• Ron Harper Jr. (Maine Celtics)

• David Jones Garcia (Austin Spurs) [injured, will not play]

• Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (San Diego Clippers)

• Alijah Martin (Raptors 905)

• Tristen Newton (Rio Grande Valley Vipers)

• Yang Hansen (Rip City Remix)

• Mac McClung (Chicago Bulls) [named as Jones Garcia's replacement]

[checks list of events]Hey, what happened to the Skills Challenge?

I think CP3 and Wemby broke it?

After last year's competition included one teamgetting disqualified in the first round for not taking shots, a flagrant flouting of the spirit of the contest aimed at gaining whatever edge there was to gain — a.k.a. The Most Chris Paul S*** Imaginable (Complimentary) — the NBA, it seems, elected to pivot. So long, Skills Challenge; welcome back, Shooting Stars!

Wait, what was the deal with Shooting Stars again?

Kia Shooting Stars: second event of All-Star Saturday, starting at 5 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)

Instead of a timed competition in which you have to throw chest passes and bounce passes through moving targets, Shooting Stars is a timed competition in which four different three-person teams — two current players, one former NBA player — have to make a bunch of shots from seven different spots on the court.

You know who waskind of a mackat Shooting Stars?Chris Bosh, Swin Cash and Dominique Wilkinswere kind of macks at Shooting Stars.

The four teams vying to walk in the dynastic footsteps of Bosh, Cash and Wilkins:

Team All-Star

• Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors)

• Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder)

• Richard Hamilton (three-time All-Star, mask aficionado)

Team Cameron (as in, Cameron Indoor Stadium; as in, Dukies)

• Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks)

• Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets)

• Corey Maggette (14-year NBA veteran, legendary nickname-haver)

Team Harper

• Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)

• Ron Harper Jr. (Boston Celtics)

• Ron Harper Sr. (five-time NBA champion, proud papa,  Doberman)

Team Knicks

• Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)

• Karl-Anthony Towns (... um, New York Knicks)

• Allan Houston (... I mean, two-time All-Star as a Knick, and now the Knicks'  VP of player leadership and development)

Teams get 70 seconds to score points while rotating through the seven different shooting locations, with all three players proceeding in a set order. The first three shots — a layup/dunk from the right side of the lane, an 18-foot shot from the right baseline, a jumper from the right elbow — are all worth two points. The fourth, a 3-pointer from the right wing, is worth, well, three.

Next: a top-of-the-key jumper worth two points. Rounding things out: a left-corner 3 worth, again, three, and finally, a shot from the logo that's worth … four. All four teams compete in the first round, with the two highest-scoring teams advancing to compete for the title.

Things might get tricky! Every player has to shoot from every location, and you can't advance from one location to another until everybody has taken a shot from the first spot. Players have to shoot in a predetermined order, and points scored on out-of-order shots won't count; if you shoot out of order on the 4-pointer, you don't get to shoot again. There is legitimatelya PDF with tiebreaker policies and examples of shooting orders that would violate the rules. It's all very serious.

A referee will be on hand "to enforce rules and make judgments on any potential rules violation" — including, if need be, the call to invoke instant replay review. Let's all say a prayer to our respective gods that that won't be necessary.

Wait a sec — is Damian Lillardreallyin the 3-Point Contest again?

State Farm 3-Point Contest: first event of All-Star Saturday, starting at 5 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)

Yep! Despite missing the entirety of the 2025-26 NBA season to date as he rehabilitates his surgically repaired Achilles tendon, Dame's back to take a second crack at winning a third 3-point shootout crown, joining Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as only the third player in the competition's 40-year history to three-peat. (That oneisreal.I looked it up.)

It's kind of weird, though you'd assume that none of the stakeholders involved — Lillard and his reps, the Portland Trail Blazers (to whom, in case you forgot, he returned after the Milwaukee Bucks waived him this summer), the league office … hell,State Farm— would've greenlit this if it wasn't deemed 1000% safe for Dame to do some light jogging and stationary shooting. Here's hoping any extant concerns about it all melt away after the first couple of jumpers go up, replaced by the warm, fuzzy feeling of watching one of the greatest shooters of all time get 'em up again.

