MLB Player News

The Braves were forced to pivot after presumed starting shortstop Ha-Seong Kim tore a ligament in his hand while falling on ice. Mateo was that quick pivot. The 30-year-old hit just .177 in 79 at-bats for the Orioles in 2025. He still remains a plus baserunner, but his defense at shortstop has also regressed over the last few seasons, so it’s hard to get too excited about this from a fantasy perspective.

The 32-year-old southpaw spent the 2025 season pitching for the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization. There, he compiled a 4.48 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and a 128/79 K/BB ratio over 144 2/3 innings in his 28 starts. He’ll add pitching depth for the World Champions.

Iriarte, 24, spent the majority of the 2025 season at Triple-A Charlotte where he posted a 7.24 ERA, 1.96 WHIP and a 48/37 K/BB ratio over 46 innings of work. There’s a decent chance that he’ll pass through waivers unclaimed and continue to function as extra bullpen depth for the White Sox.

The White Sox needed to clear a couple of spots on their 40-man roster after acquiring Jordan Hicks and David Sandlin from the Red Sox on Sunday and unfortunately for Romo he was left on the outside of that roster bubble. The 24-year-old backstop has already been claimed three times off of waivers this winter — by the Orioles, Mets and White Sox — so there’s a good chance that he’ll be on the move again in the next few days.

If it seems like a lopsided deal on the surface, it’s because it’s basically a salary dump for the Red Sox who are getting out from $16 million or so of the $25 million that’s remaining on Hicks’ contract over the next two seasons. We’ll wait and see how the players to be named later shake out. Ziehl, 22, was acquired by the White Sox in last season’s deadline deal that sent Austin Slater to the Yankees. He registered a 4.12 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 90/19 K/BB ratio over 107 innings across three minor league levels in 2025. The Red Sox had conversations about acquiring Jordan Leasure instead but ultimately thought that Ziehl was too good to pass up.

By taking on around $16 million in salary from Hicks in the trade, the White Sox were able to get a much better prospect in return. Sandlin, 24, made 32 appearances (14 starts) between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester in 2025, compiling a 4.50 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 107/40 K/BB ratio across 106 innings of work. He should pitch out of the White Sox’ rotation at some point during the 2026 campaign.

As reported earlier, Hicks will head to the White Sox in a salary dump by the Red Sox. The Red Sox are reportedly sending $8 million to the White Sox in the deal, meaning that the White Sox will take on around $16 million that’s still owed to Hicks over the next two seasons. The 29-year-old hurler has struggled through injury and ineffectiveness over the past two seasons, but when he’s right, he has proven to be a capable high-leverage bullpen arm. He’s likely to function in a setup role in front of new closer Seranthony Dominguez.

It’s a salary dump more than anything else for the Red Sox. Hicks is owed $25 million over the next two seasons and they’ll send the White Sox $8 million to help pay that down. They’ll also send them pitching prospect David Sandlin. Ziehl, 22, was acquired by the White Sox from the Yankees at last season’s trade deadline in exchange for Austin Slater. He posted a 4.12 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 90/19 K/BB ratio over 107 innings across three minor league levels in 2025.

The White Sox will also receive pitching prospect David Sandlin in the trade. No word yet on what’s going back to the Red Sox, but it seems like more of a salary dump on their part than anything else as Hicks is owed $25 million over the next two seasons. The 29-year-old former should find high leverage work at the back end of the White Sox’ bullpen in front of closer Seranthony Dominguez. Hicks posted a 6.95 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and a 58/32 K/BB ratio over 67 1/3 innings between the Giants and Red Sox in 2025.

The 29-year-old hurler pitched in the Rays’ organization during an injury plagued 2025 campaign, registering a 3.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and a 15/14 K/BB ratio over 22 frames between Triple-A Durham and the club’s Rookie League affiliate. If healthy, he’ll add some nice bullpen depth for the Padres.

With Luis Arraez departing via free agency, the Padres are left with an opening at first base. Sheets, 29, had a very productive season in his first year with the Padres in 2025, slashing a healthy .252/.317/.429 with 19 homers, 71 RBI and a 107/44 K/BB ratio over 545 plate appearances. Sheets was already expected to be the club’s regular designated hitter against right-handed pitching, so even if he wins the first base job, it isn’t likely to increase his overall playing time or fantasy value.