MLB Player News

The 28-year-old Varland cleared outright waivers last week ahead of the White Sox releasing him on Sunday, putting him on release waivers. That’s typically a formality, but not in this case, as the D-backs decided to step in and add Varland to the 40-man. Varland had a 3.54 ERA and a 24/4 K/BB in 20 1/3 innings before being let go by the White Sox. He has a career 4.82 ERA and a 47/24 K/BB in 47 2/3 innings.

The 29-year-old is a .238/.287/.342 hitter with 15 homers and a 21.3 percent strikeout rate in 1,032 MLB plate appearances, but he can play a few positions around the infield and has been a solid minor league hitter over his career. He could provide infield depth at a few spots if he wins a minor league job.

After trading Blaze Alexander to the Orioles on Thursday, the Diamondbacks opened the door for Lawlar or Tim Tawa to get starts in left field. Lawlar had previously been only an infielder as a prospect, but he played center field during winter ball and seems to be moving to the outfield in 2026. “You’re going to see him work in the infield some as we move into spring training,” explained Hazan. “I think the majority of his work is going to come in the outfield.” The 23-year-old top prospect battled through injuries in 2025 and failed to produce in his brief MLB at-bats, but continued to show good skills in the minors and could finally get a shot this season.

Worth a flier. The Astros had Rodgers try swinging harder last year, and it did lead to improved exit velocity but also a lot more strikeouts in the 43 games in which he was healthy. Whether things might have gotten better is hard to say, since injuries wiped out the final 3 1/2 months of the season for him. He’s pretty obviously a weaker bet than Romy Gonzalez as a right-handed second base option at this point, but perhaps there’s still some potential to be tapped into after he spent his first nine years as a pro in baseball’s most backwards organization.

Cedeño, a former Cardinals prospect, spent the last three years in Japan and played in a total of 229 games with a .246/.297/.412 line. He’s still only 27, but he seems more like a Triple-A guy than someone who will be of much help in the majors.

Báez received an unannounced two-year ban from international play that expires in April. This has nothing to do with his MLB status, as recreational marijuana usage isn’t banned by the league. Báez was hoping to suit up for Puerto Rico for the third time this year.

Puerto Rico’s roster has been devastated by the tournament’s issue securing insurance for players, with Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Victor Caratini, José Berríos and Emilio Pagán all having to stay home. The team has little rotation depth behind Lugo, although Yankees prospect Elmer Rodríguez might surprise. The lineup could look something like: RF Heliot Ramos, CF Willi Castro, DH Eddie Rosario, 3B Nolan Arenado, 1B Emmanuel Rivera, C Christian Vázquez, LF Carlos Cortes/MJ Melendez, SS Edwin Arroyo, 2B Darell Hernaiz.

Team Canada will miss Freddie Freeman, but it can still run out a pretty respectable lineup of SS Otto Lopez, 2B Edouard Julien, 1B Josh Naylor, RF Tyler O’Neill, LF Owen Caissie, DH Jared Young, C Bo Naylor, 3B Abraham Toro and CF Denzel Clarke. Jameson Taillon and Michael Soroka will lead the pitching staff, which also includes retired former major leaguers James Paxton and Phillippe Aumont.

Saggese has a big opportunity to win a starting spot in Cardinals camp with Nolan Arenado and Brandon Donovan gone, but he’ll take a little time away in the process. Italy is looking at a lefty-heavy lineup of something like this in the WBC: CF Jakob Marsee, C Kyle Teel, 1B Vinnie Pasquantino, LF Zach Dezenzo, DH Dominic Canzone, RF Jac Caglianone, 2B Saggese, 3B Miles Mastrobuoni and SS Jon Berti. Aaron Nola and Michael Lorenzen will lead the pitching staff, with former Team USA reliever Adam Ottavino coming out of the pen.

Mexico’s rotation is rather shaky, with Javier Assad, Taj Bradley, José Urquidy and Taijuan Walker likely the team’s best option to start, but the bullpen should be asset, with Robert Garcia and Victor Vodnik around to set up for Muñoz. The lineup is pretty solid too: CF Jarren Duran, LF Randy Arozarena, 1B Jonathan Aranda, C Alejandro Kirk, DH Rowdy Tellez, 2B Nick Gonzales, 3B Luis Urías, RF Alek Thomas/Alejandro Osuna and SS Joey Ortiz.

It’s hard to see how López was cleared when so many others ran into insurance issues, but the Twins have indicated that he was slated to be fully healthy this spring. Ranger Suárez and Eduardo Rodríguez should also be a part of Venezuela’s rotation. The lineup should look something like: RF Ronald Acuña Jr., CF Jackson Chourio, C William Contreras, 1B Willson Contreras, DH Salvador Perez, LF Wilyer Abreu, 3B Eugenio Suárez/Maikel Garcia, 2B Gleyber Torres/Luis Arraez, SS Andrés Giménez/Exequiel Tovar.