Lillard will face some stiff competition from a field featuring five All-Stars (Tyrese Maxey, Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray, Norman Powell); rookie sharpshooter Knueppel, whoranks second in the NBA in total made 3-pointers, behind only Mitchell, and who's drilling his triples at a 43% clip for the Hornets; and former teammate Bobby Portis Jr., who feels like an odd inclusion … until you realize he's shooting a blistering 45.6% from deep this season.

The rules remain broadly the same: five racks; five balls each; shoot and make as many as you can in 70 seconds. Four racks feature a money ball worth two points; one rack consistsentirelyof money balls. The competition also now features two "From the Logo" balls, placed on pedestals six feet behind the 3-point arc on either side of the half-court logo, that are worth three points apiece. (To get credit for those, players have to begin their shooting motion with at least one foot on the "From the Logo" floor decal, a laCaitlin Clark in the ads.)

Eight shooters enter the contest; the three highest scorers advance to the final; one leaves with the bragging rights. And, presumably, the undying loyalty and respect ofJake.

What excitement can be ginned up about the Dunk Contest?

AT&T Slam Dunk Contest: third event of All-Star Saturday, starting at 5 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)

Let's check in with one of the people you'd presume would bemostjazzed about the contest — one of the four people actually competing in it. Take it away, rookie Orlando Magic guard Jase Richardson:

While Richardson — son of Dunk Contest legend Jason Richardson — later clarified that he will, in fact,try hard to win the contest, his reaction is A) not exactly the greatest advertisement for the festivities and B) … kind of the way it seems like most folks react to the Dunk Contest nowadays?

I will reiterate my long-held stance that dunk contests can really only ever bekind ofbad, because dunking, like pizza, is at worst always at leastprettygood. I suspect that this year's contest — featuring Richardson, Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (provided he canavoid fighting any mascotson the way out to the court), Heat swingman Keshad Johnson and Spurs rookie wing Carter Bryant — will not immediately stir the hearts and minds of observers desperate for a return to the days of bona fide, marquee, household-name superstars performing feats of aerial acrobatics and derring-do the likes of which we've never seen.

Maybe that's on us, though. I watched last year's competition with my daughters, and it was pretty hard to convincethemnot to get amped up about what Stephon Castle did …

… or Mac McClung doing what he does best …

… because of what Vince Carter did in 2000, or Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon did a decade ago.

They saw dudes flying through the air, jumping over stuff, twisting and detonating. They thought it was pretty cool, all things considered.

Like I said last year: In dunk contests, as in difficult times, hope dies last. As long as they keep having them, we'll keep showing up, hoping that the next takeoff is the one that returns us to the joys of competitions past. And if not … well, "pretty cool" might not seem like much in the context of both what we've watched in years past and what we've imagined might be possible if the moment's most explosive vertical athletes — LeBron in his day, Zion and Ja a few years ago, Ant and VJ Edgecombe now — decided to show up. But when the other alternative is just being preemptively mad and disappointed about whatever dunks the competitors we actuallydohave are about to try, then "pretty cool" ain't half-bad.

What's most likely to breathe new life into the All-Star Game?

I think the goal is, "Find some way to replicate the fourth quarters ofU.S. vs. SerbiaandU.S. vs. Francefrom the 2024 Summer Olympics."

Given the Grand Canyon-sized chasm in stakes between "we're playing for a chance at Olympic gold" and "we're playing for a bunch of marketing managers from Salesforce," though … I kind of think the answer might be, "Team World just absolutely dusts both U.S. teams."

It's not exactly hot-take artistry to say that, while the U.S. still producesmoregreat basketball players than other countries throughout the world, the very best players of this age — the ones routinely topping MVP ballots and stocking the All-NBA First Team — were born elsewhere. Most of those guys, with the exception of the injured SGA, are about to suit up against two teams full of Americans; it wouldn't necessarily be shocking if they just mopped up the Stars and Stripes. If that happened, the resultant reaction might not be altogether pretty; it might be forceful enough, though, to reignite the competitive fires in an event where the embers have long since grown cold.

byDonna Devi

in

February 12, 2026

NBA All-Star 2026: Will the new USA vs. World format work? Breaking down this weekend's big questions

With an awfully busy2026 NBA trade deadlinenow in the rear-view mirror, the NBA now trains its gaze on Los Angeles, site ...

