Colorado

Rockies

The Rockies had room on the 40-man roster, so this is a bit surprising. Fernandez is just 23 years old and hit .284/.347/.502 with 13 home runs and just a 14 percent strikeout rate in 64 games at Triple-A Albuquerque in 2025. That success didn’t carry over in his 147 MLB plate appearances, but it was his first crack at the big leagues. There might be something more going on here, but if not, he will certainly get claimed on waivers.

Ohl had been designated for assignment last week, so the Twins were able to work him into this larger trade. The 26-year-old made his MLB debut in 2025, posting a 5.46 ERA and 24/7 K/BB ratio across 28 innings over 13 appearances (three starts). However, he did have a 2.40 ERA in 71 1/3 minor league innings with a strikeout rate over 30 percent. He has a deep pitch mix and a plus changeup and could be an option in the Rockies’ rotation.

Not too long ago, Julien was a bat-first infield prospect who rose through Minnesota’s minor league system and had a solid MLB debut in 2023, where he finished 7th in AL Rookie of the Year voting. However, his inability to make consistent contact has been tough for him to overcome, and he sports a .232/.336/.382 career slash line in 917 MLB plate appearances. He is also a poor defender at second base and a below-average baserunner, which complicates his overall value. Perhaps moving to Coors Field will help him regain that offensive value. He is out of minor league options, which is part of the reason this trade was made, but also means the Rockies cannot send him to Triple-A.

Rumfield was the Yankees’ 25th-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, but is blocked at first base by Ben Rice. Despite being 6'5,” Rumfield is more hit-over-power and posted a .285/.378/.447 slash line in 138 games at Triple-A last year with 16 home runs and 87 RBI. He is a below-average runner and just an average defender, but there is a chance he could earn reps at first base in Colorado this year if he can beat out Troy Johnston and Blaine Crim. Of course, Charlie Condon is eventually going to take that job, but perhaps not until 2027.

Weigel spent 2025 with the Nationals, posting an 8.29 ERA in 33 2/3 innings with Triple-A Rochester. However, he then went to the Dominican Winter League and posted a 1.19 ERA with a 34/5 K/BB ratio in 30 1/3 innings. In his nine seasons in the minors, he has registered a 3.92 ERA in 523 2/3 innings, so he at least could serve as organizational depth for the Rockies.

Castro is getting $6.4 million per season, which matches his 2025 salary in his final year of arbitration. If the Rockies treat him like a regular — and they don’t seem to the type to pay $6.4 million for a backup — then he’ll probably offer some value in deeper leagues. It will hinge on how much he runs; he’s totaled 24 steals the last two years after finishing with 33 in 2023 alone. But his average is due for a nice bump in Coors, and he’ll probably prove to be one of the team’s best options at the top of the lineup, as sad as that might be.

Acton was a waiver claim from the Rays in November after returning from Tommy John to post a 3.68 ERA and a 71/27 K/BB in 58 2/3 innings for Triple-A Durham last season. He’ll probably be stashed by another team and then DFA’d again before you know it.

The Rockies had designated Blalock for assignment when they signed Michael Lorenzen, so it’s nice that they were able to get anything in exchange for him. The 25-year-old has thrown at least 110 innings in each of the last three minor league seasons and has impressive control, but he has a below-average fastball, so it remains to be seen how he would handle Coors Field. He should begin the year in Double-A.

Blalock was designated for assignment last week to make room on the 40-man roster for Michael Lorenzen. The 25-year-old posted a 9.36 ERA in 58 2/3 innings for the Rockies. It remains to be seen what role the Marlins have in mind for him, but it’s unlikely he’ll have much fantasy value in 2026.

He’ll get $12.8 million, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. Castro seemed in line for a one-year pact after cratering with the Cubs following a deadline deal, but the Rockies needed to commit a little extra, even for a position player who will be lucky to take advantage of Coors Field. The switch-hitting Castro figures to be an everyday player for Colorado, though he could continue to be deployed all over the place. He’s hit .244/.328/.386 with 32 homers and 57 steals in 1,498 plate appearances over the last three seasons. Unfortunately, though, 33 of those steals came in 2023, and he’s gone just 24-for-37 since. Still, with Coors backing him and maybe more steal attempts on a bad team, he could be a factor in mixed leagues.