Junior

Fernandez

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.

The most interesting name among this batch of cuts for the Diamondbacks is Ryan Waldschmidt. He had started to gain some steam in fantasy circles as a sleeper candidate, but he was always facing an uphill battle at earning a spot on the Diamondbacks’ Opening Day roster. The 23-year-old hit .240 (6-for-25) with one homer, five RBI and one stolen base during Cactus League play. He should get an opportunity with the Snakes at some point in 2026.

The 28-year-old hurler split his 2025 season between the Royals’ and Mets’ organizations where he compiled a 4.40 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and a 57/27 K/BB ratio over 43 innings at the Triple-A level. He’ll add bullpen depth in the upper minors for the Diamondbacks.

Fernández, 28, once looked like a possible closer of the future for the Cardinals, but his control never came around. He spent part of last year in Japan, and he had a 4.93 ERA and a 53/26 K/BB in 38 1/3 innings for the Royals’ Triple-A club this season.

Gentry will likely see time for the Royals, but likely as a backup outfielder. Cameron and Cerantola both could make appearances in roles that offer no fantasy intrigue in 2025.

While Jac Caglianone is the biggets name on the list of non-roster invitees, Cross is intriguing in his own right. The 23-year-old outfielder — and ninth overall pick from the 2022 draft class — slashed .261/.342/.428 with 15 homers, 59 RBI and 30 stolen bases (32 attempts) in 101 games at Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2024. There’s a good chance that we see him in Kansas City at some point during the 2025 season and his speed would give him some appeal from a fantasy perspective.

The Royals didn’t say if Fernández was going to get an invitation to spring training, but that’s a relatively small detail. The right-hander signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan, but he appeared in just two games in the NPB. Once considered among the better relief prospects in baseball, Fernández will need to pitch exceptionally well this spring to be anything more than depth for Kansas City in 2025.

Fernández heads overseas for 2024 after spending all of last season in the minor leagues between the Blue Jays and Nationals. The 26-year-old righty has made 50 career relief appearances in the big leagues since 2019.

Fernández hasn’t pitched in the majors this season, but has made 50 career relief appearances dating back to 2019. The 26-year-old righty has posted a lackluster 5.69 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 46/26 K/BB ratio across 49 innings (42 appearances) this season at the Triple-A level.

No real surprises here but Bard and Fernández seem like the most likely to get the call to Toronto as extra bullpen depth at some point this season.