NBC/Peacock is set to take over a portion of the MLB media rights this season, notably with the “Sunday Morning Baseball” and “Sunday Night Baseball” broadcasts. Andrew Marchand at The Athletic reports some details about NBC’s plans that are less than ideal, however. The morning game will be available only via Peacock. The night game will air on NBC, but Marchand hints that this will only be “from the end of the NBA season through the start of the NFL season.”

The NBA regular season concludes in mid-April, with the playoffs starting days later and running through most of June. The NFL regular season typically begins in late August. Does that mean “Sunday Night Baseball” will only exist for about two months? Or does it mean MLB fans will only be able to watch these games on NBC during this stretch, with the rest of the season being “exclusive to Peacock”? This isn’t exactly clear (though it’s likely the latter).

Beyond the uncertainty about where to watch these games, NBC has yet to finalize the actual broadcast team. Jason Benetti appears to be the favorite to serve as the lead play-by-play voice, which would be a phenomenal addition by NBC. Benetti spent the last year in the same role for the Detroit Tigers, as well as working on the Fox nationally televised games, after spending 2016 to 2023 with the Chicago White Sox. He’s an excellent broadcaster, keeping explanations and insights simple but engaging.

Marchand also notes that recently retired Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw is a “top studio target,” but he would not join the broadcast team on a full-time basis.

It’s a curious and disappointing choice, if that’s where NBC ultimately decides to go with this hiring. Prior broadcast experience (Kershaw has none) isn’t a requirement for such a role, but having an outgoing personality is vital. Kershaw has never demonstrated that personality on a national stage, and there is little to suggest he would thrive in such a public-facing capacity.

Moreover, hiring Kershaw to such a role doesn’t come without controversy. The Dodgers legend had two separate occasions where his beliefs created dismay within the L.A. (and MLB) fanbase. Each occurred shortly before, or in response to, the club’s plans to celebrate Pride Night. Kershaw has never publicly been asked about the matters.

Former Reds first baseman Joey Votto is also drawing attention from broadcast partners, but Marchand doesn’t provide any indication that he’s close to being hired anywhere. There’s no question he would be the better choice (especially alongside a personality like Benetti) than Kershaw.

Adding a starting pitcher has been on the Cubs’ to-do list all offseason. On Wednesday, the club finally succeeded in doing so, reaching an agreement to trade three players to the Miami Marlins for right-hander Edward Cabrera.

Cabrera, who’ll turn 28 in April, enjoyed the best season of his career in 2025. He set new career highs with 26 starts, totaling 137.2 IP, in which he won eight games and struck out 150 batters. Just once in his five years in the league did he better the 3.53 ERA (125 ERA+) he posted over that span.

Injury concerns have been a constant throughout Cabrera’s career, including this past season (he missed two weeks with blisters on his fingers, then was shut down in early September with an elbow strain). When healthy, he’s shown the potential to be dominant on the mound. Chicago is hopeful health won’t continue to be a concern this season, as Cabrera likely steps into the No. 2 or 3 spot in the Cubs’ rotation after the trade.

Cabrera will remain under team control through the 2028 season.

Miami will receive outfielder Owen Caissie, infielder Cristian Hernández, and infielder Edgardo De Leon in return.

Caissie is the most well-known piece of the trade. He’s also, evidently, been a player the Marlins have targeted in talks with the Cubs in the past. The two sides reportedly had a deal in place last offseason for left-hander Jesus Luzardo that would have sent Caissie to Miami, but the agreement was scuttled after Chicago’s medical staff didn’t like something in Luzardo’s records. The 23-year-old Caissie was originally the Padres’ 2nd-round pick in the 2020 Draft before being traded to the Cubs (along with four other players) later that year (for Yu Darvish and Victor Caratini).

MLB Pipeline has ranked Caissie in the Top 100 prospects before each of the last two seasons. He made his MLB debut this past August, hitting .192/.222/.346 with a home run in 27 PA.

Hernández just turned 22 last month and spent the 2025 season with Chicago’s High-A affiliate, hitting .252/.329/.365 in 507 PA with a career-best seven homers and 52 steals. De Leon, 19 in February, hit .276/.353/.500 in 153 PA in the Arizona Complex League.

Final rosters for the World Baseball Classic are due in early February. Several notable names have already committed to playing for their home countries, but even more will be leaked in the coming weeks.

Mexico received a commitment from brothers Ramón and Luis Urías, despite both infielders remaining on the free agent market and still seeking a home for the 2026 season. The 31-year-old Ramón hit .241/.292/.384 (88 OPS+) in 391 PA between the Orioles and Astros last season, while the 28-year-old Luis batted .230/.315/.338 (82 OPS+) in 330 PA with the Athletics.

Right-hander Tatsuya Imai has decided to skip the WBC to focus on preparing for his first season with the Astros. Third baseman Kazuma Okamoto will join Team Japan, however, interrupting his first spring training with the Blue Jays.

Cuba has already announced its initial 35-man roster (though there’s time for this to change). Among the players listed are current major leaguers Andy Ibánez (Tigers), Yoan Moncada (free agent), Andy Pages (Dodgers), and Yariel Rodríguez (Blue Jays). There are several others currently active in the minor leagues. Three of the country’s best (Liván Moinello, Raidel Martínez, and Ariel Martínez) are stars in Japan’s NPB.

Notably, there have been no indications that Venezuela will have any trouble coming to Miami for the opening pool play of the tournament. The majority of the players expected to make up the Venezuela roster are current MLB and MiLB players. It appears (so far) as though this group will all be able to arrive at spring training without delays.

Some HOF-voting apropos of nothing: Félix Hernández has been named on 82 out of 140 known ballots (through noon EST on 1/7; per the Baseball HOF Tracker team). That total already exceeds his vote total from a year ago (81 out of 394 ballots).