MLB Player News

The writing was on the wall for Feliciano once the Brewers landed slugging backstop William Contreras earlier this week from the Braves as part of a three-team mega-deal. There’s a chance he manages to sneak through waivers, but given his former prospect status, there should be some interest around the league.

Hoyer’s remarks came during Alex Bregman’s introductory press conference when discussing Shaw’s role with the club moving forward. The 24-year-old top prospect was a significant disappointment last year in his first taste of the majors, and he’s likely to transition to a versatile multi-position moving forward, unless the Cubs decide to trade second baseman Nico Hoerner. The additional defensive versatility slightly increases his appeal as a bench option in deeper fantasy leagues but he needs to display some growth in the plate skills department before he’s a viable mixed-league option in the future.

Zulueta heads to Seattle just a few hours after being jettisoned from Cincinnati’s 40-man roster. The 27-year-old former relief prospect fits the mold for the Mariners bullpen as a sinker/slider combo power arm that holds a serviceable 4.21 FIP and 25/11 K/BB ratio across 23 2/3 innings at the big-league level since 2024.

Contrary to popular belief, he is not the protagonist of a Stranger Things spinoff in which Dustin Henderson is bitten by a radioactive spider and becomes a shutdown corner. The 22-year-old heads to Cincinnati after being selected in the 11th round of last summer’s MLB Draft. He’s a couple hyperspace jumps from the major leagues and represents a lottery ticket in the purest sense.

Taylor loses his spot on Seattle’s 40-man roster after the club acquired reliever Yosver Zulueta from the Reds in a small trade. The 27-year-old offers some defensive versatility, but he hasn’t produced in limited opportunities at the major-league level over the past three seasons. He’s gotten into 38 games between the Royals and Mariners during that span, batting .205 (15-for-73) with zero homers and eight steals. He should attract some interest on waivers as a jack-of-all-trades utility specialist.

The deal, which was agreed to back in late December, is finally official. Blackburn returns to New York as a versatile swingman capable of making the occasional spot start while gobbling up multiple innings in relief. The 32-year-old veteran posted a pedestrian 4.39 FIP, 1.51 WHIP and 34/12 K/BB ratio across 39 innings over 15 appearances between the Mets and Yankees this past season. He can be safely ignored in all fantasy formats.

Crouse was a notable pitching prospect just a couple years ago but hasn’t put it together at the highest level, recording a lackluster — 4.96 FIP — 1.30 WHIP and 36/24 K/BB ratio across 32 1/3 innings at the highest level for the Phillies and Angels from 2021-2024. The 27-year-old righty was cut loose by Los Angeles last April after just a handful of appearances for Triple-A Salt Lake.

Rucker hasn’t resurfaced in the majors since making 96 relief appearances for the Cubs from 2021-2023, posting a respectable 4.57 FIP and 120/50 K/BB ratio across 123 1/3 innings during that span. The 31-year-old journeyman righty didn’t pitch anywhere last year after spending the previous season in the Phillies system. He’s merely emergency organizational depth at this juncture of his career.

Castro fortifies Los Angeles’ bullpen depth after making just six relief appearances for the White Sox this past season. The well-traveled 31-year-old veteran has made 425 appearances in the majors between the Blue Jays, Rockies, Orioles, Mets, Yankees, Diamondbacks and White Sox dating back to 2015.

Cowles, who came over from the Yankees in the Mark Leiter Jr. trade back in 2024, returns to the organization after spending time last year with the White Sox. The 25-year-old infielder has yet to reach the big leagues but might get a look at some point next season.

Two-year minor league deals are typically for injured players set to miss a season, so we’re guessing that’s the case here. McGough, 27, got off to an awful start in the White Sox system last season and announced his retirement in May. He had a 1.98 ERA and an 88/28 K/BB in 81 2/3 innings for the Orioles and White Sox in 2024, with the team change coming because he was traded for Eloy Jimenez at the deadline.