Read More

30 questions for 30 MLB teams as spring training gets underway

Everyone's open for business. And there's an awful lot of it forMajor League Baseballteams to take care of over the next 40 days of spring training.

Pitchers and catchers are officially in and working out at all 30 camps, kicking off the game's period of relative tranquility before the grind of 162 games and five weeks of playoff settle in.

Yet what unfolds in Florida and Arizona the next six weeks will surely frame what happens in the months to come. With that, USA TODAY Sports examines 30 issues worth monitoring among the Cactus and Grapefruit:

$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $700,000,000: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-33)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $500,000,000: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (2026-39)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $426.5 million: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (2019-2030)* includes extension

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $365 million: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers (2020-32)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $360 million: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (2023-2031)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $350 million: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres (2023-33)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $341 million: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets (2022-31)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $340 million: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres (2021-34)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $330,000,000: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies (2019-31)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $325 million: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins (2015-2027) – traded to New York Yankees in 2017

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $325 million: Corey Seager, Texas Rangers (2022-31)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $325,000,000: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-35)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $313.5 million: Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox (2024-33) - traded to San Francisco Giants in 2025

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $300 million: Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies (2023-33)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $292 million: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (2014-2023)* includes extension

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $288,777,777: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals (2024-34)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $280 million: Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres (2023-33)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $275 million: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (2008-2017)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $260 million: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies (2019-26) - traded to St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, traded to Arizona Diamondbacks in 2026

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $252,000,000: Alex Rodriguez, Texas Rangers (2001-10)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $245 million: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals (2020-26)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $245 million: Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels (2020-26)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $240,000,000: Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Dodgers (2026-29)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $240 million: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels (2012-2021)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $240 million: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners (2014-2023) – traded to New York Mets in 2019

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $225 million: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (2012-2021)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $217 million: David Price, Boston Red Sox (2016-2022) – traded to Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $215 million: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (2014-2020)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $215 million: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers (2020-28)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $214 million: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers (2012-2020) – traded to Texas Rangers in 2013

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $212 million: Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves (2023-32)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $210 million: Corbin Burnes, Arizona Diamondbacks (2025-30)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $210 million: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals (2015-2021)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $209.3 million: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners (2023-34)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $206.5 million: Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks (2016-2021) – traded to Houston Astros in 2019

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $200 million: Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins (2023-28) - traded to Houston Astros in 2025

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

MLB's $200+ million contracts

$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)

Philadelphia Phillies: Can Zack Wheeler clear all the hurdles?

The rib is sitting in a closet at home,Zack Wheelertold reportersin Clearwater, Florida, safely removed from his vascular thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. It can't hurt him, and he kept it for posterity.

Now, six months removed from getting shut down and having to watch thePhilliesbow out in the NL Division Series without him, Wheeler, 35, once again represents their best chance to separate from the NL pack.

He will not be ready for opening day, manager Rob Thomson intimated, though that artificial deadline doesn't matter that much. Soon Wheeler, currently long tossing from 90 feet, will get up off a mound, progress as any pitcher might and, perhaps, get in some Grapefruit League games in March.

That would put him squarely in the middle of the six to eight months recovery time for his form of TOS surgery. And as stretched out and effective that Wheeler looks as March nears April, the less Philly may have to rely on prospectAndrew Painter– who may or may not be ready – and vets likeTaijuan Walkerto hold down the rotation.

No, Wheeler won't clear every hurdle this spring. But getting closer to the finish line would make the Phillies far more imposing.

New York Mets: Will the new mix prove cohesive?

David Stearns' January scramble drill brought the Mets another highly competitive, big-budget behemoth. One probably better than the 83-win dud in the first year ofJuan Soto's $765 million contract.

But that will involve disparate parts coming together,Bo Bichettelearning third base with aplomb, a sentient right fielder emerging and the gaggle of first base/DH types sliding into roles.

