MLB Player News

It seems like an odd way to put it. López, who missed almost all of 2025 following shoulder surgery, has a 2.11 ERA in 26 starts and one relief appearance for the Braves, so if the team thinks he can stay healthy in the rotation, he obviously deserves to be there. But it’s quite possible the Braves believe they’d get more out of him as a reliever and are trying to soften the blow. For the moment, the Braves have Chris Sale, Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach guaranteed rotation spots if healthy. That would leave two openings for López, Grant Holmes, Hurston Waldrep, Bryce Elder, Osvaldo Bido, Joey Wentz and José Suarez. Of that group, only Waldrep has options remaining.

Kelly returns to fortify Arizona’s rotation mix that also features Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson, Eduardo Rodríguez, Michael Soroka and, eventually, Corbin Burnes once he completes his recovery from Tommy John surgery. The 37-year-old veteran was shipped to the Rangers at the trade deadline after the Diamondbacks fell out of playoff contention and finished last season with a strong 3.52 ERA — 3.76 FIP — and 22.3 percent strikeout rate across 184 innings over 32 starts. His familiarity with the NL West’s unforgiving ballparks is a quiet boost to his fantasy appeal, and his combination of elite control and durability keeps him in the top-60 starter range heading into drafts next spring after eclipsing 27 starts in five of the last six full seasons since 2019.

The Cardinals, who are in full rebuild mode, are seeking multiple prospects in return for the versatile 28-year-old. Where there’s this much smoke, there’s usually fire, so expect Donovan to be donning a new uniform by the time Opening Day rolls around.

Collins finished in fourth place in NL Rookie of the Year balloting this past season after slashing a healthy .263/.368/.411 with nine homers, 54 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 441 plate appearances. The door should be open for him to see everyday action with the Royals, which should boost his overall appeal for fantasy purposes. It seems like a lopsided deal on the surface, especially since Mears is coming off the best season of his career, posting a 3.49 ERA — 3.86 FIP across 56 2/3 innings. It’s abundantly clear that Milwaukee sees something in Zerpa’s profile that made him a clear target. The 26-year-old southpaw boasts a serviceable 3.97 ERA — 4.13 FIP — and 19.7 percent strikeout rate over 177 innings in the big leagues since 2021.

The 27-year-old hurler was non-tendered to free up a spot on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster in late November, but he’ll return to the two-time World Champions on a minor league pact where he’ll continue to provide valuable pitching depth. Frasso posted a 5.49 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and a 68/42 K/BB ratio over 77 innings in 43 appearances at Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2025.

Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com adds that it’s a one-year deal with a mutual option for the 2027 season, though the financial terms of the contract are not yet known. The 28-year-old hurler compiled a 4.96 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and a 123/56 K/BB ratio over 132 1/3 innings in 25 appearances between the Dodgers and Red Sox in 2025. He’ll add stability to a Cardinals’ rotation that has already dealt away ace Sonny Gray this offseason.

With the Cardinals in a full rebuild, moving Romero for anything they can get before he enters his final arbitration season makes plenty of sense. The Mariners have also checked in on Romero at some point this offseason. The 29-year-old southpaw posted a 2.07 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 55/29 K/BB ratio over 61 innings while notching eight saves for the Cardinals in 2025.

Rosenthal, Lin and Sammon add the Padres have expressed interest in the Mets’ trio of elite pitching prospects — Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat — while noting that franchise cornerstones Francisco Lindor and Fernando Tatis Jr. have not surfaced in trade discussions. Any deal involving those prospects would qualify as a blockbuster, though McLean’s inclusion would be especially surprising given that he’s been viewed as virtually untouchable since making his major-league debut late last season. New York remains in the market for an established front-line starter and an additional high-leverage reliever to pair with newly acquired stopper Devin Williams following Edwin Díaz’s departure to Los Angeles. While The Athletic notes that nothing appears imminent, this is a situation worth monitoring closely from a fantasy standpoint.

Detroit continues fortifying their high-leverage mix with Jansen joining Kyle Finnegan and Will Vest as ninth-inning options for manager A.J. Hinch. The 38-year-old veteran enters next season just 24 saves shy of the 500 mark after converting 29 chances to accompany a strong 2.59 ERA — 3.98 FIP — and 24.4 percent strikeout rate across 59 innings for the Angels this past season. It’s a phenomenal landing spot from a fantasy perspective as Jansen projects as the clear favorite to handle closing duties with Finnegan and Vest positioned as contingency plans rather than true competition.

Heyman is the first to report the financial terms of the agreement, which surfaced earlier this week. The move comes as a bit of a surprise since the Marlins are bringing Morel in with the expectation that he’ll play first base next season, something he hasn’t done before. The 26-year-old possesses an interesting blend of talent and raw power but he’s struck out just a shade over 30 percent of the time in 1,770 plate appearances in the majors since 2022. He’s the textbook definition of a low-probability lottery ticket for Miami as they search for a solution at the cold corner.

Rodríguez recoded an impressive 1.64 ERA – 3.82 FIP – and 28.4 percent strikeout rate across 44 innings over 39 appearances across three levels in the Athletics’ system this past season. The 24-year-old reliever will presumably open next season back at Triple-A Las Vegas but could be in line to reach the big leagues in short order.