MLB Player News

France was awful Friday, allowing four runs in 2 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old will head back to the minors with Jayden Murray up to provide a fresh arm. France will likely be back in a low-leverage role at some point.

Sanders struggled as a prospect with the Cubs, but the Pirates signed him last season, and he was electric in the minor leagues, posting a 2.12 ERA with 14 saves and a 62/26 K/BB ratio in 51 innings across Double-A and Triple-A. This season, he has allowed two runs on four hits in six innings at Triple-A with an 11/7 K/BB ratio. The walks are obviously a concern, but he has high-end swing-and-miss stuff and could pitch himself into a late-inning role in the long-term if he can show improved command.

That home run was the first run Espino has allowed this season. He also has a 6/2 K/BB ratio in 5 2/3 innings. What’s more impressive is that the 25-year-old was regularly hitting 99-100 mph on his four-seam fastball despite coming back from two shoulder surgeries. Espino has pitched just 6 1/3 innings since 2022, so at this point, just seeing him on the mound regularly is great. The Guardians could decide to call him up as a reliever at some point this season.

Diamond reports that the sale would be at an “MLB-record valuation of around $3.9 billion.” The deal is not yet official and would mean yet more private equity involvement in professional sports. However, it also might mean an infusion of capital for the Padres, which could prevent them from having to cut costs with the roster again.

Valera is the Red Sox’s 5th-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and the 100th-ranked prospect overall, according to Baseball America. He threw a scoreless first inning against Bowling Green, then experienced discomfort after throwing a pitch in the second and was removed from the game. He will undergo further testing in the hopes that this isn’t a serious injury.

The Diamondbacks signed Fernandez to a minor league deal this offseason in an effort to bring more high-end velocity to their bullpen. However, he struggled in the spring, allowing seven runs on 11 hits with three walks while recording just nine outs. In 54 MLB innings, he’s posted a 5.17 ERA with 35 walks and 47 strikeouts. He’ll get another shot with the Brewers.

Berríos also struck out three and walked one on the day. He averaged 93.5 mph on his sinker, which is great for his first rehab start. He also threw 47 pitches, which means he could be up around 60 or above in his next outing. The results weren’t great, but the Blue Jays will care more about velocity and pitch count. Berríos could be back in the Blue Jays rotation by the start of May at this point.

Laureano has a .290/.355/.551 slash line and Stammen praised the quality of his at-bats regardless of his spot in the order. With Laureano now locked into a job hitting in front of guys like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, his fantasy value is clearly on the rise.

Matt Holliday mentioned that Jackson was compensating after his hamate bone surgery, which caused some soreness on the opposite side of his wrist. He rested and went back to Baltimore to meet with the medical team, where they confirmed there were no new issues. Jackson should begin a rehab assignment this weekend with Single-A Delmarva and then could go back to Triple-A Norfolk after the weekend. With Jeremiah Jackson thriving with the Orioles, Holliday could battle Coby Mayo for playing time when he eventually returns.

Buehler averaged 92.9 mph with his fastball in his first two starts, but he was up to 93.9 mph last week against the Rockies and 94.5 mph tonight. That’s above his 2025 average of 94.0 mph (and he was typically under that it in the second half of the year). It doesn’t make Buehler a fantasy addition just yet, but his stock is trending the right way. He’ll take a 1-1 record and a 4.58 ERA into a start in Coors Field against the Rockies next week.

The Giants’ Luis Arraez singled off Miller to start the ninth inning of a game on April 1. Since then, Miller has retired 24 straight batters, striking out 21 of them. He averaged 101.2 mph and topped out at 102.5 mph with his eight fastballs tonight.