MLB Player News

The Tigers needed to clear a spot on their 40-man roster for the addition of Kyle Finnegan on Friday and they accomplished that by flipping Lee to the Jays for Simon. The 24-year-old southpaw registered a 3.42 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and a 79/29 K/BB ratio over 71 innings across three minor league levels in 2025 culminating in six strong appearances at Double-A New Hampshire. He’ll add bullpen depth in the upper minors for the Tigers and could be poised to make his big league debut at some point during the 2026 campaign.

Rom hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2023. The 26-year-old left-hander will be an organizational depth piece for Milwaukee in 2026.

Winans is being released so that he can pursue an opportunity to play in Japan. The 30-year-old will get a chance to pitch in the Nippon League and revitalize his career.

According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, McClanahan will make $3.6 million once again. That’s what he earned each of the last two years as part of a $7.2 million contract signed when he was first eligible for arbitration as a Super Two player in 2024. Of course, he hasn’t pitch in the majors since, having undergone Tommy John prior to the deal and then going down with a nerve issue as he completed his TJ rehab last spring. McClanahan is expected to be fully back for spring training. He’ll have one more year of arbitration eligibility in 2027.

Bruihl, 28, had a 5.27 ERA in 13 2/3 innings for Toronto last season, putting him at 4.72 in 89 2/3 career innings since he debuted with the Dodgers in 2021. Still, his Stuff metrics have improved, and he struck out 28% of the 65 batters he faced last season. He’s out of options, so he’ll probably have a spot in the Cleveland bullpen.

The A’s might have dropped someone else for Justin Bruihl had Noel had an option remaining, but that he’s out of them at age 24 does cut into his value. A helpful platoon player as a rookie in 2024, Noel came in at just .162/.183/.297 with 52 strikeouts in 153 plate appearances last season. He has top-of-the-line power, but it seems unlikely that he’ll ever make enough contact to rate as a useful regular. He could, however, bounce back well enough to contribute against lefties.

Kim would have been guaranteed just $48 million, though bonuses probably would have pushed his salaries higher. It’s interesting that the A’s were willing to make such a commitment to a middle infielder, given that Jacob Wilson is locked in and top prospect Leo De Vries, the primary return in the Mason Miller trade, might be ready in 2027. Still, the A’s probably ought to commit at least a one-year deal to a starter at second or third. Right now, they have Zack Gelof, Max Muncy, Max Schuemann, Darell Hernaiz, Brett Harris and Michael Stefanic as possibilities at those two spots.

Suárez missed most of 2025 with a shoulder strain and then dealt with an elbow issue at the end of the year, making him a question mark going forward. The Orioles non-tendered him last month, but he’ll be back in camp and hopefully ready to compete for a spot, probably in middle relief. He has a 3.59 ERA in 25 starts and 12 relief appearances for the Orioles since returning to the majors in 2024.

Handley will be back with the Orioles as Triple-A catching depth. A defensive-minded backstop, he went 3-for-41 in 16 games in the majors last season. He’s a career .222/.341/.337 hitter over 374 games in the minors.

The 24-year-old Vasquez, who spent the last six years in the Rays system, was limited to 44 games last season, hitting .256/.297/.359 in Double-A. He has experience all over the diamond, but he hasn’t yet showed the kind of bat to suggest he has any chance of becoming a major leaguer.

He’ll get $4 million next season and then the $500,000 if his mutual option isn’t exercised (and it won’t be). Thielbar, who debuted with the Twins in 2013 and went four straight seasons from 2016-19 without making a major league appearance, will be making his highest salary ever at age 39. He had a 2.64 ERA and 25 holds last season in his first year with the Cubs.