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The calendar has flipped to March and that means meaningful baseball will be played this month. Sooner than you think, too. The Cubs and Dodgers will play the two-game Tokyo Series from March 18-19. Those are regular-season games. The traditional Opening Day is Thursday, March 27. All 30 teams will be in action that day. Until then, here are Saturday’s MLB rumors.

Phillies, Schwarber had extension talks
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Kyle Schwarber
PHI • LF • #12
BA
0.248
R
110
HR
38
RBI
104
SB
5
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The Phillies and Kyle Schwarber have had broad extension talks this spring, according to The Athletic. No deal is imminent, however. Schwarber will be a free agent after the season and has expressed a desire to remain with Philadelphia long-term. He will earn $20 million this year, the final season on the four-year, $79 million free-agent contract he signed in March 2022.

Schwarber, 32 next month, has hit 131 home runs with a .344 on-base percentage in three seasons with the Phillies. An extension could pay him $20 million or so for another 2-3 years. Schwarber is one of several prominent Phillies coming up in free agency, along with JT Realmuto and Ranger Suárez. Like Schwarber, Realmuto has expressed an openness to an extension.

Yankees check in on Martinez
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J.D. Martinez
NYM • DH • #28
BA
0.235
R
46
HR
16
RBI
69
SB
0
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The Yankees have had some contact with free agent slugger J.D. Martinez, reports the New York Post. Giancarlo Stanton, currently away from the team tending to a personal matter, has yet to play this spring because of elbow issues. It seems unlikely he will be ready to start the season. Martinez is close to a 1 to 1 replacement for Stanton as a righty-hitting DH.

Now 37, Martinez slashed .235/.320/.406 with 16 home runs for the Mets last season, though that was split into an .806 OPS in the first half and .623 in the second. He was mostly out of the lineup during the team’s late season postseason push and October. We ranked Martinez as the 44th best free agent available this winter. He did not sign until March 23 last offseason.

On Friday, United States President Donald Trump said he would pardon Pete Rose and criticized Major League Baseball for banning the sport’s all-time hits leader for gambling on baseball. Rose, who died at age 83 in October, has been on the permanently ineligible list since 1989 when he agreed to the punishment. At the time, Rose was only alleged to have gambled on baseball games. He later admitted to gambling on baseball.

“Over the next few weeks I will be signing a complete pardon of Pete Rose, who shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on his team winning,” Trump wrote on social media. “He never betted against himself, or the other team. He had the most hits, by far, in baseball history, and won more games than anyone in sports history.”

It is unclear what a pardon would cover because Rose has not been convicted of a crime. He served five months in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of filing false income tax returns in 1990. In 2017, the Philadelphia Phillies canceled a ceremony to induct Rose into their Wall of Fame after it was revealed Rose had a sexual relationship with an underage woman in the 1970s.

John Dowd, who investigated Rose for MLB in 1989 and served as Trump’s legal advisor from June 2017 to March 2018, said MLB is “not in the pardon business nor does it control admission to the HOF,” in a statement to ESPN.

MLB has not yet commented on Trump saying he will issue a “complete pardon” of Rose.

Under a rule adopted in 1991, anyone on the permanently ineligible list can not be considered for election to the Hall of Fame. Major League Baseball itself does not control who goes into the Hall of Fame. Members of the Baseball Writers Association of America vote for candidates, then various committees vote on candidates who exhaust their eligibility on the BBWAA’s ballot.

Rose played 24 MLB seasons for the Cincinnati Reds, Phillies, and Montreal Expos from 1963-86. He also served as Reds player-manager from 1984-86 and manager from 1987-89. During this period he bet on his team to win. Rose first applied for reinstatement in 1997 and reapplied multiple times over the years.

Rose is baseball’s all-time leader in games played (3,562), plate appearances (15,890), and hits (4,256). The Reds will wear a No. 14 patch on their uniforms in his honor in 2025.

Although the current collective bargaining agreement for Major League Baseball does not expire until Dec. 2026, there are already rumblings that another lockout is on the horizon. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred recently called a lockout “actually a positive,” which is a bizarre statement if you’re anyone other than the league’s owners or their representative, which, of course, Manfred is.

On Friday, MLB Players Association chief Tony Clark admitted the players union is expecting once the CBA expires in December 2026. Here’s what Clark said Friday (via Sportico):

“Unless I am mistaken the league has come out and said there’s going to be a work stoppage,” Tony Clark, the union’s executive director, said Friday morning to a few members of the media after meeting with the San Francisco Giants players at Scottsdale Stadium. “So, I don’t think I’m speaking out of school in that regard.”

