MLB Player News

MLB Player News
MLB Free Agent Tracker
Dynasty Ranks
Videos
Columns
- American League East
- American League Central
- American League West
- National League East
- National League Central
- National League West
- American League East
  
  Baltimore Orioles
  
  Boston Red Sox
  
  New York Yankees
  
  Tampa Bay Rays
  
  Toronto Blue Jays
- American League Central
  
  Chicago White Sox
  
  Cleveland Guardians
  
  Detroit Tigers
  
  Kansas City Royals
  
  Minnesota Twins
- American League West
  
  Houston Astros
  
  Los Angeles Angels
  
  Athletics
  
  Seattle Mariners
  
  Texas Rangers
- National League East
  
  Atlanta Braves
  
  Miami Marlins
  
  New York Mets
  
  Philadelphia Phillies
  
  Washington Nationals
- National League Central
  
  Chicago Cubs
  
  Cincinnati Reds
  
  Milwaukee Brewers
  
  Pittsburgh Pirates
  
  St. Louis Cardinals
- National League West
  
  Arizona Diamondbacks
  
  Colorado Rockies
  
  Los Angeles Dodgers
  
  San Diego Padres
  
  San Francisco Giants
Stats

Rotoworld

Manny Bañuelos

INT Relief Pitcher #53

Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players
Pirates designated LHP Manny Bañuelos for assignment.

The 31-year-old southpaw made it back to the big leagues for the first time since 2019 in 2022 -- posting a 4.39 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 42/21 K/BB ratio over 41 innings in 35 appearances between the Yankees and Pirates. He’s still talented enough that there may be another club willing to take a shot on him on waivers.
Related
- Manny Banuelos
Transaction

Link copied to clipboard!
Ezequiel Duran

TEX 3rd Baseman #20

Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players

Rangers signed INF/OF Ezequiel Duran to a one-year, $1.375 million deal to avoid arbitration.

The 26-year-old utilityman had a brutal season offensively in 2025, slashing a cringe-inducing .224/.266/.293 with zero home runs, 14 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 219 plate appearances for the Rangers. He’ll continue to function in a super utility role for the Rangers in 2026 and can be safely ignored for fantasy purposes.

Transaction

Link copied to clipboard!

Okamoto could be 'undervalued' 2026 fantasy asset

January 5, 2026 04:43 PM

The Blue Jays continued their strong offseason by adding Japanese star Kazuma Okamoto on a four-year deal, leaving Eric Samulski to assess what his presence means for Toronto's offseason plans and fantasy assets.

Up Next

1:34

Okamoto could be ‘undervalued’ 2026 fantasy asset

Now Playing

2:06

Astros’ Imai could exceed expectations in 2026

Now Playing

1:37

Marlins’ Fairbanks a ‘top 15' closer in fantasy

Now Playing

1:43

Soderstrom a ‘solid’ fantasy pick in middle rounds

Now Playing

2:22

Red Sox land first baseman Contreas from Cardinals

Now Playing

2:04

Murakami has to improve on ‘contact issues’ in MLB

Now Playing

2:03

Will Pirates make more moves this offseason?

Now Playing

1:57

Is Finnegan or Suárez better option in fantasy?

Now Playing

2:06

Can Cease be ace, Bieber stay healthy for Toronto?

Now Playing

2:01

Fallout of Alonso’s reported signing with BAL

Now Playing
Jake Burger

TEX 1st Baseman #21

Rangers signed INF Jake Burger to a one-year, $3.2 million deal to avoid arbitration.

The agreed upon amount comes in slightly under the $3.5 million that Burger was projected to earn by MLBTradeRumors.com. His first season with the Rangers didn’t go according to plan, as the 29-year-old slugger slashed a meager .236/.269/.419 with 16 round trippers and 53 RBI in 376 plate appearances. He’s still locked in as the team’s starter at first base though and should be a popular bounce-back candidate heading into 2026 fantasy drafts.

Transaction

Link copied to clipboard!
Freddy Fermin

SD Catcher #54

Padres signed C Freddy Fermin to a one-year, $2.1 million deal to avoid arbitration.

Fermin, who was arbitration eligible for the first time as a Super Two player, had been projected to earn $1.8 million through arbitration by MLBTradeRumors.com. The 30-year-old backstop hit .251/.297/.339 with five homers and 26 RBI in 347 plate appearances between the Royals and Padres during the 2025 season. Even if he does open the season as the Padres’ starting catcher, the only fantasy value that he provides comes from a solid batting average.

