MESA, AZ — Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete-Crow Armstrong can’t wait to catch up again with former roommate Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., and hang out with one of his heroes, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper.

San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb plans to hang around as much as possible with three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, picking his brain until the future Hall of Famer gets tired of him.

Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman, who is hosting a few of his new teammates this week, including Boston Red Sox slugger Roman Anthony, wants to spend as much time as possible with New York Yankees three-time MVP Aaron Judge.

The World Baseball Classic is back, with Team USA arriving over the weekend in Arizona, joined by four other national teams. The Americans will gather for a team dinner and have their first practice Monday in Scottsdale with exhibition games Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants and Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies before flying to Houston for the first round of the WBC.

They have assembled easily their finest team in WBC history, loaded with future Hall of Famers, MVPs, Cy Young winners and All-Stars. It’s gold medal or bust after winning the WBC in 2017, but losing to Japan in the finals in 2023.

While Team USA has had difficulty attracting pitchers and a few stars like Aaron Judge in the past, this time had virtually everyone begging to play for them.

No one took a bigger financial gamble than the Detroit Tigers’ two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. He’s in line for a historic $400-million-plus contract as a free agent after the season, and everyone would have understood if he declined. He originally planned to decline, but after talking to several of his close friends who were playing, relented and signed up.

“It says a lot about him as a competitor,’ =Crow-Armstrong tells USA TODAY Sports. “It’s sick that he wants do this on his walk year. His mound presence is how a lead singer would command a crowd or a really good speaker would command the room.

“It’s almost like everybody goes silent when he takes the mound.’

Still, as much as Skubal is looking forward to representing the United States, he also realizes he needs to be smart about the potential risk. He informed Team USA he will pitch just once for perhaps two or three innings, likely March 7 against Great Britain, and return to the Tigers’ camp in Lakeland, FL.

“I’d love to do the whole thing, it’s just a timing thing,’ Skubal told reporters in Florida. “It kills me. I think I got the best of both worlds, getting a start, being in the room, learning from all those guys, but also by being healthy and pitching this season.’

Pitching just once was a perfect compromise between the Tigers, Team USA, and his agent, Scott Boras.

So, will Boras be traveling to Houston to keep an eye on Skubal?

“No,’ he told USA TODAY Sports, “I’ll be home on my couch watching with a knot in my stomach.’

USA WBC roster could have been even more loaded

Team USA could have had former MVP Mookie Betts and All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker, too, but with their wives soon due with babies, they stayed home. Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who has played in the past for Team Canada, is staying back in Dodgers camp, too. So is New York Yankees first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger, who declined an invitation, though teammate Paul Goldschmidt ended up on the team.

Minnesota Twins starter Taj Bradley elected to stay put to be with his new teammates instead of joining Team Mexico, with Jose Urquidy, Cody Ponce, Aaron Sanchez, Ramon Urias and Isaac Paredes also not playing for Mexico. Team Puerto Rico will be without Houston Astros third baseman Carlos Correa and New York Mets shortstop Francsico Lindor, while Venezuela is missing second baseman Jose Altuve.

And while four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani plans to play for Team Japan again, there won’t be a sequel to the 2023 WBC when he struck out USA captain Mike Trout to win the gold. He will strictly be a DH and won’t pitch.

“Now it’s time for us to go out there and change that script,” said Judge, USA’s team captain. “I’m excited, just like I was the day I committed. It’s going to be fun. The boys are pumped up, and it’s time to go to work.”

‘The greatest country in the world’

The WBC experience will be emotional for players like Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes and Boston Red Sox lety Garrett Whitlock. Skenes spent two years as a cadet at the Air Force Academy and still wants to serve his country when his playing career ends. Whitlock’s father, Larry, served in Vietnam, and he cried when Whitlock broke the news to him.

“That’s why it’s such an honor to me,” Whitlock told reporters in Fort Myers, FL on Saturday. “Forget the stage and everything else, but just to represent the country. I’ll never be able to sacrifice like so many of our service members do. But it’s the chance hopefully we can bring them some joy.”

