MLB Player News

Schmidt, the 23rd overall pick, will miss the entire 2008 season while he recovers from the procedure.

According to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, Johnson will make $5.5 million in 2026 and then get a $1 million buyout of his $8 million mutual option. Well, he didn’t actually say that, but that’s how it always works out. Johnson’s 3.05 ERA last season was his best mark in his five relatively full major league campaigns, but his strikeout rate fell for a second straight year; he came in at 32% from 2020-23, 28% in 2024 and 25% last year. He’s also a pretty big flyball pitcher while throwing his curve about 70% of the time, and GABP doesn’t seem like a great park for him. He figures to join Tony Santillan in a setup role in front of Emilio Pagán.

Zulueta has posted a 5.32 ERA over 23 2/3 innings in brief looks with the Reds the last two years, but his mid-90s fastball and slider helped him amass a 31.2% strikeout rate in Triple-A last season. Odds are that some team will decide to give him a look and claim him off waivers.

The Mets needed some extra pool money to sign top international prospect Wandy Asigen, who recently committed to them after a deal with the Yankees fell apart. That worked out great for the Guardians, who don’t like spending money. Gomez was the Mets’ No. 22 prospect, according to Baseball America. The 20-year-old, an international signing in 2022, had a 2.76 ERA in 71 2/3 innings for two A-ball teams last season.

A second-round pick of the Rays back in 2013, Unroe, who never has gotten the chance to play in the majors, has hit .246/.345/.353 with 58 homers and 155 steals in 4,219 plate appearances over 12 seasons in the minors. Last year was one of his best efforts, as he finished at .278/.397/.409 in 68 games as a part-timer for Triple-A Toledo. He also ended up with a 0.84 ERA in seven relief appearances, though that’s because eight of the nine runs he allowed were unearned.

The 30-year-old Oliva, whose major league experience consists of going 10-for-56 with the Pirates between 2020 and ’21, is still out there hoping for another chance. He hit .252/.335/.413 with 57 steals in 63 tries while playing for Milwaukee’s Triple-A affiliate last season.

Halligan had a 4.40 ERA and a 66/27 K/BB over 57 1/3 innings, most of them win Double-A, while pitching in the Braves and Astros systems last season, but he’d recently impressed in Puerto Rico, amassing a 2.82 ERA and a 30/6 K/BB in 22 1/3 innings of winter ball. If the 26-year-old ever reaches the majors, he’ll be the second Halligan to do so; Jocko Halligan hit .281/.359/.403 for the Reds, Orioles and the Buffalo Bisons from 1890-92.

Team USA already has both Bobby Witt Jr. and Gunnar Henderson rostered, so the assumption is that Handerson would play third base. Obviously, the team now has another strong option there if Henderson proves shaky. Or perhaps Mark DeRosa will just bypass Henderson altogether and go with the safe choice at the hot corner.

The Rockies needed to make room for Michael Lorenzen on the 40-man roster, so Blalock was the choice to be let go. The 25-year-old posted a 9.36 ERA in 58 2/3 innings for the Rockies last season.

The deal was reported on January 7th and is now official. The 34-year-old had a 4.64 ERA in 141 2/3 innings last season and no longer has the groundball profile we’d like to see in a pitcher going to Colorado. This seems like a situation to avoid in fantasy leagues.

Nunez Jr. is the 6th-ranked player in the international class, according to MLB.com. He hit .350 with 11 RBI in eight games for Colombia’s U15 team at the World Cup in August 2024. He has an advanced eye and feel at the plate and burgeoning power. He also seems like a lock to remain in center field and emerge as a plus defender, which gives him a safer floor than most international prospects.