MLB Player News

Kyle Farnsworth looked good in his return to action Saturday, but evidently Rays manager Joe Maddon isn’t ready to put him back in the closer role year, or perhaps not ready to pitch him in back-to-back games. Peralta has converted all five save chances since The Farns went down, and he’s allowed just one run over his last 16 outings.

Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported that the deal was close earlier Friday, and now it appears to be wrapped up, pending a physical. Walker has spent his entire career with the Diamondbacks, and the 33-year-old hit 26 homers with an .803 OPS in 2024 with Arizona over 130 games. He’ll hit in the middle of the order for Houston, and even with no Kyle Tucker, there should be solid opportunities for run production in the Astros’ lineup.

Ortiz is expected to miss most or all of the 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last July. The 29-year-old will get a chance to rehab with the Mets, and if things go well, could be back with the club in 2026 as a bullpen option.

Farris is a 14th round pick out of Wingate who made 25 appearances — 19 of them starts — with a 3.08 ERA and 131/43 K/BB over 108 innings. The 23-year-old left-handed doesn’t project to be be more than organizational depth at this or any other stage.

Daniel was booted off the 40-man roster after the Angels acquired Chuckie Robinson from the White Sox. The 27-year-old struggled for most of 2024, but showed some flashes during the 2023 campaign. Atlanta will hope to find that version in 2025, but fantasy managers obviously shouldn’t bet on it.

Bowman will get a $1.1 million prorated contract and the deal comes with the potential for $400,000 more in incentives. The right-hander elected free agency after being outrighted off the Baltimore roster in November, but he’ll remain in the Baltimore organization to push for a spot in the bullpen.

Fernández last pitched in the majors back in 2021, and spent last year with Veracruz in Mexico. He pitched well there with a 1.82 ERA and 43/12 K/BB over 34 appearances, and the Dodgers will give the 29-year-old a look during the Cactus League.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com says that the deal is “at the 10 yard line” so this could happen soon. Walker, 33, is one of the top free agent bats on the market and the Astros got little to no production from the first base position in 2024. It seems like a strong fit on paper, and Walker’s power from the right side should play well in the Crawford Boxes — assuming the deal does get done, of course.

Nelson, 29, spent the last three years with the Phillies, though after posting a 4.85 ERA and leading the NL in wild pitches with 13 in 68 2/3 innings in 2022, he was mostly a minor leaguer the last two seasons. He originally came up with the Yankees in 2020, and he had a 5.20 ERA in 114 1/3 innings over five MLB seasons.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said he hoped to have an answer to Lewis’s position by the start of spring training, suggesting it won’t be a competition between second baseman Edouard Julien and third base candidates Brooks Lee and Jose Miranda for the other spot. The Twins could make an addition at either second or third, but they are strapped for cash and more focused on first base. Barring a pickup, it sounds like the Twins are leaning towards using Lewis at second, Julien could then still factor in at first or DH if he impresses in spring training.

He’ll get $5.5 million in 2025 and $12.75 million in 2026, which means Sandoval has probably made out better in terms of his new contract than any non-tendered player ever. The rehabbing lefty was projected for a $5.9 million salary next season by Matt Swartz, and he would not have been in line for a big raise in 2026, which was slated to be his final year prior to free agency, after missing at least the first half of 2025 following Tommy John. Sandoval was 2-8 with a 5.08 ERA for the Angels before getting hurt last season, but he had typically solid strikeout and groundball rates. He has a career 4.01 ERA in 100 starts and seven relief appearances, all coming with the Angels.