MLB Player News

On the day it was announced that Ramírez won’t be participating in the All-Star Game, the 32-year-old showed why he deserves to go with his 17th homer of the season. The steal was his 25th of the season, and he’s now slashing a robust .301/.366/.512 over 88 games. Ramírez will enjoy a deserved week off, but he remains one of the best players in the sport whether he attends the event or not.

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.

MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo says it’s worth $6 million. Kiner-Falefa still plays passable defense at short and has a plus glove at second or third, but he offers nothing but the occasional single with the bat. He’s even stopped walking the last two years, and his OBP was down to .297 last season. He ought to be a true backup in Boston, even if the team fails to make further upgrades on offense.

Madris failed to appear in the majors last year for the first time 2021 and wound up hitting .238/.328/.410 in 60 games for Triple-A Toledo. The 29-year-old former Pirates prospect has hit .204/.273/.286 with two homers and two steals in 228 career MLB plate appearances.

Fulmer’s stuff didn’t immediately come all of the way back after Tommy John, so he bounced around last year, pitching for four organizations. He ended up with a 3.39 ERA and an 86/29 K/BB in 66 1/3 innings while working mostly as a reliever in Triple-A. During his time in the majors, he allowed three earned runs and struck out three in 5 2/3 innings. The 2016 AL Rookie of the Year hasn’t started regularly since 2020, so he’ll presumably compete for a spot in the Giants pen this spring.

The 38-year-old Peralta already sat out last season after failing to draw any quality offers as a free agent, though he did make a cameo in the Venezuelan Winter League and go 10-for-40 with a homer in 12 games. Originally a pitcher in the Cardinals system, Peralta started playing outfield in indy ball after being released at age 22. He surfaced in the majors with the Diamondbacks at age 26 and put together a really nice career 11-year career that saw him hit .278/.335/.448 in 4,590 plate appearances. He twice led the NL in triples, and he won a Silver Slugger after hitting 30 homers in 2018.