Transaction

Link copied to clipboard!
JP Sears

SD Starting Pitcher #38

Padres signed LHP JP Sears to a one-year contract to avoid arbitration.

No word yet on the financial terms of that deal, but Sears had been projected by MLBTradeRumors.com to earn $3.5 million via arbitration. The 29-year-old southpaw posted an uninspiring 5.04 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and a 117/36 K/BB ratio over 135 2/3 innings between the Athletics and Padres in 2025.

Transaction

Source: San Diego Padres

Link copied to clipboard!
Jason Adam

SD Relief Pitcher #40

Padres signed RHP Jason Adam to a one-year, $6.675 million deal to avoid arbitration.

Adam secures a nice pay raise over the $4.8 million that he took home in 2025. The 34-year-old hurler delivered another dominant season in his first full year with the Padres, compiling a 1.93 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 70/25 K/BB ratio over 65 1/3 innings before a ruptured quad tendon ended his season prematurely at the beginning of September. He’ll function in a setup capacity in front of Mason Miller once again in 2026, limiting his overall fantasy appeal.

Transaction

Link copied to clipboard!
Mason Miller

SD Relief Pitcher #22

Padres signed RHP Mason Miller to a one-year, $4 million deal to avoid arbitration.

The 27-year-old flamethrower was arbitration eligible for the first time as a Super Two player. He had been projected by MLBTradeRumors.com to earn $3.4 million in the arbitration process, so he appears to have done very well for himself here. With Robert Suarez out of the picture, Miller should have the ninth inning to himself in 2026 and will be one of the first closers plucked off of the board in all fantasy drafts.

Transaction

Source: Mark Feinsand

Link copied to clipboard!
Tyler Wells

BAL Starting Pitcher #68

Orioles signed RHP Tyler Wells to a one-year, $2.45 million deal to avoid arbitration.

He had been projected by MLBTradeRumors.com to earn $2.7 million via arbitration. Wells looked electric in four starts in September following a return from Tommy John surgery, registering a 2.91 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and an 18/2 K/BB ratio across 21 2/3 innings. Now that he’ll have a full healthy off-season under his belt, it should be all systems go for the 31-year-old hurler heading into 2026.

Transaction

Source: Andy Kostka

Link copied to clipboard!
Ryne Nelson

ARI Starting Pitcher #19

Diamondbacks signed RHP Ryne Nelson to a one-year, $3 million deal to avoid arbitration.

Nelson had been projected by MLBTradeRumors.com to earn $3.3 million via arbitration, so this seems like an equitable solution for both sides. He was terrific in a swingman role for the Diamondbacks in 2025, registering a 3.39 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and a 132/41 K/BB ratio over 154 innings in 33 appearances (23 starts). He should be locked into the team’s rotation heading into 2026 and makes for a strong mid-round option for fantasy purposes.

Transaction

Source: Nick Piecoro

Link copied to clipboard!
Jake McCarthy

ARI Center Fielder #31

Diamondbacks signed OF Jake McCarthy to a one-year, $1.525 million deal to avoid arbitration.

Despite a brutal season at the dish in 2025, McCarthy earns a decent raise in his first season of arbitration eligibility. The Diamondbacks still have a logjam of outfielders on their roster heading into 2026 though and there has been plenty of speculation that either McCarthy or Alek Thomas could be moved elsewhere. Unless he winds up in a full-time gig someplace, it’s unlikely that the speedy 28-year-old will gain relevance from a fantasy perspective.

Transaction

Source: Nick Piecoro

Link copied to clipboard!
Pavin Smith

ARI 1st Baseman #26

Diamondbacks signed 1B/OF Pavin Smith to a one-year, $2.25 million deal to avoid arbitration.

Smith sees a nice salary bump in his second season of arbitration eligibility, going from $1.5 million to $2.25. The versatile 29-year-old slashed .258/.362/.434 with eight homers, 28 RBI and a 92/41 K/BB ratio over 288 plate appearances with the Diamondbacks in 2025. Unless the Diamondbacks add a first baseman, Smith appears to be in line for a much larger role in 2026.

Transaction

Source: Steve Adams

Link copied to clipboard!