Oh, and all this with All-Star shortstopFrancisco Lindormissing all of spring training with ahamate injury.

"We've got a fun group. Even these first couple days down here you can feel it," Stearns insisted the day before camp opened. "The guys are smiling, they're having fun with each other.

"We do have new faces here. But baseball is such a small community. It hasn't felt, these first couple days, like we're integrating a lot of new people."

Ideally, the new-look infield ofJorge Polanco,Marcus Semien, Lindor and Bichette coalesces. And the 83-win bar set last year proves easy to clear.

Atlanta Braves: Still time to add more pitching?

The loss ofSpencer Schwellenbachis fairly devastating for an Atlanta team that dipped under .500 for the first time since 2017 and was, somewhat rightfully, counting on internal improvement to make up much of the shortfall.

Schwellenbach's elbow dislocation dampened their hopes last year and now, his inflammation in the same wing raises many questions about his 2026 season.

Yet the Braves are 0-0, and can triage this loss now, with a gaggle of available starting pitchers on the market. But they're going quickly: Chris Bassittcame off the boardon the first day of Orioles camp; a Lucas Giolito or similar arm slotted behindChris SaleandSpencer Strider– both struck by injury woes last year, too – would give the squad more than a fighting chance.

Miami Marlins: Are young arms ready to seize opportunity?

It would be quite a gambit: Trading from pitching depth to acquire a slugging right fielder inOwen Caissieand then plugging the vacancy with quality rookie arms.

That would certainly be a best-case scenario for the Marlins, who knocked on the playoff door last year after playing excellent ball from late June on. Robby Snelling, Baseball America's minor league pitcher of the year in 2023, bounced back from a 2024 dip to get his stock back up whileThomas Whiteis a high-end prospect whose walk rate still raises eyebrows.

The Marlins signedChris Paddackas a back-end stopgap. But solid springs for Snelling and White could bring the future closer to Miami than anticipated.

Washington Nationals: Will youth be served?

Once Blake Butera manages a Grapefruit League game, he'll check one key box off his never-have-I-ever list: Holding forth in a big league dugout.

At 33, he's the youngest major league manager since 1972, and comes highly regarded from the highly respected Tampa Bay Rays development apparatus.

Connecting with a projected roster where just one player – starterMiles Mikolas– is older than him shouldn't be difficult.

"I feel really prepared," he said the day before Nationals camp opened. "And ready to roll."

Chicago Cubs: Will a mystery guest make them even deeper?

AddingAlex Bregmanto a 92-win team is quite the power move. Yet are theChicago Cubseven moreall-inthan it appears?

They held onto invaluable second basemanNico Hoernerand turnedMatt Shawinto a utility guy. And are set to see three of their starting pitchers walk after this year, too.

Which makes you wonder whether the club, connected in various forms to unsigned Zac Gallen virtually the entire winter, might see the right-hander come back to them before long. That would give them admirable starter depth and a hedge against the future.

Perhaps it won't be as dramatic as Dexter Fowler's 2016 return that portended a World Series title. But it would certainly spice things up.

Milwaukee Brewers: Faith no more?

Nothing quite like trading the ace of your 97-win team one month before spring training begins. It is the kind of maneuver that can damper a clubhouse spirit before workouts begin. Yet the Milwaukee Brewers are accustomed to such indignities.

Dealing Freddy Peralta to the Mets doesn't leave the cupboard bare, though. It just turns a lot of hoped-for things into musts.

LikeBrandon Woodruffgetting north of 20 starts again.Jacob Misiorowskiuninhibited by governors on his youthful arm.Logan Hendersonlooking ready to build upon a fantastic five-start cameo.

Throw inQuinn PriesterandChad Patrick, and there's a path to Surviving Freddy. But that margin for error has narrowed a bit, where any hint of injury, regression or lack of polish may upset the formula.

Cincinnati Reds: A void in left field?

Left field at Great American Ball Park is a pretty sweet place to ply your trade. Not a lot of ground to cover and then a very hitter-friendly yard when there's a bat in your hands.

