MLB Player News

The 27-year-old third baseman spent the first seven seasons of his minor league career in the Nationals organization -- most recently hitting .269/.322/.513 with 18 homers and 66 RBI across three levels in 2019. He absolutely raked for the Fargo-Moorhead Hawks in the independent American Association in 2020, slashing .335/.407/.633 with 17 homers and 45 RBI in 58 games. He’ll add corner infield depth for the Tigers.

Ibáñez signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Dodgers in the middle of January, but was designated for assignment less than a month later. The 32-year-old hit .239/.301/.352 for the Tigers last season and could platoon with Jeff McNeil this upcoming season, getting his starts mainly against left-handed pitchers.

Brasier pitched just 26 innings for the Cubs last season, thanks to a groin injury. He posted a 4.50 ERA, but his underlying metrics were more promising, and he was undone by an elevated .321 BABIP. If Brasier is healthy following his groin injury, he has a good chance to win a bullpen job.

Olson strained his shoulder in July and had resumed throwing in December, but it now appears that he may not be ready to start the season. If Olson were to be delayed to start the season, that would mean that Drew Anderson and Troy Melton would battle for the fifth starter spot in Detroit.

The 29-year-old is a .238/.287/.342 hitter with 15 homers and a 21.3 percent strikeout rate in 1,032 MLB plate appearances, but he can play a few positions around the infield and has been a solid minor league hitter over his career. He could provide infield depth at a few spots if he wins a minor league job.

After trading Blaze Alexander to the Orioles on Thursday, the Diamondbacks opened the door for Lawlar or Tim Tawa to get starts in left field. Lawlar had previously been only an infielder as a prospect, but he played center field during winter ball and seems to be moving to the outfield in 2026. “You’re going to see him work in the infield some as we move into spring training,” explained Hazan. “I think the majority of his work is going to come in the outfield.” The 23-year-old top prospect battled through injuries in 2025 and failed to produce in his brief MLB at-bats, but continued to show good skills in the minors and could finally get a shot this season.

Worth a flier. The Astros had Rodgers try swinging harder last year, and it did lead to improved exit velocity but also a lot more strikeouts in the 43 games in which he was healthy. Whether things might have gotten better is hard to say, since injuries wiped out the final 3 1/2 months of the season for him. He’s pretty obviously a weaker bet than Romy Gonzalez as a right-handed second base option at this point, but perhaps there’s still some potential to be tapped into after he spent his first nine years as a pro in baseball’s most backwards organization.

Cedeño, a former Cardinals prospect, spent the last three years in Japan and played in a total of 229 games with a .246/.297/.412 line. He’s still only 27, but he seems more like a Triple-A guy than someone who will be of much help in the majors.

Báez received an unannounced two-year ban from international play that expires in April. This has nothing to do with his MLB status, as recreational marijuana usage isn’t banned by the league. Báez was hoping to suit up for Puerto Rico for the third time this year.

Puerto Rico’s roster has been devastated by the tournament’s issue securing insurance for players, with Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Victor Caratini, José Berríos and Emilio Pagán all having to stay home. The team has little rotation depth behind Lugo, although Yankees prospect Elmer Rodríguez might surprise. The lineup could look something like: RF Heliot Ramos, CF Willi Castro, DH Eddie Rosario, 3B Nolan Arenado, 1B Emmanuel Rivera, C Christian Vázquez, LF Carlos Cortes/MJ Melendez, SS Edwin Arroyo, 2B Darell Hernaiz.

Team Canada will miss Freddie Freeman, but it can still run out a pretty respectable lineup of SS Otto Lopez, 2B Edouard Julien, 1B Josh Naylor, RF Tyler O’Neill, LF Owen Caissie, DH Jared Young, C Bo Naylor, 3B Abraham Toro and CF Denzel Clarke. Jameson Taillon and Michael Soroka will lead the pitching staff, which also includes retired former major leaguers James Paxton and Phillippe Aumont.