Earlier this month, Manfred toned down the lockout rhetic a bit, saying he was not “going to speculate how we’re going to negotiate” and that “frankly I owe it to our fans not to get into this too early” at the outset of spring training.

MLBPA’s Tony Clark calls out Rob Manfred for lockout comments: ‘The other side keeps interjecting negativity’
R.J. Anderson
MLBPA’s Tony Clark calls out Rob Manfred for lockout comments: ‘The other side keeps interjecting negativity’
Salary cap talks happen every CBA negotiation cycle and they’ve already begun, with Orioles owner David Rubenstein among those expressing support for a cap. Typically, each side begins making public statements about their goals one year before the CBA expires. This time, they’ve started two years in advance, perhaps indicating a fierce labor battle is coming.

The 2021-22 offseason lockout did not cost any regular-season games, though, at 99 days, it was the longest work stoppage in MLB history. The eight other work stoppages in MLB history occurred between 1973-95. The 2021-22 lockout ended a 26-year stretch without a work stoppage, though it would be a stretch to call it 26 years of labor “peace.” CBA negotiations during those 26 years certainly grew contentious at times.

LeBron James is finally seeing some decline in his game, but in a different situation, there’s no doubt he could still get it done. A trade could involve Klay Thompson, but that should be a small price to pay because the former Splash Brother is shooting well below his career averages.

There’s no doubt what James could bring to the court each night. He’s still capable of getting downhill, bullying his defenders in the post, and either knocking down the three-pointer or a fadeaway jumper.

Additionally, James’ playmaking skills and basketball IQ are second to none. Bringing those intangibles to a team featuring Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will help bring the Mavs over the top, especially on the game’s biggest stage.

James may struggle to get through the regular season like he was once able to, but Doncic and Irving have him covered in that regard. The four-time MVP has a proven track record playing next to Irving, as both won a championship together with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.

James also has a relationship with Dallas coach Jason Kidd, who was an assistant on the Lakers when they won a championship in 2020. Doncic and James could co-lead the Mavs’ offense given their respective playmaking skills and knack for picking their spots to score the ball.

Considering all of this, the Mavs might be the most ideal team for James to be traded to if he wants a shot at a fifth ring.

One possibility is Sixers alum Josh Richardson. The Miami Heat guard didn’t exactly have the best time on the Sixers during his first go-round, but if the Sixers brought him back, he wouldn’t have nearly as big a role as he did when the Sixers brought him in for the 2020 season. FanSided predicted him as a guard who could replace McCain for the time being.

On paper, Richardson would bring ball handling, perimeter defense, and a streaky jumpshot. He wouldn’t replace what McCain brought, but he could cover some of the holes that McCain’s absence would rip open.

Richardson is also inexpensive, as he’s owed $3 million this season. A straight-up swap for Eric Gordon would get a trade done.

The Heat haven’t played Richardson much this season
Richardson has been in the Heat’s doghouse since November 18, so his trade value is next to nil. However, he is also coming off a season-ending shoulder injury from last season, so re-discovering his old self may have led to his slow start thus far.

It’s also possible Richardson just needs a change of scenery. Perhaps a bigger role on a team he’s played with before could rejuvenate his career.

The 76ers aren’t really in a position to be picky. They will likely be active in the trade market, which means they’ll want cheap help, too. Richardson is not the player McCain is, but if Philadelphia traded him, expectations would firmly be at being a placeholder.

But who would OKC have to give up for Butler?

“With (Butler’s) $48 million contract set to expire, the buzz around his future is heating up, and teams like the Warriors, Rockets, Mavericks, and Suns have all been mentioned as possible destinations,” Leiva said.

“But here’s where things get interesting—the Oklahoma City Thunder are sitting at the top of the Western Conference with a 20-5 record … Bringing in a star like Butler could be the piece that takes them over the top.”

“The Thunder also have a treasure chest of assets to work with, including young players and a mountain of draft picks. This puts them in a prime position to offer a deal that other teams simply can’t match. Adding Butler to their already exciting core could make OKC the team to beat in the West.”

Leiva envisioned OKC sending the Heat the following package for Butler: Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, and four picks (2022 first via Utah Jazz, 2025 first via Heat, 2026 second, 2028 second).

