Mike Hazen
FILE - Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg, right, walks with a member of the training staff as he heads to the dugout after leaving the game during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore, in this Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, file photo. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, that Strasburg “is in preparation mode not in rehabilitation mode” at spring training after having surgery in 2020. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
Easy does it: MLB pitchers prepare for usual 162-game grind

By David Brandt Feb. 18, 2021 04:27 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2020, file photo, Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish throws during the first inning in Game 2 of the team's NL wild-card baseball series against the Miami Marlins in Chicago. The San Diego Padres traded for another big arm on Tuesday night, Dec. 29, acquiring Darvish in a blockbuster deal with the Cubs. The Padres got Darvish, catcher Victor Caratini and cash from the Cubs for right-hander Zach Davies and four young minor leaguers. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
NL West teams at the start of spring training

By The Associated Press Feb. 11, 2021 10:52 AM EST

Arizona Diamondbacks' Starling Marte flips his bat after striking out against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Padres get Clevinger, Marlins acquire Marte at deadline

By Jay Cohen Aug. 31, 2020 07:09 PM EDT

Minnesota Twins' Sergio Romo runs up steps in the ballpark at a baseball camp Friday, July 3, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Trout uncertain, All-Star Game off as MLB gets back on field

By The Associated Press Jul. 03, 2020 07:12 PM EDT

FILE - In a Monday, March 2, 2020 file photo, Washington Nationals pitcher Joe Ross throws during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Miami Marlins, in West Palm Beach, Fla. Longtime infielder Ryan Zimmerman and pitcher Joe Ross are opting out of playing the 2020 season as Major League Baseball tries to get back amid the COVID-19 pandemic. General manager Mike Rizzo says the team is 100% supportive of Zimmerman and Ross deciding not to play.(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Roster shuffle: Plans change in MLB because of health issues

By David Brandt Jun. 29, 2020 05:09 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2019, file photo, Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Mike Leake throws against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game, in Phoenix. Diamondbacks right-hander Mike Leake has opted out of the 2020 season due to concerns about the coronavirus. Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen did not elaborate on Leake’s decision during a Zoom call, but the pitcher’s agent issued a statement saying he made a personal decision not to play during the pandemic. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
Diamondbacks right-hander Mike Leake opts out of 2020 season

By John Marshall Jun. 29, 2020 02:57 PM EDT

FILE - In this Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019, file photo, Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen speaks during a media availability during the Major League Baseball general managers annual meetings, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Baseball’s bubble-free environment is an anomaly as the sports world tries to come back amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Hazen says he'll be constantly reminding everyone in his organization about the delicacy of the current situation. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
Bubble-free life means MLB players, coaches must be careful

By David Brandt Jun. 25, 2020 06:21 PM EDT