MLB Player News

Schlitter has been the closer this season at Vegas, where he holds a 3.89 ERA and 27/5 K/BB ratio over 34 2/3 innings. The 33-year-old hasn’t appeared in the majors since 2015.

Cleveland continues loading up on experienced high-leverage relief arms this offseason with Armstrong becoming the latest addition to their setup mix. He figures to operate in a versatile setup role behind young stopper Cade Smith. The 35-year-old journeyman was outstanding for the Rangers this past season, converting a career-high nine saves to accompany a sparkling 2.31 ERA — 3.07 FIP — 0.81 WHIP and 74/20 K/BB ratio across 74 innings. His 26.1 percent strikeout rate was his highest single-season mark in nearly a half decade.

Sullivan offers plenty of defensive versatility as a part-time option at catcher with the ability to also play multiple infield positions. The 31-year-old got into three games for the Pirates this past season but has accumulated 112 plate appearances over 43 games in the big leagues since 2023. He’s merely a depth addition at this stage of his career.

Webb has been one of the most durable workhorses in the fantasy landscape since for nearly a past half-decade, eclipsing 32 starts in four of the last five seasons. The central question for fantasy purposes is how he’ll respond to a different ramp-up process and the impact pitching high-stress innings during the March showcase will have on his season. The 29-year-old fantasy ace is coming off arguably the most complete season of his career where he posted a stellar 3.22 ERA — 2.60 FIP — and 224/46 K/BB ratio across 207 innings over 34 starts. He’ll be an early round selection in all fantasy drafts next spring.

After six years in japan, Austin apparently will step in as Justin Turner’s replacement in Chicago and start at first against some lefties. The former Yankee and Twin hit .269/.350/.484 with 11 homers in 65 games for the Yokohama BayStars last season. He came in at .239/.377/.568 with 85 homers over 403 career games in the Central League. Passan says he’ll be guaranteed $1.25 million by the Cubs.

If you’ve heard Peek’s name before, it’s because he was the Orioles’ return when they traded Dylan Bundy to the Angels six years ago, right before Bundy’s one really impressive (albeit shortened) season in the majors in 2020 (he had a 3.29 ERA and was listed on three Cy Young ballots). Peek, now 27, has since topped out in Double-A, finishing with a 3.63 ERA and a 75/31 K/BB in 69 1/3 innings in the Brewers system last season.

Peters was designated for assignment on Tuesday. The 25-year-old made his major league debut with the Rays last season, going 0-for-12 with seven strikeouts. He hit .266/.355/.429 with 15 homers and 11 steals in his second season in Triple-A. While his approach is sound, he doesn’t offer enough defense in center or offense in a corner to project as lasting major leaguer. The White Sox, though, will have outfield at-bats available, especially if they trade Luis Robert Jr.

Hunt, the Padres’ second-round pick in 2017, returns to the organization five years after being shipped off to Tampa Bay in the Blake Snell trade. He spent last year with the Mariners’ Triple-A club, hitting .272/.368/.452 for Tacoma. Unfortunately, while his bat is solid, his subpar defense has kept him from being considered for a backup gig. He’ll probably head back to the PCL next season.

Curtiss, 32, had a 3.93 ERA in 30 appearances for the Diamondbacks last season, though he struck out only 24 in 36 2/3 innings. Arizona removed him from the 40-man after the season, but he’ll be back to compete for a bullpen spot in spring training.

Control problems have kept Yabbour from making it out of A-ball, but he has a nice arm. Unfortunately, that produced a 54/42 K/BB and a 5.75 ERA between Low-A and High-A last season.

It’s worth $4.5 million, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Gordon Wittenmyer, so it’s a 50% raise for Ferguson over the $3 million he came away with last time around. The 29-year-old had a 3.58 ERA for the Pirates and Mariners last season, but that came with a greatly diminished 19% strikeout rate after he’d never finished below 26% previously. He’ll compete for a setup role in front of Emilio Pagán.