MLB Player News

Fontana will replace C.J. Cron on the active roster. The 25-year-old was claimed off waivers from the Astros over the winter and was batting .265/.374/.426 with five home runs and 25 RBI through 38 games this season in Triple-A.

Rogers provides Toronto with an elite setup specialist to help bridge the gap to closer Jeff Hoffman. The 34-year-old submariner is coming off the strongest campaign of his career where he recorded a microscopic 1.98 ERA — 2.88 FIP — and 16.1 percent strikeout rate across 77 1/3 innings over a league-high 81 appearances between the Giants and Mets. He’s been one of the most durable workhorse relievers in baseball, making a staggering 374 appearances over the past half-decade. The deal includes a $12 million vesting option for 2029 that converts after 110 appearances from 2027-2028 or 60 appearances in 2028.

Bruihl has been jettisoned from Toronto’s relief mix to make room for side-winder Tyler Rogers. The 28-year-old lefty posted a pedestrian 5.27 ERA — 4.16 FIP — and 27.7 percent strikeout rate across 13 2/3 innings for the Blue Jays this past season.

Herrera fortifies Texas’ organizational catching depth after hitting .187/.285/.259 with two homers and 17 RBI in 204 plate appearances over 57 games this past season with the Diamondbacks. The 28-year-old backstop spent the first 11 seasons of his career with Arizona. He’ll serve as an emergency option for the Rangers next season behind Danny Jansen and Kyle Higashioka.

Veneziano, 28, has a 3.98 ERA and a 40/16 K/BB in 40 2/3 innings with the Royals, Marlins and Cardinals over the last three seasons. He’ll compete for a spot in a Texas bullpen that has plenty of openings at the moment.

Darvish had internal brace and flexor tendon surgery last month and will miss all of 2026. It sure sounded at the time that he intended to come back from it, but it won’t be an easy road at age 39. Darvish is owed $43 million over the next three seasons, though he might walk away if he doesn’t think he can perform.

The Phillies were never willing to give Crawford a try last season, even as he was on his way to hitting .334/.411/.452 in Triple-A. Crawford, who turns 22 next month, is a rather controversial prospect, in part because he’s an extreme groundball hitter and because his defense in center isn’t as good as his speed would suggest. Still, he hits the ball pretty hard, he’s improved his K/BB as he’s climbed the ladder and he’s an excellent basestealer. He’d have some mixed-league potential if he proves to be an everyday guy.

Sato, a right-hander who turns 21 in two days, is viewed as one of Japan’s top young pitching talents with his high-90s fastball and was a candidate to go first in their draft in 2026. In moving to the U.S., he probably won’t pitch in college next season and instead wait for 2027 to potentially enter the MLB draft. He’d still have the option of returning to Japan but that’s clearly not the goal here.

Presumably, that will only kick if Díaz suffers a specific injury that costs him most or all of one of the next three seasons. Should that happen, the Mets could keep him around at a nice discount for one extra year. Díaz’s deal includes a $9 million signing bonus and salaries of $14 million next season and $23 million in 2027 and ’28. $4.5 million will be deferred each season.

Perez, who homered in his lone plate appearance, was playing first base before leaving with an apparent thumb injury. He posted a video of himself working out today, so it doesn’t seem to be a significant problem. Perez is 6-for-29 with two homers in nine games for Caracas.

Canario is hitting just .186 in 82 plate appearances, but he does have four homers and he’s 7-for-7 stealing bases. There was speculation earlier this month that the 25-year-old might make his way to Japan after being non-tendered by the Pirates. He’ll probably have to take a minor league deal if he signs with an MLB team.