MLB Player News

An All-Star pitcher starting the first game after the break isn’t something that typically happens these days, but since Burnes is a free agent-to-be and doesn’t seem particularly likely to re-sign with the Orioles, yeah, might as well. It’s his 14th quality start in 15 tries, and his only miss in that span was an outing in which he allowed four runs in seven innings.

Realmuto is guaranteed $15 million per season under the terms of his three-year deal with the Phillies, so he’ll be fine. However, the bonuses that would get him to a maximum of $20 million per season will be tough to reach. He’d earn $2 million each for finishing in the top 10 of MVP balloting or being voted to start the All-Star Game. He’d make $1 million each for an All-Star selection, a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger, up to a maximum of $5 million in total. None of Realmuto’s last three seasons would have qualified him for any of these bonuses. He was last an All-Star in 2021, though he would have collected $4 million in 2022 for finishing seventh in the NL MVP balloting and winning both a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger. That was his lone top-10 MVP finish to date.

Junis passed his physical after agreeing to terms on Sunday. The 33-year-old finished with ERAs of 2.69 for the Brewers and Reds in 2024 and 2.97 for the Guardians last season, even though his velocity and strikeout rates have both dropped. It would have been interesting to see him as a full-time starter a few years back, but middle relief is where he belongs now.

Hamel, 26, was claimed on waivers from the Orioles on the next-to-last day of the 2025 season. The former Mets prospect had a 5.32 ERA in 11 starts and 20 relief appearances for Triple-A Syracuse last season.

Sborz, 32, excelled for the Rangers during the World Series run in 2023, but he’s largely been a non-factor since because of shoulder problems. He spent all of last season on the major league IL and was shut down in September after a 5.25 ERA in 12 minor league rehab appearances. He was non-tendered in November, but now he’ll have a chance to compete for a bullpen spot if healthy.

Miller had been the only Mariners player not to agree before arbitration figures were exchanged. Miller, a Super Two player, filed at $2.625 million, with the Mariners coming in at $2.25 million. The option, which includes a $15,000 buyout, is for $6 million but is also voided if Miller finishes in the top five of the AL Cy Young voting, which is the kind of thing that would have to happen for Miller to approach $6 million in arbitration next year. It has no real chance of being applied and is only here because it keeps up appearances of the Mariners being a so-called “file and trial” team.

The 30-year-old Gasper has hit an impressive .303/.406/.512 in 117 games in Triple-A over the last three years, but he came in at just .133/.250/.195 in 13 games with the Red Sox in 2024 and 45 with the Twins last season. That he’s a legitimate catcher also capable of handling first and second gives him some utility as a 26th man, but he needs some of that Triple-A offense to surface.

Rushed to the majors because of his team’s misfortunes, Lara debuted as a 22-year-old for the Nationals last season, posting an 8.79 ERA in 14 1/3 innings out of the pen. He didn’t show much upside as a minor league starter, in part because of his lack of velocity, but he might be interesting as a reliever. We imagine he’ll be claimed, even if it’s just by a team (hey, Orioles) that will DFA him again a couple of days later.

Hays rebounded somewhat last season after some health struggles in 2024, posting a 105 OPS+ in 416 plate appearances for the Reds. He still might be an everyday guy on an also-ran, but contenders would presumably want him as a platoon guy against left-handers, albeit one who is a capable fallback as a full-timer if injuries strike.

The Marlins just claimed Bido on waivers from the Rays last Friday, but they needed to make room for Bradley Blalock on the 40-man roster, so it was last-in, first-out. Bido had a 5.87 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, and a 68/35 K/BB ratio over 79 2/3 innings with the Athletics last season and will be looking for another team again.

This trade was announced earlier in the day and is now official. We can’t imagine Blalock earns a spot in the Marlins rotation.