Skenes, who plans to start twice in the tournament along with Webb, says he wouldn’t miss the WBC for all of the world.

“We’re doing it to represent the men and women that are fighting for us,’ Skenes said this winter, “along with many other things that make this country the greatest country in the world. That’s what I believe. That’s why I wanted to serve, why I went to the Air Force Academy.’

For Harper, who last represented USA in international competition when he was 16 years old, says he will wear No. 24 in the tournament, the number he world back in 2009 when he still was a teenager.

“There’s nothing like it,’ Harper told reporters in Clearwater, FL. “You can try to think that there is something like it, but there’s not. Being able to wear the colors of your country and represent something so much bigger than yourself …

“I’m really, really looking forward to this. We’ve got a really good group of players.’

You know the team loaded when Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, one of USA’s heroes in the 2023 WBC, declined an invitation when told he would have had to shift to second base. And Trout, who perhaps wouldn’t have been cleared for insurance anyway, wasn’t even invited.

Certainly, there will be nerves by GMs watching their pitchers perform in the event. It really isn’t a concern for position players, but pitchers musth ramp up quicker than normal, and thrown into an environment that replicates the postseason, if not greater.

“It’s a great event,’ Buster Posey, Giants president of baseball operations, said earlier this spring. “But we’ve also seen over the years that it can derail some pitchers, just because there’s no way to replicate getting yourself ready for what’s essentially a playoff baseball atmosphere in early March.”

Still, injury risk or not, or leaving their teammates behind, players absolutely love the event.

“The WBC is great, man,’ said San Diego Padres All-Star third baseman Manny Machado, who’s playing for the Dominican Republic. “I’m super excited. I think everybody in the world is waiting for it. … It’s just such a cool event. You’re playing for not just your country, not for the fans, but the people in their countries and across the world.

“I get goosebumps just talking about it because it’s such a special event.’

WBC reunion for Team USA’s rising young stars

The WBC is not only for national pride, but it breaks up the monotony of spring training. Players will stay at five-star hotels with their families, play in a postseason environment, and catch up with long-time friends.

“I think just wearing the stars and stripes across your chest is special for players,’ said Cubs starter Matthew Boyd, who will pitch for USA. “And then listening to the national anthem with the flag on your shoulder, that’s the highest honor.’

Witt, who had only three plate appearances in the last WBC, is the starting shortstop this time around, and says he can’t wait to play alongside Crow-Armstrong and infielder Brice Turang, his teammates from a U18 team.

“Even before they asked if I’d play,’’ Witt said, “the answer was yes. I loved the event just being around the guys. It was unreal.’

Now, for the first time since they were teenagers and roommates, Witt and Crow-Armstrong will be reunited on the same USA team. They were merely high school prospects at the time, manhandling the competition. Today, they are All-Stars, with Witt, 25, already establishing himself as one of the finest players in the game.

“I immediately looked up to Bob,’ Crow-Armstrong told USA TODAY Sports, “and to this day he’s probably the best player I’ve ever seen. It’s not even close. And it’s so cool what he is doing now. …

“I just feel very lucky that I get to experience something like this. I’m ready to play some real meaningful baseball and just wear those colors. I mean, I haven’t done it for some years, and getting to do it at the highest stage if going to be special.’

Yet, considering that Crow-Amstrong already has a strong friendship with Witt, there is one star he’d love hanging out with during this two-week tournament.

“Bryce Harper is the guy I’m looking forward to the most,’’ Crow-Armstrong said. “Just being around people who have coached him or played with him, I’m just very excited to see him go about his business.

“He’s been at the peak of everything for the longest time. He’s done it it in a very authentic way, in a very real way. He’s done a lot of good things for the game, but just from a behind-the-scenes perspective, I’m excited to see him.’’

Now, for the first time, they are all teammates, representing their country and going for the gold.

