MLB Player News

Kiley McDaniel of ESPN reports that Clark will receive a $7.7 million signing bonus, which is roughly $600,000 below slot for the third overall pick, to forego his commitment to Vanderbilt to start his professional career. The 18-year-old prep outfielder is an excellent all-around talent and should make an impact for Detroit, and fantasy managers, in a few years.

Nuñez augments Cleveland’s organizational catching depth with another veteran presence behind Bo Naylor, Austin Hedges and David Fry heading into next season. He could factor into their plans at some point as an emergency stopgap due to injury with Fry coming off elbow surgery that is expected to prevent him from catching next year. The 29-year-old backstop has gotten into 111 games at the highest level dating back to 2019. He posted a .669 OPS with two homers in 263 plate appearances last year at Triple-A Columbus.

Sauer will bolster Los Angeles’ relief depth heading into next season at Triple-A Oklahoma City.. The 25-year-old righty was selected by the Royals in the Rule 5 Draft prior to last season, but wound up being returned to the Yankees after struggling to a lackluster 7.71 ERA, 2.08 WHIP and 9/11 K/BB ratio across 16 1/3 innings (14 appearances) for Kansas City.

Duplantier had been with the Braves and Brewers in 2024 but will now head overseas to try to resurrect his professional career.

Schulfer, 28, split the 2024 season between the Tigers’ and Twins’ organizations where he compiled a 4.94 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 60/25 K/BB ratio over 54 2/3 innings. He’ll add bullpen depth in the upper minors for the Phillies.

The 28-year-old southpaw spent the 2024 season pitching in Japan and in the Dominican Winter League, compiling a 3.84 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and a 73/34 K/BB ratio across 61 innings. He’ll add an intriguing and talented arm as minor league bullpen depth for the Rockies.

The 27-year-old right-hander spent a pair of seasons in the Padres’ organization from 2022-2023 and even broke through and made his lone big league appearance with the Padres in 2023. He spent the 2024 season pitching in Japan for the Yakult Swallows, registering a 2.73 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 63/24 K/BB ratio across 59 1/3 innings in 56 appearances out of the bullpen. He’ll compete for a spot in the Padres’ Opening Day bullpen.

The Blue Jays are already known to have expressed interest in the 31-year-old hurler and it looks like they’ll have plenty of competition from their large market brethren. Estévez was acquired by the Phillies at last season’s trade deadline and racked up six saves for them down the stretch while posting a 2.57 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 21 innings. His fantasy value will ultimately hinge on whether or not he’ll close with his new club or be relegated to a setup role.

Some minor league relief depth. Milacki, 28, had a 4.75 ERA and a 49/13 K/BB in 55 innings in the Padres system last season; he excelled at Double-A San Antonio, but he gave up 13 runs over nine innings in his stint at Triple-A El Paso.

Heyman says the deal still could happen, but he also thinks the Yankees are threatening to move on. Bellinger is guaranteed $52.5 million over the next two years, though he could walk away from the second season of the deal.

Valdez was DFA’d by the Red Sox last week. The 25-year-old has hit .235/.286/.400 with 12 homers in 372 plate appearances the last two seasons, and it’s easy to imagine him doing a little better than that going forward. The problem is that he’s a subpar defender at second base, and he just doesn’t project very well anywhere else. The Pirates will give him a look at second in spring training, but that still figures to be Nick Gonzales’s spot. Valdez could wind up seeing DH time if the team doesn’t acquire a full-timer for that spot.