MLB Player News

Velázquez was jettisoned from Kansas City’s 40-man roster back in late March and was hitting .202 through 33 games this season at Triple-A Omaha. The 26-year-old former top prospect has hit .212/.286/.433 with 31 homers and seven steals in 194 games in the majors since 2022. There’s presumably another organization out there willing to roll the dice on his talent.

The 29-year-old hurler pitched in the Rays’ organization during an injury plagued 2025 campaign, registering a 3.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and a 15/14 K/BB ratio over 22 frames between Triple-A Durham and the club’s Rookie League affiliate. If healthy, he’ll add some nice bullpen depth for the Padres.

With Luis Arraez departing via free agency, the Padres are left with an opening at first base. Sheets, 29, had a very productive season in his first year with the Padres in 2025, slashing a healthy .252/.317/.429 with 19 homers, 71 RBI and a 107/44 K/BB ratio over 545 plate appearances. Sheets was already expected to be the club’s regular designated hitter against right-handed pitching, so even if he wins the first base job, it isn’t likely to increase his overall playing time or fantasy value.

Kuty noted that at one point this winter, the Yankees offered Slater a major league contract, though it’s unclear if that offer is still on the table. The 33-year-old hit just .216/.270/.372 with five homers and 13 RBI over 160 plate appearances between the White Sox and the Yankees during the 2025 campaign.

The 32-year-old backstop spent the 2025 season in the Royals’ organization where he slashed a miserable .158/.236/.274 with four homers and 10 RBI in 162 plate appearances at Triple-A Omaha. He’ll add catching depth in big league camp for the M’s.

It’s worth $12 million, according to The Athletic’s Katie Woo. Arraez wanted to play second base, and the Giants have decided to give it a try, though they would have room for him as a first baseman/DH if they need to send down Bryce Eldridge. Initially, though, it’ll be Casey Schmitt he’s displacing from the lineup. Arraez, of course, will be bringing three batting titles with him to San Francisco, but his OPS+s have dipped from 128 in both 2022 and ’23 to 107 in 2024 and 99 last season with the Padres. Given his lack of defensive value, he really needs to rebound beyond his 2024 production to be a quality regular.

Thaiss fortifies Boston’s catching depth chart behind starter Carlos Narváez and backup Connor Wong. The 30-year-old backstop could potentially push Wong for the backup role in spring training but figures to open the year at Triple-A Worcester. He batted .218/.349/.288 with one homer across 190 plate appearances between the Rays and White Sox this past season.

Díaz will test the open market instead of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Tacoma. The 29-year-old swingman represents quality organizational depth at this stage of his career and should be able to latch on somewhere ahead of spring training. He’s made 17 appearances at the major-league level since 2021 between the Mariners and Angels.

Ortiz didn’t pitch last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 30-year-old middle reliever has made 24 appearances in the majors between the Phillies, Giants and Orioles since 2018. He’ll likely have to settle for a minor league contract but would represent a decent bullpen option for another club.

Pint — the fourth overall selection in the 2016 MLB Draft — hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2024 and was out of organized ball altogether last year. The hard-throwing 28-year-old reliever will be in camp with the Padres as a low-risk reclamation project and is merely extra organizational depth at this juncture of his career.

Feinsand adds that Arraez is prioritizing a return to second base, which could wind up being a significant factor in his decision. The 28-year-old hasn’t generated any buzz this offseason as his contact-oriented skillset offers limited appeal, especially at a premium power position like first base. A transition back to the keystone would boost his immediate fantasy value, but his appeal is strictly limited to deeper mixed leagues as a one-category batting average stabilizer.