MLB Player News

This is getting a little ridiculous now. McCarthy, who spent most of last year looking like one of the league’s easiest outs, is hitting .311/.380/.438 in 325 plate appearances. The White Sox reportedly could have acquired McCarthy in the Cristian Mena deal last winter and chose Dominic Fletcher instead. Fletcher, in case you were wondering, is currently hitting .216/.283/.268 in the majors.

The 25-year-old outfielder spent the first seven years of his minor league career in the Pirates’ organization. In 2025, Bowen slashed .272/.353/.449 with nine homers, 37 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 366 plate appearances across four minor league levels.

The versatile 34-year-old is currently recovering after undergoing surgery on his left elbow in mid-November. Even if he does wind up back with the Dodgers in a bench role, he can be ignored for fantasy purposes.

The Rays needed to clear a spot on their roster to make room for the addition of Cedric Mullins and unfortunately it looks like Curet drew the short straw this time around. The 23-year-old hurler posted a 3.90 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and a 62/31 K/BB ratio over 55 1/3 innings across three minor league levels in 2025.

The deal, which was agreed to earlier in the week, also includes a $10 million mutual option for the 2027 season with a $500,000 buyout. Yoniel Curet was designated for assignment in a corresponding move to clear a spot on the Rays’ 40-man roster. Mullins should see regular action against right-handed pitching with the Rays in 2026.

The 23-year-old was sent outright to Triple-A Albuquerque, but rather than accepting the outright assignment Bernabel will explore his options on the open market. He hit .252/.288/.410 with four homers, 14 RBI and a 25/7 K/BB ratio over 146 plate appearances with the Rockies in 2025. It shouldn’t take him long to find another opportunity.

Lyon, 21, was a 10th round selection by the Mariners from the 2025 draft class. He made just four starts at Single-A Modesto after finishing up his collegiate season in 2025, posting a 7.30 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and a 15/3 K/BB ratio over 12 1/3 innings. He’s at least a couple of years away from being an option to help the Nationals.

The 22-year-old backstop was the 12th overall pick from the 2021 draft. Ford spent most of the 2025 season at Triple-A Tacoma where he slashed a healthy .283/.408/.460 with 16 homers, 74 RBI and seven stolen bases in 458 plate appearances. With the struggles of Keibert Ruiz and the rest of the Nationals’ catching depth being unsettled, the door is open for Ford to seize a significant role on the club’s Opening Day roster, which could lead to fantasy relevance.

The 25-year-old hurler finished the 2025 season as the Nationals’ closer. He compiled a 4.48 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 71/16 K/BB ratio across 76 1/3 innings while securing 11 saves for the Nationals. He’ll add another talented weapon to the M’s bullpen, but he won’t be anywhere near the top of the pecking order in saves, which saps most of his fantasy value.

Rodríguez, who is owed $17 million over the next three years, passed through waivers unclaimed after being removed from the club’s 40-man roster to make room for Cody Ponce. He was a key component of Toronto’s bullpen last season, recording a solid 3.08 ERA (4.40 FIP), 1.15 WHIP and 66/34 K/BB ratio across 73 innings of work over 73 appearances. The 28-year-old righty signed a four-year, $26 million contract with the Blue Jays prior to the 2024 season and was eventually moved to a full-time relief role after struggling to an inflated 4.47 ERA across 86 2/3 innings over 21 starts in his debut. He’ll compete for a spot in Toronto’s bullpen during spring training.

Chirinos returns for a second campaign in Korea after compiling a respectable 3.31 ERA and 137/36 K/BB ratio across 177 innings over 30 starts. The 31-year-old doesn’t offer enough strikeout upside to be fantasy-relevant, even if he eventually makes a return to the majors down the road.