“I’m super proud of being an American,’ said Bregman, playing on his sixth USA team. “I take great pride in being from the United States. … It’s wearing the Stars and Stripes. You become a family and a team really quickly. Even though we’re all in different camps right now, [Monday] we’ll be in the same clubhouse.

“That’s the coolest part of it is the bond that’s created right away when you step foot in that locker room and know what’re you’re representing and what you’re playing for.’’

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Baker-Mazara’s exit from the team comes at an interesting time for the Trojans. The team had been on the first four out in USA TODAY Sports’ latest bracketology, but have lost five games in a row.

Here’s what you need to know about why Baker-Mazara left USC:

Why did Chad Baker-Mazara leave USC?

In his first year with USC ―and his sixth collegiate season ―Baker-Mazara led the Trojans with 18.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. All of his averages were career highs, as he started 22 of 26 games he appeared in for USC.

However, against Nebraska after scoring 14-first half points, Baker-Mazara exited the game three minutes into the second half after falling hard on the baseline while trying to chase down Nebraska’s Pryce Sandfort. He went to the locker room and never re-entered the game.

‘He said he couldn’t go,’ head coach Eric Musselman told reporters after the game.

According to a report from the Los Angeles Times’ Ryan Kartje, ‘it wasn’t any one incident, but an accumulation of issues that led to Baker-Mazara’s departure.’

Does Chad Baker-Mazara have any eligibility left?

After playing six collegiate seasons, Baker-Mazara is out of eligibility, effectively ending his college career.

How old is Chad Baker-Mazara?

Baker-Mazara was born on Jan. 27, 2000. That made him 26 years old during the 2025-26 college basketball season.

Chad Baker-Mazara stats

Here’s a look at Baker-Mazara’s stats in his six collegiate basketball seasons:

2020-21 (Duquesne): 9.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.9 blocks per game on 43.8% shooting, 41.7% 3-point shooting in 24.4 minutes per game (15 games, 13 starts)
2021-22 (San Diego State): 6.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks per game on 42% shooting, 39.3% 3-point shooting in 12.8 minutes per game (31 games, 0 starts)
2022-23 (Northwest Florida State): Did not play
2023-24 (Auburn): 10 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.5 blocks per game on 45.2% shooting, 41.8% 3-point shooting in 21.7 minutes per game (35 games, 9 starts)
2024-25 (Auburn): 12.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks per game on 44.8% shooting, 38.1% 3-point shooting in 25.6 minutes per game (38 games, 34 starts)
2025-26 (USC): 18.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.3 blocks per game on 44.4% shooting, 38.1% 3-point shooting in 29.6 minutes per game (26 games, 22 starts)

MLV hired former NFL front-office executive Jaime Weston as its first commissioner. Weston has a two-decade background in sports, media and culture. Before joining MLV, she spent over 15 years in the NFL as a marketing executive and also had stops at Universal Music Group and On Location in leadership roles. Weston most recently served as the Chief Commercial Officer of USA Volleyball, steering brand and commercial strategy ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

‘This is volleyball’s time,” Weston said via release. “In the U.S., the sport is female-led and female-defined, and professional women’s volleyball is not following a blueprint. It’s designing one. Major League Volleyball will build on its foundation and scale this momentum into a league that sets the standard for the future.”

‘[Jaime Weston’s] a proven sports executive who understands how to build a league, elevate athletes, and create sustained momentum,’ said Dan DeVos, Chairman of the Orlando Magic, Owner and CEO of the Grand Rapids Rise and founding member of the league. ‘Jaime brings a level of professionalism and vision that sets the tone for where this league and this sport are headed.”

As part of Weston’s hiring, Jen Spicher, who has been the president of MLV since the league’s inception, is transitioning to executive vice president, volleyball operations. Spicher will continue to oversee integrity and player experience in her new role.

The Cleveland Browns are swinging a trade to help address their need for proven talent along the offensive line.

The Browns are acquiring veteran offensive lineman Tytus Howard from the Houston Texans, the Akron Beacon Journal reports. Houston will acquire a fifth-round pick as part of the deal while the Browns will give Howard a three-year, $63 million contract extension.

