MLB Player News

Sasaki, who hit a high school-record 140 homers in high school overseas in Japan, was expected to be the first overall pick in last year’s Nippon Professional Baseball Draft, but has decided to play collegiate baseball at Stanford instead. He had been playing in the Trenton Thunder of the MLB Draft League for the last few weeks, but will now play in the wood bat summer collegiate league. The 19-year-old phenom will be eligible for the MLB Draft as early as 2026.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post adds that the contract will be for $1.5 million. After failing in their surprise pursuit of Framber Valdez, the Pirates will settle for his former rotation-mate instead. Urquidy missed most of the 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, ultimately logging 2 1/3 innings with the Tigers in September. Urquidy looked sharp in the Mexican Winter League though and he should help to bring stability to the back end of the Pirates’ rotation.

Thompson, 27, registered a troublesome 11.81 ERA, 2.62 WHIP and an 11/12 K/BB ratio across 10 2/3 frames with the Nationals in 2025. He missed the first half of the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and was ultimately shut own in September due to right biceps tendinitis. He’ll add bullpen depth for the Rangers.

The 36-year-old lefty hit the free agent market when the Reds declined his $3 million club option at the end of the 2025 season. Suter struggled to a career-worst 4.52 ERA and a 53/18 K/BB ratio over 67 2/3 innings. He would add another quality arm to the Halos’ middle relief corps.

Rather than accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Rochester, the 28-year-old left-hander will explore opportunities on the open market instead. Pilkington posted a 4.45 ERA 1.28 WHIP and a 34/17 K/BB ratio across 28 1/3 innings out of the Nationals’ bullpen in 2025. He should have no problem landing on his feet elsewhere.

Velasquez hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since the 2023 season. He made 18 starts at Triple-A Columbus for the Guardians in 2025 before moving to the Korea Baseball Organization where he struggled to an 8.23 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and a 28/18 K/BB ratio across 35 frames. He’s nothing more than extra rotation depth for the Cubs and can be ignored for fantasy purposes.

Bergner, 28, was a ninth-round selection by the Tigers from the 2019 draft class and spent his first seven years in the minor leagues in their organization. In 2025, he compiled a 3.43 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 95/43 K/BB ratio across 97 innings between Triple-A Toledo and Double-A Erie. He’ll add pitching depth in the upper minors for the Rangers.

The 29-year-old southpaw spent the entire 2025 campaign at Triple-A Tacoma for the Mariners, registering a 4.91 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and a 44/29 K/BB ratio across 84 1/3 innings of work in 47 appearances (three starts). He’ll add pitching depth for the Jays.

“I think we can pretty much guess how it’s going to go, given that one of them a historic number of saves on his resume,” Hinch said while discussing the ninth on Tiger Territory. Jansen has said he wasn’t promised anything ahead of signing with the Tigers in December, but he has, of course, been a full-time closer since 2012, and he’s fourth all-time with 476 saves. The primary alternatives in the ninth would be Will Vest, who had 23 saves for the Tigers last season, and Kyle Finnegan, who has 112 career saves.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan says it’s a one-year, $4 million deal. Heyman, who had previously linked Andujar with the Padres, Rangers, Cardinals and Cubs, notes there’s a mutual option for 2027. Andujar’s contact ability makes him pretty useful as a part-timer, but his lack of defense, middling power and poor walk rate don’t translate well to regular play. He should primarily occupy a platoon role in San Diego, probably mostly splitting time with Gavin Sheets at DH.

What interesting timing, given that the Tigers are supposed to learn Thursday whether they’re paying Tarik Skubal $32 million or $19 million next season. Perhaps they got some early good news on that front. Valdez is receiving $38.33 million per year here on the short-term deal. He gets a $20 million signing bonus and an opt out after 2027, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. He’s set to join a rotation that would seem to be locked in with Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize and Reese Olson, though the Tigers could look at moving Flaherty or Mize for a bat. As things stand now, neither Troy Melton nor Drew Anderson would be in line for a spot.