MLB Player News

Lester smacked a two-run single off of Anthony DeSclafani to cap off a six-run rally in the third inning. That would be his only hit in three at-bats on the afternoon. The 28-year-old slugger started at third base in this one, and could see additional action there if Gunnar Henderson is forced to miss another couple of games.

Kessinger lost his spot on Houston’s 40-man roster a couple weeks ago when the club signed veteran slugger Christian Walker. The 27-year-old offers a cornucopia of defensive versatility, but he simply hasn’t hit a lick at the highest level over the past two years, batting .131/.243/.213 with one homer in 70 plate appearances. He’s merely extra bench depth for Arizona heading into next season.

Linskey was Arizona’s 16th-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Rice University in Houston and looked impressive last year in his full-season pro debut, posting a sterling 2.78 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 51/16 K/BB ratio across 32 1/3 innings (22 appearances) between three minor-league levels, finishing the year at High-A Hillsboro. The 22-year-old is an imposing presence at 6-foot-7 and represents an intriguing relief project for the Astros moving forward.

Matusz was the fourth overall selection in the 2008 MLB Draft and went on to spend eight seasons in the big leagues between the Orioles and Cubs from 2009-2016 before retiring a couple years later. Matusz made 279 appearances (68 starts) for Baltimore from 2009-2016. He made one relief appearance for the Cubs during their championship season in 2016 and was rewarded with a World Series ring. Our thoughts are with the entire Matusz family at this time.

The Giants definitely needed at least one rotation addition, and Verlander remains a reasonable bet at age 42, even though last season with the Astros was pretty disastrous. The three-time Cy Young Award winner wound up with a 5.48 ERA in 17 starts before being left out of Houston’s postseason plans, but he was excellent in 2023 (3.22 ERA in 162 1/3 IP) and he just won a Cy Young in 2022 at age 39. He’ll join Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Jordan Hicks and probably Kyle Harrison in the San Francisco rotation. It’s an ideal landing spot for fantasy purposes as Oracle Park remains one of the most pitcher-friendly venues in baseball. He’ll be a late-round pick in fantasy drafts this spring based on his track record alone.

Cotillo adds that the Blue Jays and Mets are involved as well. Verdugo represents a logical upgrade for the Pirates, who currently has Joshua Palacios occupying right field with just a few weeks left prior to spring training. The 28-year-old outfielder batted .233/.291/.356 with 13 homers and two steals in 621 plate appearances last year for the Yankees. He’s pretty much a non-factor for fantasy purposes, regardless of where he ultimately winds up, but Toronto and New York would be much better situations.

The deal is now official. Alvarado has been added to Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster after agreeing last month to a split contract. The 25-year-old righty will compete in Grapefruit League action for a spot in the Pirates’ season-opening bullpen after compiling a strong 2.66 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 74/40 K/BB ratio across 50 2/3 innings (41 appearances) last year between Single-A Jupiter and Triple-A Jacksonville in the Marlins’ system.

The deal is now official. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the club option could be worth up to $20 million through performance escalators. Rasmussen is expected to return to Tampa Bay’s starting rotation next season after posting a sparkling 2.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 35/6 K/BB ratio across 28 2/3 innings (16 appearances, four starts) last year in a relief role. The 29-year-old righty offers some appeal for fantasy managers, especially those with relief pitcher-only roster spots, but his numbers figure to take a hit from a run-prevention standpoint with the Rays’ relocation to hitter-friendly George M. Steinbrenner Field. He’s more of a late-round pick for re-draft purposes given his extensive injury history, but he projects as a quality ratio booster, especially in deeper mixed leagues.

Chris Cotillo of Mass Live reports that Dalbec gets $1.25M if he’s in the majors with the White Sox with another $500K possible in incentives and the ability to opt out in June and July. Dalbec has spent his entire career with the Red Sox since being drafted in the fourth round out of Arizona in 2016, and while there were some flashes that suggest he could be a regular, it hasn’t come consistently. He’ll battle for a bench spot with the White Sox in 2025.

Pagan is a speedy outfielder who is coming off an ugly year where he slashed .199/.254/.325 in High-A and Double-A while a member of the Cubs’ organization. It’d take something unforeseeable for him to reach the majors in 2025.

Short gives the Astros some infield depth after the 29-year-old was outrighted off of Atlanta’s roster in 2024. The right-handed hitter is capable of playing all over the infield, but will need to show out in the Grapefruit League if he has any chance of breaking camp with the big-league club.