“The Miami Heat would be getting a solid mix of young talent and valuable draft picks,” Leiva said. “The inclusion of two first-round picks in 2025 and additional second-rounders in 2026 and 2028 provides Miami with the flexibility to build for the future or use as assets in further trades.”

“On the flip side, the Oklahoma City Thunder, leading the Western Conference, would be adding a seasoned veteran in Butler. … Imagine a lineup of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jimmy Butler, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein. That’s a blend of star power, versatility, and defensive intensity that screams superteam.”

Butler is in year two of a three-year, $146.4 million deal, which has a player option for next season that Butler has indicated but not officially said he might decline.

Lakers GM Rob Pelinka needs to realize that LeBron’s trade value is a rapidly diminishing entity. Dealing James now might be wise, and though LeBron has a no-trade clause, he might not exercise it if he’s dealt to a contender.

Enter the Houston Rockets — one of the only contenders in the NBA with enough first-round draft capital to pull off a deal for LeBron.

To make the money work, Houston could send Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams, and Cam Whitmore to the Lakers for LeBron, Bronny, and Jarred Vanderbilt.

Adams and VanVleet would legitimately fill holes on the Lakers roster and help keep them afloat in the playoff race. There’s no reason a core of VanVleet, Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, Davis, and Adams can’t still be a good NBA basketball team.

The Lakers could basically ask Houston for an ungodly amount of first-rounders (four?), which would completely set them up for the post-LeBron future.

Unless LA thinks they are going to turn things around and a 40-year-old LeBron can will himself through a deep playoff run, this would be a smart trade for the Lakers.

LeBron was for many years someone you absolutely don’t trade under any circumstances, but that’s no longer the case.

Grant would also be a great backup to Jayson Tatum. Tatum would have more time to rest while Grant goes out and uses his athleticism and versatility on both sides of the ball to keep up the pressure on opposing teams.

This trade would benefit both teams, with the Celtics getting immediate help to maximize their championship window, and the Blazers getting picks and young talent to begin their rebuild.

Should the Celtics do this trade? Hopefully, but probably not. Their problems with the luxury tax would not be solved by adding a guy with a $160 million dollar contract.

However, he would make them the best team in the league, period. So, it’s really up to the Celtics front office to decide at the deadline.

Boston is relying on 38-year-old Al Horford to be at his best for another long playoff run, especially because Kristaps Porziņģis can’t be relied upon to stay healthy, with all due respect to his immense talent.

After missing the first 20 games of the season recovering from last season’s injury, Porziņģis left Sunday’s game versus the Washington Wizards with a heel ailment, the severity of which has not been determined or announced.

Porziņģis is a great player and person, but his body has a tendency to break down every few months, which is problematic for the Celtics.

Should Brad Stevens consider trading Porziņģis before his stock falls to an untradeable degree or he becomes unplayable due to further injuries?

Given Boston’s absurd talent at guard and on the wing, it would be a crying shame if the Celtics fell short of a second consecutive title merely because they were too thin up front.

What if Stevens decided to make a bold move and give up on Porziņģis’s crazy ceiling in favor of a more reliable center … like Steven Adams from the Houston Rockets?

By trading a talent like KP to Houston, Brad could also ask for plenty of additional assets from the Rockets, including a first-round pick and one of its young, secondary stars like Jabari Smith Jr.

A package of Adams, Smith Jr. (or Reed Sheppard, depending on who Stevens prefers), and Cam Whitmore for Porziņģis works financially.

The Rockets might be willing to take a risk on Porziņģis; if he stays healthy, he’s a player who could help them seriously contend in the Western Conference playoffs.

On the Celtics’ side, Adams would provide exactly the kind of reliable center they need to hold down the position for a return to the Finals. Smith Jr. and Whitmore are two talented wings who would provide youth and elite athleticism off the bench (Smith Jr. now, Whitmore in the future), which is convenient considering another weakness of Boston’s (though there aren’t many) is a lack of athletic wing depth.

Then there is a first-round pick (or two, if Stevens can pull it off), which would help Boston start building for the latter portion of the Jays’ primes.

Trading Porziņģis would lower the Celtics’ ceiling, no doubt. But this trade would raise their floor in the present, and for a team that basically proved last year that they can contend for a title without KP, raising the floor might be the best way to ensure Banner 19.

Porziņģis is in year one of a two-year, $60 million veteran extension.