MLB Player News

Thomas has been on a tear since the calendar flipped to August, batting .345 (10-for-29) with three homers, 11 RBI and a pair of stolen bases in 11 contests. The 24-year-old prospect got off to a frosty start at the dish in his first taste of the majors, but he’s flashing the power/speed combo skillset that made his an intriguing talent for fantasy purposes throughout his minor league career. He’s worthy of a speculative roster spot, even in shallow mixed leagues, over the final six weeks of the season.

McCaughan, who turns 30 in March, is a Triple-A innings eater with a 6.02 ERA in six starts and 14 relief appearances as a major leaguer. He’ll help Louisville, though.

Díaz has an option year left and the ability to eat innings, but since he’s 29 and he struggles to reach 90 mph with his fastball, no one grabbed him on waivers. He can choose to become a free agent if he’d like.

De Vries was the centerpiece the Padres sent back to the A’s for Mason Miller last season and is considered one of the best prospects in baseball. It’s customary for top prospects to get an invite to major league spring training, especially when they’ve already reached Double-A like De Vries did last season. It’s unlikely the 19-year-old is ready to compete for a major league roster spot yet though. Of this trio, Jump has the best chance to reach the majors in 2026 after breaking out with a 3.28 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 131/34 K/BB ratio across 112 2/3 innings between High-A and Double-A last season.

The move clears a spot on the Nationals’ 40-man roster for INF Tsung-Che Cheng, who was claimed off waivers from the Mets. Pilkington is a former third-round pick who had a 4.45 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and 34/17 K/BB ratio across 28 1/3 innings in relief for the Nationals last season. Those walks have always been a problem for him, but since he still has a minor league option remaining, it’s likely another team takes a shot on him.

Cheng was designated for assignment last week by the Mets last week. The Nationals are the third team to claim him this month. The 24-year-old put together a .207/.305/.267 slash line with one home run and 18 stolen bases in 107 Triple-A games last season in the Pirates organization and could provide speed and defense for the Nationals in a bench role should he make the club out of camp.

The Brewers had been eyeing McGuire as a backup for William Contreras, and he may still win that job, but the team has not committed an MLB contract to him as of yet. The 30-year-old hit .226/.245/.444 in 140 plate appearances for the Cubs last season but continued to post positive framing grades behind the plate, which we know the Brewers value.

The 28-year-old Jones spent last season in the Padres’ system compiling a 3.94 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and 55/19 K/BB ratio across 61 2/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. He’s been working out at Driveline this offseason and is reportedly up to 97 mph on his fastball with five-pitch mix. He’ll have a shot to win a bullpen job out of camp for the Marlins.

Barnes returned to major league baseball in 2025 after pitching in Korea for four seasons. He registered a 3.58 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 516/166 K/BB ratio in 553 innings in four seasons in the KBO. He signed with the Reds in August of 2025 and compiled a 7.13 ERA and 27/5 K/BB ratio in 24 innings at Triple-A. He will operate as organizational depth for the Cubs.

The Angels claimed Kaleb Ort off waivers from the Yankees and needed to free up a 40-man roster spot, so Meckler was the odd man out. The 25-year-old was claimed off waivers from the Giants at the beginning of January after hitting .287/.390/.370 in Triple-A in 2025. He should get a shot to prove himself in spring training somewhere.

Ort was designated for assignment by the Yankees last week. The Angels will be his third team since the end of the season. The 33-year-old registered a 4.89 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 49/27 K/BB ratio across 46 innings out of the Astros’ bullpen in 2025. He figures to have a chance to break camp with the Angels.