MLB Player News

The 36-year-old slugger opened the scoring in the game with a 381-foot solo shot off of Eduardo Rodriguez in the second inning. He then tagged the Tigers’ southpaw for a 384-foot three-run shot in the third inning to increase the Dodgers’ early advantage to 5-0. Martinez then tacked on an RBI single in the seventh for good measure, finishing the night with five RBI. On the season, he’s slashing a healthy .266/.318/.556 with 28 long balls and 91 RBI.

The Tigers seem to be favoring a lineup with better infield defense in Framber Valdez’s debut with the team. That has sent Keith to the bench — despite his platoon advantage — in favor of utility man Zach McKinstry, who will be playing second base while Gleyber Torres shifts to the designated hitter spot. It will be worth watching how playing time shakes out amongst these Tigers infielders moving forward.

That is a lot of money, though deferrals are likely to bring down the present-day value. Hoerner and the Cubs had reportedly agreed to an extension yesterday, but the terms were undisclosed. This is the fourth-largest contract ever given to a second baseman and one that will keep Hoerner in Chicago for the next six years. Hoerner does a lot of things well as an elite defender and fantastic contact hitter. Those just aren’t skills that often age well and the Cubs now have him, Dansby Swanson, and Alex Bregman on long-term contracts that extend well into those players’ 30s.

The new deal, worth a reported $68 million, takes effect immediately and supersedes the one-year, $3.5 million deal he agreed to in January. So, the Rays are paying $64.5 million for his final two seasons of arbitration and his first two years of free agency. That’s great if he stays healthy and turns into an above average starter these next two years, and there’s good reason to think that at least the latter will happen. It’s probably a little riskier than most of these kinds of extensions, though, and it doesn’t come with the bonus of getting any option years tacked on. Baz is now due to become a free agent at age 31 after the 2030 season.

Freeland figures to start against most righties, but Rojas got the Opening Day assignment versus Zac Gallen to start off what’s slated to be his final season in the majors. Both Freeland and Rojas are expected to bat ninth when they’re in the lineup, and that is the case for Freeland tonight.

In spite of a rough spring, Morel was expected to serve as the Marlins’ primary first baseman. Perhaps it’s jumping the gun, but one imagines he’ll have to wait a few weeks now, and who knows if the job will still be there when he gets back? Owen Caissie, who was going to sit versus lefty Kyle Freeland, was inserted in Morel’s place, with Connor Norby switching from DH to first base. Deyvison De Los Santos could be called up if Morel goes on the IL.

The Milwaukee Brewers are buying players from the Los Angeles Dodgers and people think MLB needs a salary cap. Keith, 25, hit .226/.296/.386 with 11 homers and nine steals in 89 games in his second season in Double-A in 2025. He’s expected to remain at that level for now, but he’ll be playing in Biloxi, rather than Tulsa.

Rojas, who was acquired from the Jays in the Louis Varland trade last summer, rates as one of Minnesota’s best pitching prospects. He had a 9.45 ERA in 6 2/3 innings this spring before being sent down.

The Padres went with lefty Gavin Sheets at first base and Miguel Andujar at DH against Tarik Skubal on Thursday. Tonight, they’re switching to Ty France at first base and sticking with Andujar against Framber Valdez. It’s definitely not good looking for Castellanos, who flew out in his lone at-bat off the bench Thursday. The Padres have no financial obligation to him beyond paying him the MLB minimum, and with all being defensively limited right-handers, it just wouldn’t make much sense to keep all three of Andujar, Castellanos and France around for the long haul.

It’s the farthest any ball has been pushed by the wind in the three years that Weather Applied has been tracking such things. Happ’s ninth-inning fly off the Nationals’ Cionel Pérez would have been projected at 435 feet under neutral conditions, but with about 30 mph of wind working against it, James Wood caught in shy of the warning track.

Devers is available to play first base if needed, but the Giants would prefer he be a little closer to 100 percent first. Casey Schmitt is starting at first again Friday.