Howard, 29, was a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Alabama State. He has started 93 games across his seven NFL seasons to date, spending time at right tackle and both guard positions.

In 2025 Howard logged 555 snaps at right tackle, 334 at left guard and 132 at right guard while playing 88% of Houston’s offensive snaps.

Howard’s versatility could be key for the Browns as they look to rebuild their offensive line during the offseason. All five of Cleveland’s primary starters across the offensive line in 2025 are set to be free agents during the offseason.

That’s why addressing the unit was high on new Browns coach Todd Monken’s list of priorities when asked about it at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.

‘Gotta build it up front,’ Monken said in an interview with NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. ‘It starts up front. It starts in the trenches on both sides of the ball.’

Here’s everything to know about the trade:

Tytus Howard trade details

Browns acquire:

OL Tytus Howard

Texans acquire:

2026 fifth-round pick

The Browns possess three fifth-round selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. It wasn’t immediately clear which would be sent to the Texans as part of the trade.

Houston might use that draft capital to find a replacement for Howard and a long-term bookend for 2025 second-round pick and starting left tackle Aireontae Ersery.

Tytus Howard contract details

Below is a look at the terms of Howard’s extension with the Browns:

Term: 3 years
Total value: $63 million
Average annual value (AAV): $21 million

If Howard remains at right tackle, he would be the NFL’s 17th-highest-paid offensive tackle in terms of AAV, per OverTheCap.com.

If Howard plays inside, he would be tied with Landon Dickerson as the third-highest-paid offensive guard in terms of AAV.

Noahkai Banks is considering playing for Germany’s national team instead of the USMNT.
Yunus Musah scored his first Serie A goal for Atalanta, boosting his World Cup hopes.
Christian Pulisic’s goal and assist slump continued for AC Milan.
Johnny Cardoso is earning more playing time and scored his first goal for Atlético Madrid.

Mauricio Pochettino will name his roster for March camp in two weeks, making this an imperative time for many players’ World Cup hopes.

Some Americans Abroad are putting their best foot forward, such as Johnny Cardoso and some players we won’t have time for this week like Haji Wright, Folarin Balogun and Sergiño Dest.

Others are struggling to recapture their best form, like Christian Pulisic – perhaps the U.S. men’s national team’s most vital player.

But this week’s Five will start with a player who has been consistently solid this season. The next few weeks might be determinative as to whether he represents the USMNT at the World Cup – or ever.

Noahkai Banks assists – then sets off alarms

There are few center backs who can do what Noahkai Banks can, which is why Germany seems to be making a push to snatch the 19-year-old away from the USMNT.

Banks showed his superior ability on the ball in Augsburg’s 2-0 win over FC Köln on Friday, notching the game-winning assist with a long run from the back and pinpoint cross for Rodrigo Ribeiro.

If Banks’ performance during the game got USMNT fans excited, his words after surely made them a bit terrified.

‘It’s a difficult decision regarding my nationality. I’m very torn,’ he said. ‘I’m in contact with both the USA and Germany and both national coaches.’

Banks is playing well enough to earn a USMNT call-up this month. Now, there might be much more than just a spot at the World Cup riding on whether he makes the squad.

Yunus Musah gets much-needed goal

Yunus Musah’s World Cup hopes appear to be on life support, but the midfielder did get a desperately needed boost this weekend.

After working his way into Atalanta’s rotation in December and January, Musah had played just 12 minutes in his team’s past five Serie A games leading into Sunday’s matchup at Sassuolo.

But with Atalanta down a man, Musah was introduced as a 67th-minute sub – giving him his longest run-out since January. Musah responded by scoring a late consolation for Atalanta in a 2-1 defeat. It was his first Serie A goal.

Musah has fallen out of the picture for the USMNT and it still looks like he’s on the outside looking in ahead of March camp. But the 23-year-old has World Cup experience and, finally, a small bit of momentum at the club level.

