The Joint Competition Committee last September voted to bring the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, powered by T-Mobile, to the big leagues in 2026 following several years of experimentation in the Minor Leagues and use in MLB Spring Training and the All-Star Game in 2025.

Per MLB.com's Sarah Langs, the rosters collectively feature a record 78 players who have been named to an MLB All-Star team, with 36 of them making the cut last year. Naturally, many of those are on the tournament's top teams — the U.S., the D.R. and Venezuela collectively account for 50 of those players.

From more outrage over MLB's top spenders to what to make of deals that never happened, here's what we learned this winter.

Follow every 2025-26 MLB free agent signing with contract details, team changes, and live Rotoworld updates throughout the Hot Stove season.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 23: Maikel Garcia #11 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates a run against the Los Angeles Angels in the eighth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 23, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) Ronald Martinez Getty Images Maikel Garcia had a memorable 2025 season with the Royals.

The Texas Rangers are going to need to bolster their pitching depth for the future, once deGrom and Eovaldi retire.

That direction came into focus this week with a new trade agreement with the Arizona Diamondbacks. “The Diamondbacks and Orioles are in agreement on a trade, with infielder Blaze Alexander going to the Orioles, sources say. It’s unclear who else is involved in the deal,” reported Robert Murray of FanSided on Thursday.

MLB teams are all set to open their spring training camps in Florida and Arizona. See when each team is scheduled to begin workouts.