MLB Player News

It’s notable that Padres manager Mike Shildt called upon Suarez to protect a one-run margin in the final frame while Yuki Matsui, Enyel De Los Santos and Wandy Peralta pitched earlier in the exhibition contest. Nothing is set in stone, but fantasy managers should feel confident forecasting Suarez as the favorite for saves in San Diego entering the season.

Kowar was designated for assignment last week to make room for Jhonny Pereda. The former first-round pick back in 2018 posted a 4.24 ERA and 15/7 K/BB ratio over 17 innings out of Seattle’s bullpen last season in his first year back from Tommy John. It’s not a bad gamble for the Twins.

The Marlins needed a spot on the 40-man roster for reliever Garret Acton. Mesa Jr. had a decent season at Triple-A, hitting .286/.352/.460 with seven home runs and four steals in 210 plate appearances, but he has slashed just .188/.297.344 in his 38 MLB plate appearances, and the Marlins have added outfield depth this offseason.

Acton was designated for assignment back on January 22nd, so it’s unclear why this move is just happening now. The Rockies needed to clear room to sign Willi Castro, and Acton had earlier been claimed off waivers from the Rays after pitching to a 3.68 ERA and a 71/27 K/BB in 58 2/3 innings for Triple-A Durham last season. He has a chance to win a job in the Marlins bullpen.

The Reds needed a spot on their 40-man roster to sign Eugenio Suarez, so Rortvedt is the odd man out. He was claimed off waivers from the Dodgers back in November, but will now head back to waivers, where he could be claimed again by the Dodgers. The Reds will continue with Jose Trevino as their backup catcher.

This deal was reported on Sunday and is now official. With the Reds adding Ke’Bryan Hayes last year, Suárez figures to be the team’s primary designated hitter in 2026. He will hit in the middle of the order and could surpass 40 home runs yet again while playing in Great American Ballpark. This seemingly cements him as a top 10 third baseman in fantasy baseball this year.

Salazar was outrighted to Triple-A by the Nationals but elected free agency in October instead. The 27-year-old righty has posted an 8.38 ERA across 29 innings (30 appearances) last season and remains a long shot to win a spot in the bullpen. His contract also comes with a foreign team inquiry clause, which would allow him to accept a better offer from a foreign team.

Robert was non-tendered back in November, but the Phillies will give him a chance to win a spot back in spring training. The 31-year-old had a 4.15 ERA in 15 appearances before suffering a forearm strain in September.

While the team has decided on Ben Rice as their starting first baseman, it seems that they are not comfortable with the idea of him hitting against left-handed pitchers. The Yankees are looking to bring in a right-handed hitter to fill that short-side platoon role, and Heyman specifically mentions Goldschmidt, Ty France, Austin Slater, and Randal Grichuk as players “on their list.” Not all of them have experience at first base, which could prove interesting, but France is the name we keep hearing the most.

If a player was good in 2022 or 2023, the Angels are trying to sign him this offseason. Candelario joins players like Yoan Moncada, Trey Mancini, Nick Madrigal, Jose Siri, Alek Manoah, and Josh Lowe as additions to the Angels this offseason. The 32-year-old corner infielder hit just .113/.198/.213 in 91 plate appearances for the Reds in 2025 and hit .210/.303/.362 in 78 Triple-A games in the Reds and Yankees organizations. But he did hit 22 home runs and drive in 70 runs in 2023, so there’s that. It remains unlikely that he gets significant playing time for the Angels this season.

The pick is lined up to 68th or 69th overall. Donovan was connected to Seattle all winter, and the Mariners get him arguably without including any of their top five prospects. As things stand now, he’d seem to project as their third baseman and leadoff man. However, if top prospect Cole Emerson makes a run at the third base job in spring training, Donovan could play second or left. That versatility makes him an especially nice fit in a lineup with a few question marks. Donovan hit .287/.353/.422 and made the NL All-Star team last season. He’s never been a big fantasy infielder because of his lack of homers (career high of 14 in 2024) and steals (career high of five in 2023 and ’24), and moving to Seattle doesn’t figure to help him any. Randy Arozarena could also lose some fantasy value here; he ended last year in the leadoff spot but could drop as low as fifth in the lineup now. Cole Young’s status as the favorite to start at second base is also probably a little shakier, but he’s not a mixed-league guy anyway.