Alex Freeman’s slow start

It was never going to be easy for Alex Freeman after joining Villarreal.

The right back, who only had one season in MLS under his belt, was making a major step up, joining a Champions League-chasing side in a top-four league at midseason.

And it has indeed been tough for the 21-year-old to break into the Yellow Submarine’s rotation so far, playing in three of the six games he’s been eligible and totaling just over a half hour.

Freeman has now gone two consecutive games as an unused sub. His spot on the USMNT World Cup roster looks safe for now, but he’ll surely want to start racking up more minutes soon to make sure.

Christian Pulisic’s slump continues

It’s now March and Christian Pulisic is still looking for his first goal or assist of 2026.

Much of that can be blamed on injuries but increasingly, Pulisic is simply just in a funk when he’s on the pitch.

Pulisic started his second consecutive game for AC Milan on Saturday against Cremonese, but he missed a one-v-one chance with the goalkeeper amid another frustrating display.

The American was subbed out with 15 minutes to play and the game scoreless, with Milan going on to score two late goals to earn a 2-0 win.

The 27-year-old is still AC Milan’s co-leading scorer this season, tallying 10 goals in a red-hot first half of the campaign. But to retain his spot in Milan’s lineup and build momentum for the World Cup, he’ll want to turn things around in a hurry.

Johnny Cardoso finally rounding into form

Johnny Cardoso is finally showing why Atlético Madrid paid a reported €30 million to secure his services this summer.

The USMNT midfielder had another big week for Los Colchoneros, scoring his first goal for the club in the Champions League midweek and then starting again during the weekend in a win over Real Oviedo.

Cardoso is slowly earning Diego Simeone’s trust, having now started six of Atlético’s past seven league matches.

The question will now be whether Cardoso can earn a similar level of trust from Mauricio Pochettino, who has yet to make the midfielder a major part of his plans. With MLS options such as Sebastian Berhalter and Cristian Roldan ahead of Cardoso in the pecking order recently, a March call-up would be huge for his World Cup chances.

Keelon Russell can change the narrative around Kalen DeBoer and dial down pressure, if he breaks out this season at Alabama.
Tennessee whiffed on a transfer and in court. Don’t panic. George MacIntyre (and Josh Heupel) remain.
Bill Belichick will put his trust in a transfer at North Carolina, but which one?

College quarterback competitions are going the way of the fullback position. They’re an endangered species. It’s become rare for a college football team to not enter spring practice knowing who’ll be its starting quarterback.

Nowadays, most quarterback decisions are settled in the winter. Either a team plucks its new starter from the transfer portal, or it pays to retain an incumbent quarterback that it fully intends to be its starter.

Teams like Ohio State, Mississippi, Oregon, Texas and Georgia kept talented, established quarterbacks. No drama. No fuss. They know their starters.

Other teams, like LSU, Miami and Texas Tech, spent big to purchase an A-list starter from the portal. No fuss here, either. These teams know their starters.

That still leaves a smattering of teams without either an established starter returning or a plug-and-play transfer. At these outposts, we can expect an old-fashioned quarterback battle. Remember those?

With spring practice upon us, here are five quarterback competitions I can’t stop thinking about:

Alabama

Top contenders: Keelon Russell, Austin Mack

Kalen DeBoer’s future will be linked to how Alabama’s quarterback position develops. He got this job, in part, because of what he did with Michael Penix Jr. at Washington. Alabama hasn’t shown that type of offensive firepower.

If Alabama’s quarterbacks fizzle in 2026, DeBoer’s seat will begin to sizzle. But, hold off on that hot seat, because Russell could be the real deal. If he becomes a breakout star, that would buoy belief in DeBoer.

Russell, a former-five star recruit signed by DeBoer, offers the most upside. Mack returns as more of a veteran. His ties to DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb trace to Washington, before Mack followed DeBoer to Alabama. Mack got tapped to finish the blowout Rose Bowl loss after starter Ty Simpson exited.

Best possibility: Russell lives up to his recruiting hype and seizes this job by April. He gives the Tide the loftier ceiling.

