MLB Player News

The 29-year-old infielder is ready to return after missing a couple of weeks due to a lower back strain. Prior to landing on the shelf he had been hitting .226/.314/.355 with one homer, three RBI and four stolen bases in his first 10 games with the Rays.

The details are not yet known, but we do know that the deal is a major league one. Pop only pitched 6 2/3 innings in the big leagues last year, but he allowed 11 earned runs on 15 hits. In his career, he has a 4.88 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 126/55 K/BB ratio in 162 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.

The move was announced last week and is now official. Griffin had a 1.62 ERA and a 77/18 K/BB in 78 innings as a starter in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants last season, thanks in large part to revamping his secondary pitches. Over his three seasons in Japan, he went 18–10 with a 2.57 ERA in 54 starts. That success and his contract should give him a chance to win a spot in the Nationals’ rotation to open the season.

Refsnyder has spent the last four seasons with the Red Sox, all of which he served in a part-time role, playing primarily against lefties. That is where the 34-year-old shines, slashing .302/.399/.560 against lefties last year with seven home runs and a .259 ISO. However, for his career, Refsnyder hits just .229/.301/.332 against righties with a 25 percent strikeout rate. The Mariners will use him on the short side of a platoon with Dominic Canzone, who could open as the starting designated hitter.

Dickerson last played for the Nationals in 2023, where he hit .252/.285/.357 with two homers and 17 RBI in 151 plate appearances. He finishes his playing career with a .280/.323/.476 slash line in 1,084 games with 136 home runs, 469 RBI, and 30 steals.

This would make sense considering the Mets actually gave the Athletics cash to encourage them to take McNeil in a trade. It seems that the Mets were eager to move on from McNeil, which might mean that they have an intended replacement for him. However, that would also mean the Mets are looking to put Marte back in center field, where he last played in 2023. Nothing is imminent, but this remains a situation to monitor and there are a lot of moving pieces here.

Heuer only pitched 4 2/3 innings in the big leagues last year and had not thrown an MLB inning since 2021 prior to that. The 29-year-old had a 3.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 62/17 K/BB ratio in 48 2/3 innings at Triple-A last year and feels like a decent bet to make the Guardians’ bullpen.

The 2028 option vests at $12 million if he throws 170 innings in 2027 or $14 million if he tops 185 innings. Kelly is getting a $2 million signing bonus and salaries of $17 million in 2026 and $21 million in 2027.

He’ll get a $2 million bonus, a $2 million salary and $200,000 each for 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55 innings, which could bring the total value of the deal to $5 million. The 39-year-old Martin almost surely could have done better elsewhere, but he again wanted to be close to home as he finishes up his career.

The deal includes a $4 million player option for 2029 and a $7 million mutual option for 2030 with a $1 million buyout. The 29-year-old hit .315/.387/.530 with 26 homers, 90 RBI, and 25 stolen bases for the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization in 2025. He has a scoop in his swing, which could be problematic against the high velocity in Major League Baseball, but he showed a well-rounded skillset in Korea and is a solid defender at a few positions, so he could emerge as a super utility player for the Padres.

The Cubs declined to keep an out-of-options Reese McGuire as a third catcher, so Bethancourt will fill that role from Triple-A Iowa. The 34-year-old hit .173/.219/.332 for the Jays’ Triple-A club last season. He’s a lifetime .229/.259/.362 hitter in 1,301 plate appearances.