MLB Player News

This was always a foregone conclusion. Raley had a $4.75 million team option for 2026 and was one of the Mets’ most reliable relievers in 2025 with a 2.45 ERA in 30 appearances. He will, once again, be one of their key left-handed pitchers in 2026.

Williams was cruising early in this one, keeping the Rays off the scoreboard for the first three innings and striking out five of the first nine batters he faced. He allowed a leadoff double in the fourth but then struck out the next two batters and seemed close to getting out of the jam before a walk and a Chandler Simpson triple plated two runs. Williams would rebound to retire the side in order in the fifth but was then removed from the game at just 70 pitches. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt made it clear that Williams was healthy but had just started two games and made one relief appearance in a six-game stretch, so they wanted to save his arm in case they need him later in the series. Williams has now allowed four runs on eight hits in 16 2/3 innings this postseason while striking out 33 and walking six. He could likely start Game 7 if the series gets that far.

Cabrera spent almost the entire season in the Yankees’ organization at the Triple-A level, hitting .288 with 19 home runs and a .790 OPS. He was designated for assignment and claimed off waivers by the Reds in late September. He will battle for a bench spot in spring training.

Nogami is a little-known 20-year-old from Japan who was not playing professional baseball but was signed out of a semi-hardball league. Limited scouting reports suggest that he has a 90 mph four-seamer, cutter, slider, curve, and a splitter. He’s likely a low-cost developmental prospect for the Padres.

The 48-year-old Reith played 13 years of professional baseball, including three in the big leagues with the Reds as a reliever. He has spent the past five seasons as the pitching coach for Triple-A Durham in the Rays’ organization. This will be Reith’s first stint on a major league coaching staff, and it will be interesting to see what, if any, organizational approaches he brings over from Tampa Bay, where he coached current Twins starters Taj Bradley and Joe Ryan.

Povich was allegedly “pitching through significant pain down the stretch.” He was optioned to the minors in the middle of September after posting a 4.38 ERA in 37 MLB innings. Povich is expected to be ready for spring training, and he has a shot at earning a spot in the starting rotation.

Melton was placed on the injured list on September 21st with right arm fatigue and had reportedly been dealing with an “achy” arm for a few weeks. Unsurprisingly, that coincided with a major dip in production from the 25-year-old. The Tigers said that “Melton’s medical evaluation found no issues,” and he will head into the offseason as a fully healthy pitcher with a normal routine. This was Melton’s largest MLB sample yet, but he did throw 120 innings split between the minors and majors last season, so it’s at least a little concerning that his arm didn’t feel right at the end of the year. He will be a name to monitor in spring training.

By many metrics, Turner was one of the worst defensive shortstops in baseball in 2026. While 2026 was easily the worst defensive season of his career and could be an outlier, Turner has had one positive Defensive Runs Saved season since 2021 and no positive seasons by Outs Above Average since 2019. The Phillies could move Bryson Stott to shortstop and try Turner at second base if they were eventually looking to make a defensive change.

Sources tell The Athletic the deal is worth $2.75 million. Mayza, who would have become a free agent after the World Series, pitched to a 3.48 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 64/18 K/BB ratio in 67 1/3 innings this season. He will remain a key piece in the bridge to Jhoan Duran in 2027.

Mendoza was let go by the Mets at the end of June after posting a 34-47 record to start the season. He was 206-199 (.509 winning percentage) in his two-plus years with the Mets, but the team fell short of expectations. He had a sterling reputation as a coach with the Yankes prior to taking the Mets job and is a strong addition to the Phillies staff.

Palacios sat the first two games with Cleveland throwing left-handed pitchers in both. Ben Williamson will not shift back to the bench, but the rest of the Rays’ lineup remains the same.