North Carolina

Top contenders: Billy Edwards Jr., Taron Dickens, Miles O’Neill

Bill Belichick will start a transfer, but which one? The Tar Heels brought in a bundle of options, just not a slam dunk. It’ll be new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’s job to effectively sort through it all — or else Belichick will head to the hot seat.

Behind Door No. 1: Edwards. He was a mid-level producer in the Big Ten as Maryland’s starter in 2024, before a knee injury sidelined him last year at Wisconsin.

Behind Door No. 2: Dickens. His FCS stats look terrific. Oh, but there’s this: He’s listed at 5-11, 180 pounds.

Behind Door No. 3: O’Neill. Petrino previously coached him at Texas A&M. O’Neill became the backup there.

Behind Door No. 4: They all go bust, and UNC ponders a buyout check.

Best possibility: Edwards gets healthy and provides a dependable floor. Dickens smoothly levels up (hey, Trinidad Chambliss did it at Ole Miss) and offers an intriguing alternative.

Virginia

Top contenders: Beau Pribula, Eli Holstein

Sure seemed like Virginia had its quarterback situation settled when it plundered Pribula. He’s a dual threat who went 6-2 as Missouri’s starter, before suffering an ankle injury.

Then, days after securing Pribula, Virginia doubled down by adding Holstein, another transfer. He was Pittsburgh’s starter until losing his grip on the job midway through last season.

The last time we saw each quarterback, Pribula was faring better than Holstein. That makes the Missouri transfer the man to beat. If you can start in the SEC, no reason you can’t thrive in the ACC. Holstein’s own starting experience, though, adds an element of intrigue. Let’s not forget, Holstein won his first seven games as Pitt’s starter in 2024.

So, it’s Pribula or Holstein, right? Well, wait just a minute. This being college football in the year 2026, a judge must have a word on this. Virginia’s old starter, Chandler Morris, is suing for a seventh year of eligibility, because who’d want to enter the real world if there’s a path toward being a perpetual college quarterback?

Best possibility: Pribula returns from injury with a vengeance. Virginia needs the guy who shredded Kansas in a rivalry win for Missouri.

Tennessee

Top contenders: George MacIntyre, Faizon Brandon, Ryan Staub

This one’s already had more dead ends than a corn maze. Tennessee tried for a big-time transfer. No luck. Then, Joey Aguilar went to court to chase his dream of being the Vols’ eighth-year senior, but a judge denied him.

That offseason theater overshadowed that Tennessee might possess a fine option in MacIntyre, a redshirt freshman who’s plenty talented. Is he durable? He’s tall, thin and untested. Brandon, a five-star rookie, is even greener. Staub, a former Colorado backup, provides a safety valve behind the ballyhooed youngsters.

The situation might be especially troubling, if not for coach Josh Heupel’s solid record for quarterback development. Last year, UCLA decided it didn’t want Aguilar to be its starter. So, Heupel grabbed him and turned him into the SEC’s passing yards per game leader. Who’s next?

Best possibility: MacIntyre proves himself sturdy and steady and calms concerns about his slendor frame.

Iowa

Top contenders: Jeremy Hecklinski, Hank Brown

Don’t you wonder what Iowa could do if it ever produced a good quarterback? Not even elite, just really good.

Iowa’s last 300-yard passing game? That came in a time before the words “coronavirus” and “COVID” were part of our everyday vocabulary.

The Hawkeyes quietly extended their streak to 13 consecutive winning seasons last year with a quarterback whose only 200-yard passing game came in a bowl victory against Vanderbilt. Despite the aerial limitations, the Hawkeyes’ offense improved with Mark Gronowski at the trigger, but he was one-and-done.

Hecklinski and Brown were in the program last year as backups. Neither played much. Hecklinski enjoys an inside edge, with a higher upside.

Best scenario: Let’s face it, Iowa being really good at quarterback probably remains a pipe dream, so just stay solid elsewhere on the roster.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.