And on the eighth day, god created baseball.He molded the earth into the grass and dirt fields needed to play the game.  He created the implements with which to play the game.  And he created the players who would play the game.  And god saw all this as good.

Then he created owners and unions, and everything went to hell in short order.

It has been baseball heaven here the past two weeks – minor league players completing their minicamp, rehab players striving to be ready for the opening of the season, pitchers and catchers (and a few early reports) beginning major league training.  The first full workout is scheduled early next week.  Grapefruit League games start the following week.  Real baseball (not that WBC stuff) is about 7 weeks away.

During the past two weeks, I’ve watched Nola, Kerkering, and others throw bullpens on the half-field in front of the stadium.  I recently watched Miller and Sosa take ground balls at shortstop and Stott and Bohm take balls at second and third base respectively.

I’ve also watched some batting practice, fielding practice, and bullpens by a host of minor league prospects attending the High Performance camp.

The major leaguers have a full-squad practice on Monday.  Mini camp for invited minor leaguers starts Monday, too.

Important Dates

• February 10, 2026: Earliest date MLB players can be added to the 60-day IL
• February 11, 2026: Earliest date injured players, pitchers, and catchers may be invited to spring training
• February 15, 2026: End of waiver period (Nov. 11, 2025 – Feb. 15, 2026). Outright Waivers secured on or after Nov. 11, 2025, expire at 1 p.m. ET on the seventh day after waivers are obtained or 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 15, 2026, whichever is earlier.
• February 16, 2026: Beginning of new waiver period (February 16 – April 24, 2026). Outright Waivers secured on or after February 16, 2026, remain in effect for 7 days or until 5 p.m. EST, April 24, 2026 (the 30th day of the 2026 season), whichever is earlier. MLR 10.
• February 16, 2026: Earliest date all other players may be invited to spring training
• February 16-28, 2026: Minor League Mini Camp
• February 21, 2026: Earliest date MLB players can be required to report to spring training
• March 1, 2026: Start of Minor League spring training
• March 3-28, 2026: Minor League Spring Training Camp
  • March 9,2026: Yankees @ Phillies – AAA/AA – 1 PM
  • March 10,2026: Yankees @ Phillies – High A/Low A – 1 PM
  • March 12,2026: Blue Jays @ Phillies – AAA/AA – 1 PM
  • March 13,2026: Blue Jays @ Phillies – High A/Low A – 1 PM
  • March 15,2026:  Blue Jays @ Phillies – High A/Low A – 1 PM
  • March 17,2026: Tigers @ Phillies – High A/Low A – 1 PM
  • March 18,2026: Blue Jays @ Phillies – AAA/AA – 1 PM
  • March 19,2026: Spring Breakout Game – Phillies @ Twins; – 1 PM
  • March 19,2026: Blue Jays vs Phillies – High A/Low A – 1 PM
  • March 20,2026: Yankees vs Phillies – AAA/AA – 10 AM
  • March 21,2026: Spring Breakout Game – Blue Jays @ Phillies – 1 PM 
  • March 21,2026: Tigers vs Phillies – AA @ Clearwater, A – 1 PM
  • March 22,2026: Lehigh Valley breaks camp
  • March 22,2026: Blue Jays vs Phillies – AA – 1 PM
  • March 24,2026: Blue Jays vs Phillies – AA – 1 PM
  • March 25,2026: Tigers vs Phillies – High A/Low A – 1 PM
  • March 26, 2026: Yankees vs Phillies – AA – 1 PM
• March 26, 2026: Official opening of 2026 MLB season
• March 26, 2026: Active rosters reduced to 26 (13 pitchers) by Noon ET
  • March 28, 2026: Reading breaks camp
  • March 28, 2026: Jersey Shore breaks camp
  • March 28, 2026: Clearwater breaks camp
• July 11, 2026: 2026 MLB All-Star Futures Game, Philadelphia PA
• July 12-13, 2026: MLB First-Year Player Draft, Philadelphia PA (Phillies drop 10 slots)
• December 1, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET): MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement expires.

Note: These dates will be used unless/until notified differently.  (Note that there are many more dates to add from Spring Training through the end of the 2026 season and calendar year.  I will add when I have accurate dates for them.)

Transactions

02/12/2026 – Phillies released RF Nick Castellanos
02/12/2026 – Phillies signed FA RHP Francisco Mercedes to an MiLB contract
02/08/2026 – Phillies signed FA RHP Lou Trivino to an MiLB contract
02/08/2026 – RHP Lou Trivino assigned to Lehigh Valley
02/06/2026 – Phillies signed FA LHP D’wichi Ramirez to an MiLB contract
02/04/2026 – 2B Dylan Moore assigned to Lehigh Valley
02/03/2026 – Phillies signed FA 2B Dylan Moore to an MiLB contract
02/02/2026 – Phillies signed FA RHP Daniel Robert to an MiLB contract
02/02/2026 – RHP Daniel Robert assigned to Lehigh Valley