MLB Player News

One would think MLB could have stepped in here and made Castillo a free agent once the Red Sox wrote him off and sentenced him to spend the duration of his contract in Pawtucket for luxury tax purposes, but as these things tend to work, it would have taken the media to guilt them into it. Castillo is finally entering the last year of his seven-year, $72.5 million deal now. One can’t really blame for the Red Sox for their part in this, given the luxury tax ramifications of putting him back on the 40-man roster, but Castillo deserves the same chance of playing in the majors that every other minor leaguer gets, even if his contract ensures that no one need feel too sorry for him.

Pereda is off the 40-man roster with the signings of Victor Caratini and Tyler Rogers now official. Pereda is just a depth piece, but teams are always looking for catching so there could be interest on the wire.

Ohl gets the boot with the Twins making the signings of Tyler Rogers and Victor Caratini official. Ohl, 26, will now hit the waiver wire, and a team looking for depth in their pitching ranks could give him a shot.

Rogers is back in Minnesota, the spot where it all started for the 35-year-old. He forged a 3.38 ERA with a 53/23 K/BB ratio over his 50 2/3 innings with the Cubs and Reds in 2025, and he should be a high-leverage option for the Twins — maybe one who sees some save chances — in 2026.

Caratini will likely see time behind the plate, at first base and as the designated hitter. There is some offensive upside in his bat and performed well in 2025 with the Astros, but this is more of a high-floor than a high-ceiling fantasy player.

Marte spent the 2025 season with the Chunichi Dragons in Japan. The right-hander last pitched in the majors in 2024 while with the Phillies, and he’s forged a 5.64 ERA over 113 1/3 innings across 102 MLB appearances. The 30-year-old will compete for a bullpen spot in the Cactus League.

Montes de Oca is recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in September of 2024, and there’s a decent chance he won’t be ready for the start of the season. The 6-foot-7 right-hander has a chance to contribute to the Nationals’ bullpen when healthy, but will need to be added to the 40-man roster to join that group.

Roberts forged a 4.21 ERA in the minors with the Brewers and Marlins; with the latter acquring the right-hander in an August trade. He’ll provide org depth, and need to be added to the 40-man roster to pitch for Texas.

Díaz has made a couple of appearances for Seattle over the past couple seasons without much success. The left-hander is now off the 40-man roster and on the waiver wire to make room for the recently-acquired Cooper Criswell.

Criswell was designated for assignment by the Mets on Wednesday. The 29-year-old is capable of working multiple innings, and he’ll compete for one of the final bullpen spots for Seattle this spring.

Ort was claimed off waivers from the Astros in early January but will now be let go to make room for Michael Siani. Ort posted a 4.89 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 49/27 K/BB ratio across 46 innings out of the Astros’ bullpen in 2025 and should get a look with another organization.