MLB Player News

Lee has been very impressive early on this spring going 6-for-13 with a HR and three RBI in three games. The 25-year-old former KBO MVP showed off his strength last week when he hit a 418-foot home run against the Diamondbacks. Lee will be the primary leadoff hitter for San Francisco this season and should be a name fantasy managers are targeting in the later rounds of drafts this spring.

Scherzer returning for a 19th season feels less like a transaction and more like a reminder that certain careers refuse to fade quietly. The deal is now official, bringing the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer back to Toronto, where he adds experienced depth to a contending rotation. The surface numbers from last season — 5.19 ERA (4.62 xERA) with a 1.29 WHIP and 82/23 K/BB ratio over 85 innings across 17 starts — were pedestrian in nature, though his postseason performance looked far more familiar. Scherzer may no longer be a relevant fantasy contributor at this stage of his legendary career, but he remains the type of presence who can bend a playoff series in subtle, consequential ways.

It’s happening. Rangers manager Skip Schumaker told reporters over the weekend that deGrom was close to making his spring debut following a 30-pitch bullpen session. The 37-year-old veteran managed to stay healthy last year for his first 30-start season since 2019. We’re skeptical he’ll repeat the feat but the Rangers clearly have a plan in place to slow-play his ramp-up process.

The deal is now official. MLB.com’s Anne Rogers reports Marte can earn an additional $2 million with active roster and performance bonuses. The 37-year-old veteran provides Kansas City with another complementary right-handed platoon partner for either Jac Caglianone in right field or Carter Jensen at DH. He spent the last four years with the Mets and batted .270/.335/.410 with nine homers and seven steals in 98 games in a part-time role this past season.

Blanco loses his spot on Kansas City’s 40-man roster with the arrival of Starling Marte. The 32-year-old appeared in just nine games for the Royals last year and was highly unlikely to open the season in the majors.

Soderstrom took Padres ace Michael King deep in the opening frame for his first big fly of the spring exhibition season. It traveled an estimated 410 feet and left his bat at 113.3 mph, per Statcast. The 24-year-old former backstop signed a seven-year, $86 million contract extension during the offseason and will be an integral run-producing component of an Athletics core that is one of the more exciting young nucleuses in baseball.

King struck out three and only handed out a pair of free passes. He gave up five hits, including a colossal homer to A’s slugger Tyler Soderstrom in the opening frame. The encouraging news here is that he averaged 92.6 mph and topped out at 95.5 mph on a first-inning heater to Nick Kurtz. He induced seven swinging strikes and finished with a respectable 25 percent CSW. The 30-year-old former fantasy ace projects as a logical bounce-back candidate after a lost season due to injury last year.

Espinal drew praise from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts earlier in camp and continues to fortify his case for a spot on Los Angeles’ season-opening roster as a utility infielder. The 31-year-old veteran fell out of favor with the Reds last year but has looked rejuvenated this spring. There’s a chance he beats out prospect Alex Freeland for a spot on the Dodgers bench, especially if he keeps tearing the cover off the ball.

Moniak figures to open the year as Colorado’s primary DH after posting some abysmal defensive metrics in right field last year. There’s a reason the front office went out and acquired speedy outfielder Jake McCarthy from the division-rival Diamondbacks in the offseason. Assuming he makes the transition seamlessly to the new role there’s no reason to think he can’t build on last year’s 24-homer breakthrough campaign with hitter-friendly Coors Field serving as the metaphorical wind in his sails.

Ryan continues to receive an extended look this spring with a plethora of Dodgers pitchers either off participating in the World Baseball Classic or dealing with a slower ramp-up process. The fastball velocity isn’t quite back to pre-Tommy John levels but it doesn’t sound like the Dodgers are counting on him to be ready for the outset of the year. The 27-year-old was one of the most intriguing pitching prospects in the game before a major elbow injury altered his trajectory in 2024. A couple unexpected injuries could change that calculus but it would be surprising if he broke camp with the Dodgers instead of ramping back up in the minors considering how much development time he’s missed.

With the Reds seemingly poised to give him another look in the two hole despite last season’s struggles, things are really looking up for McLain right now. His homers today both left the bat at over 107 mph and were projected at 412 and 421 feet. He’s 8-for-14 with three homers, three walks and just one strikeout in 17 plate appearances this spring. Last spring, he had a 17/2 K/BB in 57 plate appearances.