MLB Player News

Walsh made three relief appearances last season for the Cardinals and will open the 2023 campaign in the upper minors as organizational relief depth.

Quijada was effective when on the mound, but was limited to just 19 2/3 innings with 24 strikeouts, 17 walks and a 3.26 ERA. He should be a set-up reliever for the Los Angeles bullpen in 2025.

Taylor was not claimed after being designated for assignment by the Mariners last Wednesday. The 26-year-old offers roster versatility, so it was a little surprising to see no team put in a claim even if the offensive upside is lacking.

Pat Ragazzo reports that Trivino was clocked up to 94 mph while throwing at Cressey Sports Performance. The 33-year-old right-hander hasn’t been able to pitch in the majors since 2022 in the ALCS because of elbow issues, and had his $5 million club option for 2025 declined by the Yankees in November. Trivino was a very strong bullpen opton before those injuries, however, and it won’t be surprising to see a team taking a chance on him before the start of the year.

If true — and Nightengale added no detail about the injury — this comes completely out of the blue. There have been no concerns voiced about Kopech, who made 10 appearances and had a 3.00 ERA in last year’s postseason. Of course, his status isn’t really as fantasy relevant now as it was a few days ago before the Tanner Scott and the newly reported Kirby Yates additions.

No one else is stepping up, so the Dodgers keep adding. Yates could be the first option in the closer’s role over Tanner Scott, just because Scott is more versatile with his ability to match up against lefties and greater familiarity with coming on with men on base. Yates was phenomenal in the role last year for Texas, finishing with a 1.17 ERA and 33 saves.

Richards will compete in spring training for a spot in Chicago’s season-opening bullpen after struggling last year to an inflated 4.55 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 62/35 K/BB ratio across 65 1/3 innings (55 appearances) between the Blue Jays and Twins. The 31-year-old is merely emergency organizational relief depth at this stage of his career.

The deal is now official. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports that the agreement includes an opt-out following the 2027 season that is tied to a club option for 2030 that brings the total value to $110 million. KPRC 2 Houston’s Ari Alexander adds that the deal also contains more than $35 million deferred. Santander provides Toronto’s lineup with an immediate jolt as a middle-of-the-order force to complement franchise cornerstone Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The switch-hitting 30-year-old slugger, who blasted a career-best 44 dingers last year in his final season with the Orioles, has eclipsed 28 round-trippers in each of the past three seasons. His multi-year track record as an upper-echelon four-category impact contributor make it relatively easy for fantasy managers to forecast him as a near-lock to reach the 30-homer mark in his Blue Jays debut and finish next season as a top 25 fantasy outfielder.

Eisert draws the short straw for Toronto with the club needing to free up a 40-man roster spot for marquee free agent acquisition Anthony Santander. The 27-year-old lefty made three scoreless relief appearances last year for the Blue Jays in his first taste of the big leagues.

Gray was claimed off waivers last October from the Athletics and winds up losing his spot on Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster with franchise icon Andrew McCutchen returning for his 17th season. The 28-year-old has gotten into 17 games over the past two seasons between the A’s, Rays and Marlins.

Gray returns to affiliated ball following a dominant run in the Mexican Winter League where he posted a sparkling 1.57 ERA with 33 strikeouts over 23 innings of work. The 29-year-old righty last pitches for the Milwaukee Milkmen of the independent American Association during the 2023 season when he posted nine saves and a microscopic 1.38 ERA and 64 punchouts across 39 innings. He’s the definition of a low-risk flyer for the Rangers as extra organizational relief depth.