MLB Player News

Villar could well prove to be a solid mixed-league option if the Angels are going to lead him off every game. He got the nod there again today despite going 0-for-7 with four strikeouts and a walk in his first two games with his new team.

The free-swinging 27-year-old outfielder slashed a putrid .147/.281/.253 with three homers, 10 RBI and a 57/24 K/BB ratio in 178 plate appearances with the Pirates during the 2025 season. He has serious pop in his left-handed bat, which may be enough for another team to take a chance on him on waivers or in a trade despite his swing-and-miss issues.

The Giants are going to keep him limited over the next week or so in an effort to combat the issue. Peguero is expected to be a key cog in the club’s bullpen for the 2026 season, so they’ll need to make sure that he’s healthy and ready to go by the end of March.

Fraizer, 34, slashed a respectable .267/.319/.365 with seven homers, 44 RBI, eight swipes and an 81/26 K/BB ratio over 459 plate appearances between the Pirates and Royals in 2025. With a strong showing in Cactus League play, he could win himself a reserve role on the Halos’ Opening Day roster.

The superstar outfielder said he just never felt comfortable while playing in right field and felt like it was actually more running and more taxing on his body than what he was doing while playing center. The 34-year-old slugger also said he feels good about where his swing is at heading into 2026. We’ll likely never see a return to the stratospheric numbers that Trout was putting up in his prime, but he can still be a viable mid-round fantasy option once again in 2026.

The 26-year-old slugger is hopeful that he’ll be back in time to appear in at least a couple of Cactus League contests before spring training concludes. Even if that does happen though, he’s still likely to open the season on the injured list and will require plenty of at-bats on a rehab assignment to make up for the missed time during the spring.

The 32-year-old hurler will earn $1.75 million if he makes the Nationals’ roster and has the ability to earn an additional $1.25 million in incentives. Smith missed the entire 2025 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery but is now fully recovered and ready to roll for the start of spring training.

The 31-year-old split his 2025 campaign between the Blue Jays and Twins, slashing .257/.320/.360 with seven homers, 52 RBI and an 83/22 K/BB ratio over 490 plate appearances. France, who’s best work has always come against left-handed pitching, could wind up as a potential platoon option with Gavin Sheets at first base in the event that the Padres decide Nick Castellanos is better suited for the outfield.

No word yet on the financial terms or the duration of the deal. Several Padres’ players, including Manny Machado, had mentioned to the media over the weekend that Preller was deserving of an extension — especially after adding Nick Castellanos to the team’s lineup for the MLB minimum salary. Look for Preller to continue at the helm of baseball operations for the foreseeable future in San Diego.

The dynamic 22-year-old suffered a broken hamate bone in his right wrist as he was plunked during a live batting practice session. Holliday noted his disappointment, saying that he felt as though he had crushed his offseason routine and that his swing was in a great place entering spring training. If he only misses a couple of weeks, it shouldn’t impact his fantasy draft stock too drastically, though there are serious questions about what the injury will do to his power output.

Casas noted, “I don’t see myself participating with the group, but I will be doing the same activities baseball-wise... But as of right now, I haven’t had the clearance to get out there and participate with the group, but I will take ground balls and continue to hit at my own pace, without the structure of being in a team workout.” His entire rehab from the knee injury has been shrouded in mystery, but it’s at least encouraging to see him in uniform and doing baseball activities. It remains unclear how he’ll factor into the Red Sox’ lineup mix once healthy following the addition of Willson Contreras to be the team’s regular first baseman.