MLB Player News

He struck out four, walked one, and seven of the eight hits were singles, so Jackson easily could have come out of the outing with less damage to his ERA. That he’s given up 27 hits in 17 1/3 innings has held him back, but Jackson does have an impressive 14/2 K/BB ratio. He may not have much value in NL-only formats until he gets a little more seasoning in the minors, but he can be used against the Royals later this week.

It’s worth $12 million, according to The Athletic’s Katie Woo. Arraez wanted to play second base, and the Giants have decided to give it a try, though they would have room for him as a first baseman/DH if they need to send down Bryce Eldridge. Initially, though, it’ll be Casey Schmitt he’s displacing from the lineup. Arraez, of course, will be bringing three batting titles with him to San Francisco, but his OPS+s have dipped from 128 in both 2022 and ’23 to 107 in 2024 and 99 last season with the Padres. Given his lack of defensive value, he really needs to rebound beyond his 2024 production to be a quality regular.

Thaiss fortifies Boston’s catching depth chart behind starter Carlos Narváez and backup Connor Wong. The 30-year-old backstop could potentially push Wong for the backup role in spring training but figures to open the year at Triple-A Worcester. He batted .218/.349/.288 with one homer across 190 plate appearances between the Rays and White Sox this past season.

Díaz will test the open market instead of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Tacoma. The 29-year-old swingman represents quality organizational depth at this stage of his career and should be able to latch on somewhere ahead of spring training. He’s made 17 appearances at the major-league level since 2021 between the Mariners and Angels.

Ortiz didn’t pitch last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 30-year-old middle reliever has made 24 appearances in the majors between the Phillies, Giants and Orioles since 2018. He’ll likely have to settle for a minor league contract but would represent a decent bullpen option for another club.

Pint — the fourth overall selection in the 2016 MLB Draft — hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2024 and was out of organized ball altogether last year. The hard-throwing 28-year-old reliever will be in camp with the Padres as a low-risk reclamation project and is merely extra organizational depth at this juncture of his career.

Feinsand adds that Arraez is prioritizing a return to second base, which could wind up being a significant factor in his decision. The 28-year-old hasn’t generated any buzz this offseason as his contact-oriented skillset offers limited appeal, especially at a premium power position like first base. A transition back to the keystone would boost his immediate fantasy value, but his appeal is strictly limited to deeper mixed leagues as a one-category batting average stabilizer.

Musgrove represents a clear rebound candidate after missing last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. The durability concerns aren’t going away as he enters his mid-30’s but his track record as a consistent mid-rotation starter keeps him fantasy relevant. He’ll be worth monitoring closely during Cactus League outings and should be a top-75 range starting pitcher in drafts this spring.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said shortly afterwards that Ohtani will not pitch during the international showcase. It sounds like Ohtani will focus on ramping up his throwing program this spring while serving exclusively as Japan’s full-time DH. The 31-year-old two-way superstar will open the regular season as part of the Dodgers’ six-man rotation mix. He’ll be the first-overall selection in nearly every fantasy draft this spring.

Ryan remains on track for a normal spring training after missing all of last season recovering from elbow surgery that he underwent back in 2024. The 27-year-old top pitching prospect will be worth monitoring closely in camp to see how his stuff rebounds, but he’s likely ticketed for Triple-A Oklahoma City to open the year given the Dodgers’ surplus of established rotation options. He could make a significant impact for fantasy managers when injuries take their inevitable toll and create a path for him to pitch in Los Angeles.

Graterol missed last season recovering from shoulder surgery and figures to be brought along slowly this spring following the extended layoff. The hard-throwing 27-year-old is a true X-factor for Los Angeles’ bullpen mix but he’s likely ticketed for middle relief with Edwin Díaz, Tanner Scott and Alex Vesia handling the high-leverage work.