Yet the Cincinnati Reds may fill that slot with a combo ofJ.J. Bleday(career OBP of .307, adjusted OPS 92) andDane Myers(.299, 80).

It's a curious pairing, though in Bleday, the fourth overall pick in the 2019 draft, there's still the whiff of upside after he hit 20 homers in Oakland in 2024. He regressed in almost every category in '25, though, and was non-tendered by the A's.

Myers provides speed but little pop, though both would give the outfield a fairly elite defensive look withTJ Friedlflanked by them and right fielderNoelvi Marte, who has proven a very quick study out there.

Will this alignment last all spring? Or might the Reds kick the tires on Nick Castellanos if/when the Philliesmust release him? Stay tuned.

St. Louis Cardinals: How close is JJ Wetherholt?

The St. Louis Cardinals' rebuild has indeed filled up a farm system that ranks in the upper third of the majors, thanks largely to depth amassed in their many trades. But JJ Wetherholt is the guy everyone's dying to see.

A relative steal with the seventh overall pick in 2024, Wetherholt nearly knocked down the door to Busch Stadium last year, when he slashed .306/.421/.510 and stole 23 bases in 26 attempts across AA and AAA ball.

Now, the trade of Brendan Donovan to Seattle opens up a slot at second base. The allure of pairing Wetherholt up the middle with Gold Glove shortstopMasyn Winnis undeniable. And Wetherholt's spring plate appearances will certainly bear watching.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Does the Konnor Griffin era begin now?

Speaking of gifted young middle infielders, Konnor Griffin does not turn 20 until April. But he does move fast.

The young man got married over the winter, coming off a year he hit 21 homers with a .941 OPS across three levels, finishing at Class AA in his first pro season. Increasingly, it's simply a matter of "when" and not "if." That said, the Pirates might be putting an awful lot on the young man by tossing him out there opening day after a winter they sparked relative hope with a handful of moves to improve the offense.

Then again, thePaul Skenesera is entering Year Three. If nothing else, Griffin gives Bucco fans in Bradenton something to train their eyes upon the days Skenes doesn't pitch.

Los Angeles Dodgers: How slow will they play it?

Blake Snellis already on the remedial spring program after the Dodgers' back-to-back championship run pushed them all the way through 11 innings of World Series Game 7. Will others join him?

Beyond their checkbook championships, the Dodgers have displayed an uncanny ability to get a crew of oft-injured pitchers just right for the playoffs. Snell andTyler Glasnow, most notably, struggled to stay upright until the lights shone the brightest last year – and then they saved their season.

As for this year? Playoff heroYoshinobu Yamamotois pitching for Japan in the WBC. Not ideal, given the body blows he took last fall.

Conversely, youngsters likeRiver Ryan,Gavin StoneandLandon Knack, along with last year's phenom,Rōki Sasaki, are all healthy. The Dodgers could roll with an 11-man rotation if they wanted.

And the ramp-up through the Cactus League may yet reveal a few more arms who might need a siesta early to make sure they're available late.

San Diego Padres: Is Joe Musgrove ready to roll?

Easy to forget theSan Diego Padreswon 90 games last year, this with Dylan Cease giving up more damage than his numbers might have indicated. Now, Cease is in Toronto – and a former rotation stalwart is hoping to be ready to replace him.

Joe Musgrovemissed all of 2025 after Tommy John surgery, his elbow giving in during the 2024 wild-card series. He might have been available had the Padres advanced a couple rounds in '25, but it was probably best he stayed on ice through the winter.

Now, his performance may determine whether the Padres can sustain their consistent level of contention: WithNick PivettaandMichael Kingatop the rotation, anything resembling the Musgrove of old would give them a solid chance to play .550 or better ball and unlock another playoff spot.

San Francisco Giants: Will skipper accidentally call spring training 'Fall Ball?'

We kid, we kid. Tony Vitello's unprecedented leap from Knoxville to the NL West has gone swimmingly so far, the San Francisco Giants'early arrivers believingin this unprecedented hire.

Still, though, until he manages a regular season game, it'll be interesting to chart how he handles the 40 days and nights that lead up to the opener.

