MLB Player News

After giving several guys off Sunday, the Nationals are back with more of their core lineup today, with the exception being that Paul DeJong is again starting over House. Prior to yesterday, House had started five straight games at third and nine out of 10. DeJong, though, doubled twice yesterday, which apparently earned him the nod. House is batting .239/.253/.339 in 241 plate appearances as a 22-year-old rookie. Statcast thinks he’s been pretty unlucky, what with his 47% hard-hit rate, but he wouldn’t seem to have locked up a spot for 2026.

The dynamic 24-year-old outfielder admitted that he battled a “pretty big substance abuse problem for a few years” and that he’s now finally “completely clean and sober” after taking time to work on himself and complete an 11-week program for substance abusers. Veen still faces an uphill battle at securing a spot on the Rockies’ Opening Day roster, but if he does ultimately find his way into regular playing time he has all of the tools to be an impact performer for fantasy purposes.

López is heading for a second opinion, but Zoll conceded that season-ending surgery is an option. The 29-year-old hurler was limited to just 14 starts during the 2025 season due to forearm, shoulder and hamstring issues. He then experienced soreness in his elbow while throwing a live batting practice session on Monday. The Twins should provide another update after López gets his second opinion, but the unfortunate expectation is that he won’t pitch at all during the 2026 season.

The 25-year-old right-hander has been brought along slowly in Yankees’ camp as he has been battling a bit of inflammation in the middle of his back. It sounds like it was only a minor issue though and shouldn’t be something that should impact his availability for the start of the regular season. This shouldn’t impact his fantasy draft stock at all.

Clark and the union have been under investigation due to purported improprieties regarding the usage of licensing money. Mets’ infielder Marcus Semien, who is a member of the MLBPA executive subcommittee told reporters on Tuesday that he believes Clark’s resignation is related to the investigation into the improper use of licensing money. Joel Sherman of the New York Post adds that a full statement is expected from Clark before the end of the day on Tuesday. With baseball’s collective bargaining agreement set to expire after the 2026 season and the unrest between players and owners over the future of the game, the chances of a lockout grow increasingly likely.

The 31-year-old hurler is currently being evaluated by the team. O’Brien is expected to serve as the closer for South Korea in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, but if the calf issue continues to linger he’ll be unable to participate. Look for the club to provide an update on his status as soon as more information becomes available.

Smith, 30, slashed a respectable .284/.333/.417 with five homers, 33 RBI and a 42/15 K/BB ratio across 225 plate appearances with the Giants during the 2025 campaign. He’ll provide the Braves with quality depth at the first base position.

The Padres have been stockpiling rotation depth over the past couple of days, signing German Marquez and Griffin Canning to one-year, major league deals and now adding Buehler on a minor league pact. The 31-year-old hurler posted an underwhelming 4.93 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and a 92/61 K/BB ratio over 126 innings between the Red Sox and Phillies in 2025.

No one ever appeared very interested in betting on a rebound from Buehler after he posted a 4.93 ERA and just a 16% strikeout rate last season, but at least here he’ll get nice weather, a fine pitcher’s park and a chance to compete for a spot in a rotation with two pretty obvious holes. It’ll be worth keeping an eye on him.

We’re not overly optimistic about Márquez’s chances of resembling an average MLB starter at this point, but the price is certainly right. He figures to have a good chance of overtaking Randy Vásquez or JP Sears for a spot in San Diego’s rotation, especially if Griffin Canning needs some IL time at the start of the year. Márquez went 3-16 with a 6.70 ERA for the Rockies last season in his first full year back from Tommy John. His velocity was down only about one mph from where he peaked at six years ago, but his secondary pitches just weren’t what they used to be.

Tauchman hit .263/.356/.400 for the White Sox last year and has averaged a .359 OBP and 1.4 fWAR per year as a platoon guy the last three seasons, but no major league offers were forthcoming, it seems. He seems like a nice get for the Mets as a DH and fallback right field option against right-handers, though there might not be room for him if Carson Benge makes the team. If they do somehow carry both Benge and Tauchman, that’d be more bad news for Mark Vientos.