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This outcome became a strong possibility earlier this week when the 28-year-old slugger visited a renowned core muscle specialist to get another opinion on the abdominal issue that has been bothering him since early July. He’ll finish the 2025 season slashing .260/.309/.428 with just 16 homers and 54 RBI in 447 plate appearances. The expectation is that he’ll be ready to go in time for spring training.

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.

The Rockies had room on the 40-man roster, so this is a bit surprising. Fernandez is just 23 years old and hit .284/.347/.502 with 13 home runs and just a 14 percent strikeout rate in 64 games at Triple-A Albuquerque in 2025. That success didn’t carry over in his 147 MLB plate appearances, but it was his first crack at the big leagues. There might be something more going on here, but if not, he will certainly get claimed on waivers.

The Twins had designated Ohl for assignment and were unable to send Julien to the minors since he was out of minor league options, so this was about getting something for two players who were no longer in the team’s plans. That being said, this is a pretty solid get. Kaminska was the Cal League pitcher of the year in 2024 when he posted a 2.78 ERA with 104 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings at High-A. However, he also injured his elbow at the end of that season and had Tommy John surgery, which cost him the entire 2025 season. He will be 24 years old this season and likely begin the year at Double-A as he starts to ramp back up.

Ohl had been designated for assignment last week, so the Twins were able to work him into this larger trade. The 26-year-old made his MLB debut in 2025, posting a 5.46 ERA and 24/7 K/BB ratio across 28 innings over 13 appearances (three starts). However, he did have a 2.40 ERA in 71 1/3 minor league innings with a strikeout rate over 30 percent. He has a deep pitch mix and a plus changeup and could be an option in the Rockies’ rotation.

Not too long ago, Julien was a bat-first infield prospect who rose through Minnesota’s minor league system and had a solid MLB debut in 2023, where he finished 7th in AL Rookie of the Year voting. However, his inability to make consistent contact has been tough for him to overcome, and he sports a .232/.336/.382 career slash line in 917 MLB plate appearances. He is also a poor defender at second base and a below-average baserunner, which complicates his overall value. Perhaps moving to Coors Field will help him regain that offensive value. He is out of minor league options, which is part of the reason this trade was made, but also means the Rockies cannot send him to Triple-A.

Alcántara spent 2025 in the Giants and Diamondbacks organizations, hitting .251/.368/.341 in 113 games at Triple-A with two home runs and four steals. He has hit .207 in 506 career MLB plate appearances and is simply organizational depth who can play all infield positions.