And no pressure: Opening night is simply a standalone Netflix game against Aaron Judge and the Yankees.

Vitello's doing OK, though. He namedLogan Webbhisopening day starter– not his Friday night starter.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Will the oldies stay golden?

Spring training's a time for veteran dispensation: An extra day off, a hall pass from bus trips that are too long, early checkout time from a workout.

Well, there's a lot ofArizona Diamondbackswho can claim those extra privileges.

Advertisement

The Diamondbacks' late winter run netted them experience, and lots of it:Nolan Arenadowill turn 35 and first basemanCarlos Santana40 in April. Re-signed aceMerrill Kellyis 37. LeftyEduardo Rodriguezand catcherJames McCannwill soon be 33 and 36, respectively.

They're certainly in the right spot. Who wouldn't want to retire to the Valley of the Sun – or at least play ball a little while longer?

Colorado Rockies: Are the lab rats ready for Coors Field?

The Paul DePodesta era is almost certain to get weird. And the manner in which the new club president added to the rotation at winter's end seemed to buttress that.

Oh, in a vacuum, they were totally normal maneuvers: Signing veteran startersMichael Lorenzen,Jose QuintanaandTomoyuki Suganoto one-year deals. It's just that a team likely bound for another 100-loss campaign doesn't necessarily dip into the veteran market in that fashion.

After all, what's the difference between 96 and 106 losses, say?

But all three pitchers bring such divergent skill sets to the table, it's almost like DePodesta will take the year and workshop what does and doesn't work in Coors Field. For now, those three will be living a little easier in the Cactus League. The Coors missiles will be flying soon enough.

Bark at the Park: Dogs at MLB games

New York Yankees: Can they avoid the spring injury bug?

Sure, the Yankees can be just fine with "Run It Back+Ryan Weathers" as a 2026 strategy. Yet a fairly placid offseason leaves them deficient in the depth department.

Their past two springs were clouded byGerrit Cole's elbow woes – first a 2024 shutdown from March until late June, and then last spring when his UCL got gone for good. With seven of their 13 position players north of 30, the spring aches might hit a little harder.

There is something of a cavalry coming: ShortstopAnthony Volpewill soon return from shoulder surgery and Cole andCarlos Rodónwill buttress the rotation, their recoveries inspiring the club to acquire the lefty Weathers to hold down the fort.

Yet save for outfielderJasson Dominguezand veteran non-roster invite Paul DeJong, it gets pretty thin just beneath the surface. Staying upright this spring – and there's nine dudes headed to the World Baseball Classic, including a No. 99 in red, white and blue – is paramount.

Toronto Blue Jays: Time to shake off the 'hangover?'

It's tough to repeat, as we learned over the past quarter century. Yet it should theoretically be just as tough to get back to the World Series after getting to Game 7 and losing, right?

The Blue Jays would hope that's not the case. It largely bodes well they shook up the mix from a club that fell two outs shy of a championship, withDylan CeaseandCody Poncebolstering the pitching staff for this and future years.

Yet the loss of Bo Bichette will be significant, for a club that relied on his contact and clutch hitting abilities. No one can move the baseball like Bo, unlessErnie Clement's 30-hit postseason is a harbinger of his next 162 games.

Februaryhasn't been kindalready:Anthony Santanderlikely out for the year,Shane Biebervery questionable for the opening spin through the rotation. Perhaps any "hangover" won't show up until later in the year, when the effects of a longer 2025 might be felt.

Baltimore Orioles: Can Pete Alonso lift the vibes?

The Polar Bear is simply irrepressible, and one day into Orioles camp,Pete Alonsowas already making himself conspicuous, signing autographs, working with pitchers on PFP, chirping during live batting practice.

No telling if Alonso – signed to afive-year, $155 million deal– is the salve for a once-boisterous young Orioles core whose last year and a half was a desultory and injury-plagued slog. Spring narratives – "We love the new guy!" – can often be so much eyewash, but Alonso, who averaged 42 homers per 162 games in seven seasons with the Mets, very well could be the presence the younger Orioles need.

