The desert does this every February. It takes a sport that feels so far away all winter and turns it into a spring break fiesta. For anyone north of Texas, February in Arizona feels almost magical. Warm afternoons, sunsets that look airbrushed, and baseball back in your life.
Pitchers and catchers arrive first, the ballparks wake up, and suddenly your group text fills up with, “Should we just go?” and “Who’s in for opening day?”
This is your Cactus League preview, whether you’re a diehard fan or just looking for a spring baseball escape. All 15 teams arrive in Arizona in the second half of February. Below are the schedule highlights, what’s new on the roster front, and a few places where the vibes are worth planning a trip around.
Options for fun are everywhere. Hit Old Town for margaritas and Tex-Mex, then catch the Giants. Head to Camelback Ranch to see the defending champs start their 2026 run, then sneak in a sunset horseback ride. Or go north to Peoria for Mariners vs Padres before dinner and line dancing at the Buffalo Chip Saloon in Cave Creek.
Opening Weekend: The Schedule
Pitchers and catchers reported Feb 10-13, full squads start workouts Feb 15-17, and then we get to the good part. Cactus League games begin Friday, Feb 20th with a slate built on convenience and sunshine:
Diamondbacks at Rockies, 1:10 p.m.
Padres at Mariners, 1:10 p.m.
Royals at Rangers, 1:05 p.m.
White Sox at Cubs, 1:05 p.m.
Saturday expands the menu:
A’s at White Sox in Glendale, 1:05 p.m.
Padres at Royals in Surprise, 1:05 p.m.
Rangers at Cubs at Sloan Park, 1:05 p.m.
Dodgers at Angels in Tempe, 1:10 p.m.
Rockies at Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields, 1:10 p.m.
Guardians split squad at Brewers in Phoenix, 1:10 p.m.
Giants at Mariners in Peoria, 1:10 p.m.
Defending Champs Energy: Dodgers
The Dodgers are the headliner again after beating Toronto in seven games in 2025 and going back to back. And they did not sit still this offseason.
They added former Cubs All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker on a four-year, $240M deal. Tucker hit .266 with 22 homers, 73 RBIs, and an .841 OPS in 2025 and fits perfectly into a lineup built for another October run.
The bullpen also got stronger with closer Edwin Díaz, who posted 28 saves, a 1.63 ERA, and 98 strikeouts for the Mets last year. At three years and $69M, that looks like a bargain for a team that already knows how to win.
Salt River Glow-Up: Diamondbacks and Rockies
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick is about as close as spring training gets to a resort setting. Mountain views, clean sightlines, and a laid-back atmosphere that feels like a vacation with baseball attached.
Arizona made its biggest move by adding Nolan Arenado from St. Louis. It was a down year by his standards in 2025, but the glove is still elite and a fresh start could matter. They also re-signed Zac Gallen, who made 33 starts last year with 175 strikeouts. They will need more than Gallen, but the foundation is there.
Across the complex, Colorado is focused on building pitching depth after a tough 43-119 season. They added Michael Lorenzen on a one-year deal, along with veteran José Quintana and second-year arm Tomoyuki Sugano. It is a start, but there is still work to do.
Goodyear Baseball: Reds and Guardians
Cincinnati is coming off its first playoff appearance in five years and looking to keep that momentum going. Their big addition is Eugenio Suárez, who hit 49 home runs with 118 RBIs in 2025 between Arizona and Seattle.
Cleveland, the defending AL Central champs, focused early on bullpen depth. They added Colin Holderman, who struggled last season but could benefit from Cleveland’s pitching development system. Manager Stephen Vogt has already said they are looking to build out eight reliable bullpen arms, so this will be a storyline to watch all spring.
Spring training isn’t about pretending March results predict October. It’s about getting a first look at the roster, seeing how the new pieces fit, and figuring out which teams look ready and which ones still have work to do.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll hit the rest of the Cactus League and the best spots to catch them.
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