MLB Player News

The deal includes opt outs after 2026 and 2027. Imai is guaranteed $18 million each year of the contract, with $1 million bonuses for 80, 90 and 100 innings. Those bonuses automatically carry over to the next season once he achieves each mark, so he’ll be locked in at $63 million guaranteed if he throws 100 innings next season. However, if he performs well and stays healthy, he’ll almost certainly opt for free agency, which could prove considerably more lucrative since the 15-20 percent posting fee will no longer be attached to him. Obviously, major-league teams shared some skepticism about Imai. Maybe it’s partly because of his unusual slider or his history of control issues, though he’s gotten much better in that department the last two years. The Astros, though, have historically done a great job of getting the most from pitchers, and while we were pretty skeptical about Imai being a mixed-league factor next season, the landing spot definitely ups his stock some. He joins Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier and Lance McCullers Jr. in the projected Houston rotation, with Mike Burrows favored over Spencer Arrighetti and Jason Alexander for the last spot.

This will surely be a minor league deal. Pratto once looked like the Royals’ first baseman of the future, but he was largely ineffective in 527 plate appearances between 2022 and ’23 (.216/.295/.364) and things went from bad to worse the last two years, as he finished with Triple-A OPSs of .734 in 2024 and .620 in 2025.

Teng spent most of last year pitching in relief in Triple-A and racked up an impressive 89 strikeouts in 57 innings. However, the Giants needed him as a starter late. He wound up with a 6.37 ERA in his seven starts and one relief appearance, but that came with a fine 28% strikeout rate and only two homers allowed in 29 2/3 innings. He certainly has the varied arsenal necessary to start, but he seems more interesting in relief as a potential setup man. Of course, the Astros might have a couple of fixes in mind that would give him more promise in the rotation.

The move opens up a 40-man roster spot, making room for Harrison Bader when his deal becomes official. Villarroel, who turned 21 a couple of weeks ago, hit .259/.351/.388 with 20 steals in a 2025 season spent mostly in Low-A ball. While he did more catching than anything else, he also made several starts in left field and at second base. It’s hard to say just what kind of power potential he has at 5-foot-8, but if he can last at catcher, he could be an interesting reserve down the line.

France did great work as a 28-year-old rookie for the Astros in 2023, going 11-6 with a 3.83 ERA, but he lasted just five starts in 2024 before requiring shoulder surgery and he struggled with his command after returning last summer, pitching just four innings in the majors. He’s making the minimum and he has an option year left, so he should have suitors, even if he doesn’t offer much upside.

Re-signed might come as a surprise to most, but the Rangers inked Quantrill to a minor league deal last September. They never did call him up afterwards, leaving him with a hideous 6.04 ERA in 117 2/3 innings with the Marlins and Braves. Like Patrick Corbin a year ago, he rates as adequate rotation depth, though he probably has even less of a ceiling.

“You want to ramp up, but I gotta take my time and get healthy,” Snell told the California Post’s Jack Harris. He said the plan is still for him to be ready for Opening Day, but he’s also not going to take any chances this spring. None of this seems like great news, but it’s not like anyone is penciling in Snell for 180 innings anyway; he’s topped 130 just twice in the majors. If he’s at his best for 130 innings this year, it’ll probably be enough for him to justify his draft day price tag. Should Snell be unavailable initially, it’d probably lock up rotation spots for Emmet Sheehan and Roki Sasaki in L.A. and open the door for Justin Wrobleski, Ben Casparius or maybe River Ryan to open up as the sixth starter.

Cosgrove, 29, excelled for the Padres in his major league debut in 2023, throwing 51 1/3 innings with a 1.75 ERA, but with his velocity in decline, he’s given up 20 runs in 18 2/3 innings in the majors in the two seasons since. He doesn’t figure to win a bullpen spot out of spring training.

Another veteran reliever for a team that just signed Héctor Neris. Morgan, 29, missed most of last season with elbow troubles, though not before he gave up 10 runs in 7 1/3 innings for the Cubs in April. He was much more successful in Cleveland the previous three seasons, posting a 3.27 ERA and a 181/48 K/BB in 176 innings.

For the Giants, this is about freeing up a spot on the 40-man to make room for Harrison Bader, and in return, they’ll get a 21-year-old catcher. The Astros will DFA J.P. France to make room for Teng.

Ryan, 30, had a 5.66 ERA in 20 2/3 innings for the Pirates in 2024 and then spent all of last season with the club’s Triple-A team, finishing with a 4.73 ERA and a 61/38 K/BB in 72 1/3 innings. He’ll probably share a roster spot with younger brother River on the Dodgers’ Triple-A team this year.