Not that Alonso is ancient, but at 31, he's still got at least three years on the O's regulars, flourished in New York, won Home Run Derbys. Not a bad dude to shake it up.

Boston Red Sox: Did they get their swagger back?

A three-year playoff drought in Boston ended thanks in large part to Alex Bregman – who promptly broke containment and landed with the Cubs. What's left behind is a funky infield alignment relying heavily on oft-injuredMarcelo Mayerand Milwaukee refugeeCaleb Durbin.

But what if theseRed Soxget their swagger from the other side of the ball?

ImportingSonny Grayfrom St. Louis and signingRanger Suarezaway from Philadelphia suddenly gives this club a very deep rotation. And perhaps the fringe benefit is nudging the uber-talentedBrayan Bellodown a couple notches, a bit less pressure to unlock his greatness.Johan Oviedo, acquired from Pittsburgh, brackets this group.

It's not as sexy as nabbing a bona fide wallbanger for the Green Monster. But it's daunting, nonetheless.

Tampa Bay Rays: Can they survive a Lowe-free environment?

For the first time since 2017, the Rays will not have a Lowe on the roster, shocking when you consider that for a few years there, three Lowes might have found their name in the lineup.

Yet Brandon – the only one of the bunch who pronounces it "Lowe as in Ow" – was traded to Pittsburgh. Josh was dealt to the Los Angeles Angels.

And once again, the Rays' deck has been significantly reshuffled.

They also dealt Shane Baz and his nasty repertoire of pitches to Baltimore, and nabbedGavin Luxfrom Cincinnati to play second base. Yet with each passing year, it seems far less likely the Rays' devil magic will pay off, not in a division with four rivals firing on virtually all competitive cylinders.

Oh, they never seem to plumb a new Lowe. But this spring will once again bring a bevy of introductions – and hopes that it all works out.

Detroit Tigers: OK, who's the No. 5 starter?

Oh, what a glorious problem to have in Motown.

With the late signing of leftyFramber Valdezand even later signing ofJustin Verlander, the cover charge to crack the Tigers' rotation is suddenly exorbitant.

Consider: Four of the five are All-Stars. Three are World Series champions. Two have Cy Young Awards on their shelf and one –Tarik Skubal– is the greatest pitcher in baseball at the moment.

OK, so nothing in baseball is permanent and this set-up is very temporary. Skubal is a free agent, Verlander is on a one-year deal, Valdez can opt out after two andJack Flahertyis in the final year of a two-year contract.

But what a moment in time. Even if it relegates 2025 All-Star Casey Mize to the five hole.

Cleveland Guardians: Is it finally Chase DeLauter's time?

OK, the dude is barely 24 years old. Yet two injury-plagued years in the minor leagues kept Cleveland's top prospect from completing the journey to the big leagues just as he'd drawn so close. The Guardians did toss him into his major league debut during the ALDS.

Yet this spring will be his center field job to lose, and the Guardians, always offensively challenged, can certainly use his minor league career .384 OBP and .888 OPS. Cactus League performance may help force the Guardians' hand.

Kansas City Royals: Can Jac Caglianone connect?

A couple weeks intoKansas City Royalscamp,Jac CaglianoneandVinnie Pasquantinowill depart for Team Italy and its bid for World Baseball Classic glory. And perhaps that diversion will be good for the second-year player.

He struggled in a 62-game debut, batting .157, striking out 23% of the time and failing to unlock the massive power that prompted the Royals to draft him sixth overall in 2024.

Now, the Royals need him, fairly desperately. The lineup drops off precipitously after a fab four of Maikel Garcia, Bobby Witt Jr., Salvy Perez and Pasquantino. One more big bat would lengthen it nicely.

Chicago White Sox: Which Munetaka Murakami will show up?

Let's be real: The verdict won't be in on the Japanese slugger for quite some time. It simply remains a great mystery how he fell to the White Sox for a fairly modest $34 million guarantee – modest relative to Murakami's NPB pedigree.

There's nothing quite like freaking out over February-March exhibition baseball. So whether Murakami's K concerns come to the fore, or he knocks balls toward Loop 101 with regularity, it will make for great spring drama either way.

Minnesota Twins: Is Luke Keaschall the future?

