MLB Player News

Morton left with a one-run lead, but that was blown in the eighth, partly because of an Austin Riley error. Morton matched his season high with eight strikeouts and walked one. It goes as his 10th quality start in 22 tries.

Jon Heyman provided the contract value. Based on the team’s need for a true innings eater, no matter the quality of those innings, Mikolas has always made a ton of sense for the Nationals. Probably the only better bet for innings still in free agency was Patrick Corbin, and that reunion was never likely to take place. The Nationals rotation currently seems most likely to include Cade Cavalli, Brad Lord, Foster Griffin, Mikolas and either Josiah Gray or Jake Irvin.

Herz, who underwent the procedure last April, could be an option for the Nationals rotation come July. He showed some promise a rookie in 2024, posting a 4.16 ERA and a 106/36 K/BB in 88 2/3 innings. However, given that control is often the last thing to come back after Tommy John and Herz has long history of wildness, he probably won’t be a fantasy factor prior to 2027.

Sam Phalen has compiled the visual evidence. This should truly be something of a “yikes” moment for White Sox fans, as there hasn’t been any actual indication that the team wants Acuña to become a switch-hitter. Acuña was the primary return for Robert, though the second player acquired, right-hander Thomas Pauley, is interesting, too. If Getz was this unfamiliar with Acuña’s game prior to the trade, then he’s not someone who should be leading a front office. Acuña is expected to get every chance to win the starting job in center this spring. Still, because of his lack of power, he might be just a utilityman in the long run.

Even though he’s still probably better than Henry Davis. Stallings was slated to be the Rockies’ primary catcher at this time last year, but in a rare moment of lucidity, the team ended up going with Hunter Goodman instead. Stallings was released in early June and then briefly played with the Orioles before finishing the season unrostered. A late bloomer, Stallings got his first real look as a starting catcher with the Pirates at age 31 in 2021 and proved pretty solid over a four-year span. He walks away at age 36 after hitting .232/.311/.340 with 33 homers in 1,922 career plate appearances.

Holmes feels good and ready to battle for a rotation spot this spring. “That was the first image I’ve ever had on my elbow,” he said. “So, nobody knows if that [UCL] tear was there beforehand and [the new injury] was really just a flexor [strain]. Honestly, I think that’s what it was, because if I had a tear in the flexor tendon and the UCL, that would have been a whole lot different. I wouldn’t have recovered as fast.” Holmes initially seemed destined for a bullpen spot in 2026, but the Braves never did make a much-anticipated rotation addition this winter and now they’ve already lost Spencer Schwellenbach for months. It’d seem to leave Holmes in good position at the moment, though it’s still possible the Braves could bring in a starter.

He’s not slated to see outfield time. The 21-year-old Miller has played shortstop exclusively to date, but the Phillies don’t have a need there at the moment. If Miller thrives at third, it could lead to more Alec Bohm trade talk as the season progresses. Miller probably isn’t ready for the majors just yet, but he impressed while hitting .259/.382/.427 in Double-A last year. He also went 9-for-27 with a homer and nine walks after a late promotion to Triple-A. Overall, he was 59-for-74 stealing bases.

The Phillies have been hoping to get a little something back for Castellanos if they pay down enough of his $20 million salary, but they might just wind up releasing him. The 33-year-old is entering the final season of a five-year, $100 million deal.

That doesn’t seem like a great plan. Story made a nice comeback last season, but it resulted in only a .308 OBP. He’s at .302 in the four years since he signed with the Red Sox. Still, one assumes he’ll hit second initially now, with Roman Anthony and Jarren Duran flanking him ahead of Willson Contreras in the cleanup spot. It’d make more sense to bat him sixth, assuming that the Red Sox think Caleb Durbin will perform like he did last year (and they presumably wouldn’t have traded for him if they didn’t).

Greene would be an interesting choice; he was invited to play for Puerto Rico in the tournament but decided to turn down the opportunity. Given that Team USA has Aaron Judge in right and Byron Buxton and Pete Crow-Armstong in center, replacing Carroll with a natural left fielder makes sense. Anthony might be the most fun option, but Kwan would make a lot of sense with his contact ability and plus defense.

There was a report last month that Skenes was working on something called a “sleeper,” that was supposed to be a slower version of his sweeper, but he debunked that today. He also said he’s no longer experimenting with the cutter he tried last spring. He needs to give MLB hitters some sort of chance, after all.