MLB Player News

It’s a bit unclear how long Smith will be sidelined, but the most likely scenario is a multi-week absence. The versatile 28-year-old has mostly played second base this season and is off to a slow start, hitting .217/.324/.239 with zero homers and two steals through 31 games.

It’s ostensibly a one-for-one swap of backup catchers with Rogers replacing Carlos Narváez on Boston’s roster. He’s going to split the catching duties with Connor Wong until Adley Rutschman (wrist) is ready to come off the injured list.

The crown jewel of Baltimore’s gigantic prospect haul, Eyanson was universally regarded as Boston’s top minor-league arm and second-ranked prospect behind shortstop Franklin Arias. The 21-year-old has compiled a microscopic 1.32 ERA and 94/26 K/BB ratio across 68 1/3 innings during his professional debut after being selected in the third round of last year’s draft following a standout collegiate career for LSU’s powerhouse program. It’s not hyperbolic to project Eyanson, who attacks hitters with a mid-90’s fastball in addition to a nasty slider and developing curveball, as a realistic mid-rotation arm and a highly impactful fantasy contributor in the not-so-distant future.

There’s a lot to like with Witherspoon, who Boston grabbed with the 15th overall pick in last year’s draft following a standout collegiate career at Oklahoma. The 21-year-old righty has posted a 4.78 ERA and 78/34 K/BB ratio across 75 1/3 innings for High-A Greenville in his professional debut. He got off to a rocky start to the year, but has turned things around over the last two months. He has the stuff to blossom into a solid mid-rotation arm and should miss enough bats to be an impactful fantasy contributor in deeper mixed leagues. He’s a solid pickup for the Orioles as a long-term developmental project.

Azocar is the classic high-variance athletic talent that an organization loves to dream on. The 19-year-old outfielder has hit .286/.341/.540 with 18 homers and 11 steals in 85 games in the lower minors this season. He checked in as Boston’s fifth-ranked prospect, according to Baseball America, and possesses a fantasy-relevant skillset. The big variable to watch is how his raw hit tool translates as he ascends in Baltimore’s system. He’s far away, but Azocar is a name to watch.

There simply isn’t a spot for Narváez anymore in Boston with Rutschman taking over as the organization’s franchise backstop for at least the next couple years. The 27-year-old backstop solidified the club’s catching situation last year, mostly due to his strong defensive abilities, but was always viewed as more of a temporary stopgap as opposed to their long-term answer.

The Rays had so much success with Bryan Baker that they’re going back to the Orioles for another unheralded reliever. Wells has made the transition to a full-time relief role appear seamless, notching four saves to go along with a 2.67 ERA across 54 innings of work. This qualifies as a savvy pickup for the Rays to bolster their late-inning equation.

The 27-year-old Hicks, who won’t be a free agent until after 2030, is probably overachieving some at .282/.363/.432 as a sophomore this year, but he’ll still provide a nice lift over the Rays’ catching duo of Hunter Feduccia and Nick Fortes. Since Hicks and Feduccia are lefty hitters and Fortes is a righty, it’s Feduccia who would seem to be in line for a demotion. No official word yet on whether the Marlins will promote Agustín Ramírez. They already had Brian Navarette up as a third catcher with Hicks often DHing, so they could pick someone else if they don’t see Ramírez getting enough playing time as a DH and backup to Joe Mack.

Taylor, the 19th overall pick in the 2023 draft, has rebounded from a bad 2025 to hit .284/.384/.513 with 17 homers and 20 steals in his second go in Triple-A this year. His strikeout rate is also down to 23 percent from 28 percent the last two years. He has experience at both second and short, but he fits best at third and could be a long-term regular there. The Marlins are more aggressive than most with prospects, so perhaps he’ll get a look next month. He’ll need to be added to the 40-man this winter anyway.

Santana, 21, was the 31st overall pick in the 2003 draft. He offers very little way in terms of power potential, but he was hitting .316/.381/.400 with 23 steals and just 23 strikeouts in 51 games in High-A and he’s a strong defensive shortstop. That seems like a future major leaguer, even if he’s probably a backup on a quality team.