Oh, we won't know that based on a handful of Grapefruit League games. But Keaschall had one of the game's low-key fantastic debuts last season, debuting April 18, knocking seven hits in his first 19 at-bats but then suffering a fractured forearm getting hit by a pitch.

He sat out more than three months, then produced a .294/.359/.436 line in 42 games, accumulating 2.0 WAR in 49 games overall. The second base job is waiting for him, along with the potential to bring some sunshine to a franchise that can't seem to shake out of a spiral.

Seattle Mariners: Time to walk the walk?

There's little reason for Seattle to show up to camp with anything short of swagger. The Mariners broke a 24-year drought by winning the AL West, came just eight outs shy of a World Series berth and have multiple superstars in their midst.

They were tough to missat the Super Bowl, with Cal Raleigh, Josh Naylor, Bryan Woo and friends decked out in Seahawk gear. Now, coming off a year they beat back the Astros by three games, they've added All-Star second baseman Brendan Donovan to the mix.

They should win the AL pennant. And we'd love to see a little swag along the way.

Houston Astros: Will Isaac Paredes last the spring?

Nothing worse than a walking trade rumor that lasts all the way into spring training. This year, it just might be Isaac Paredes' turn.

With the Astros believing they'd hold off the Mariners last August, the club acquired old friend Carlos Correa to play third while Paredes was injured. Well, they fell short, Correa is signed through 2028 and now there's an abundance of infielders in Houston.

In a perfect world, the Astros could have flipped Paredes for an outfielder. As it stands, the alignment is uninspiring, with Jesus Sanchez, Zach Cole and Jake Myers playing most days, and Cam Smith hoping to regain the club's confidence after he faded late in his rookie year.

Texas Rangers: Can MacKenzie Gore reach the next level?

There's not much MacKenzie Gore can do this spring to convince us he's ready to be a full-fledged ace. No, that time won't come until, say, July, when Gore started to hit the wall last year after an All-Star first half.

His splits: 3.02 ERA and 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings before the break – and 6.75/8.6 after.

Still, the Rangers leaped at the chance toacquire him from Washington. They'll have six weeks to unlock this very talented arm. And we may have to wait a few months to see if the tinkering in the Arizona sun leads to a second-half payoff.

Athletics: Can West Sacramento lock down another star?

It's a nice little nest egg the A's are building for Las Vegas, with Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom,Jacob Wilsonand Lawrence Butler all locked into multiyear deals that stretch beyond the three years the franchise is spending in Yolo County.

Can they do the same with Nick Kurtz? Well, they'd be insane not to try.

Kurtz was a stunning revelation in winning Rookie of the Year, crushing 36 homers with a 1.002 OPS, racking up 5.4 WAR in just 117 games and displaying preternatural abilities to adjust within an at-bat.

Let's face it: The young man is going to get paid, significantly. He still has two more years of the club unilaterally controlling his salary, a hammer the A's hold for only so long, the clock ticking once again come Opening Day.

Some say Kurtz might be foolish to sign long-term, given his earning potential. It'd be equally foolish of the A's not to make a nine-figure commitment to try, and this spring is the best time to do so.

Los Angeles Angels: Is Grayson Rodriguez a hidden gem?

As the Los Angeles Angels reported to camp Feb. 10, there was one sight that must have looked particularly sunny: Grayson Rodriguez, throwing a bullpen session.

The one-time Orioles prodigy, acquired for outfielder Taylor Ward, hasn't thrown a regular season pitch since July 31, 2024. The Orioles couldn't wait around for his litany of physical woes to clear up.

So the Angels acquired him and goodness, it's not easy to find such a big arm with four years of club control. Now, we don't want to get ahead of ourselves. But each Cactus League hurdle Rodriguez clears toward Opening Day enhances the chances the Angels might have wisely procured a piece of their future.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:MLB spring training 2026, 30 questions for 30 teams at camp

byDonna Devi

in

February 12, 2026

30 questions for 30 MLB teams as spring training gets underway

Everyone's open for business. And there's an awful lot of it forMajor League Baseballteams to take care of over t...

Read More