MLB Player News

Nevin was fired as the Yankees third base coach last month. Rosenthal also notes that the team has been talking to Wayne Kirby -- who spent the previous two seasons with the Padres -- about their first base coach vacancy.

Santana was a crucial part of the Pirates’ bullpen in 2025, taking over the closer’s role when David Bednar was demoted to Triple-A and then again later after Bednar was traded to the Yankees. He threw 70 1/3 innings with a 2.18 ERA, 0.867 WHIP, and 60/17 K/BB ratio while recording 16 saves. He will likely form a closer committee in 2026 with newly signed left-hander Gregory Soto.

Cleavinger has been perhaps the most impactful left-handed reliever in Tampa Bay for years now. Over the last four years, he’s recorded eight saves with a 2.96 ERA, 1.087 WHIP, and 192/59 K/BB ratio in 152 innings pitched. He will continue to be a crucial part of their bullpen in 2026.

Okert pitched 71 2/3 innings for the Astros last year, logging a 3.01 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 84/19 K/BB ratio. He was also an impactful reliever for the Marlins back in 2021-22 and will be a key part of the Astros bullpen again.

Bellinger hit .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs for the Yankees last season and reportedly would like to return to the Yankees next season; however, the two sides appear to be at an impasse due to the length of a proposed contract. Kuty reports that Bellinger and his agent, Scott Boras, are looking for a six or seven-year deal, and the Yankees don’t appear willing to match that request at this time. The two sides clearly want a reunion, and it certainly still seems possible, but it might take a bit longer.

Heineman appeared in 61 games for the Blue Jays in 2025, hitting .289/.361/.416 with three home runs in 174 plate appearances. He should continue to serve as the backup quarterback in Toronto.

Shim is just 21 years old and was given a $750K bonus by the Pirates as one of the better pitchers in the 2023 international free agent class. Unfortunately, he has been limited to just 26 1/3 innings in the minors since then because of various injuries. It’s an interesting gamble for the Mets.

The 33-year-old spent most of the 2025 season in the Diamondbacks organization before getting released in August while he was on the minor league injured list. He had just an 8.10 ERA and 2.40 WHIP in 3 1/3 MLB innings and has a 4.85 ERA and 10.7% walk rate in his career.

The 24-year-old spent most of 2025 at Triple-A Indianapolis, but hit only .209 with a .578 OPS. However, he can play all over the infield and is a good defender, so it makes sense that a team that loves Taylor Walls would also like Cheng.

Wesneski posted a 4.50 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 29/6 K/BB ratio in six starts (32 innings) for the Astros in 2025 before being sidelined with an elbow injury. He later underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of May and will likely not return to Houston until some point in the summer of 2026.

Although he wound up with a 4.64 ERA in 141 2/3 innings for the Royals last season, Lorenzen gets the second-highest salary of his career to go take on Coors Field. Unfortunately, he’s no longer the groundball pitcher he used to be — he’s been well below his career norm there three years running — but he’ll probably take some steps to change that while dealing with the game’s worst environment for pitchers. He’ll join Kyle Freeland and Chase Dollander as the sure things in the Colorado rotation. As is, it’s Tanner Gordon, Ryan Feltner and McCade Brown for the last two spots, but one imagines the Rockies will try to bring in at least one more veteran.