MLB Player News

The 26-year-old catcher spent last season with the Brewers organization, hitting .294/.341/.454 with nine homers across 255 plate appearances at Triple-A Nashville. He will add depth at the catching position in the upper minors for the Blue Jays.

Stripling exercised the opt-out clause in his contract after he was informed that he didn’t make the Royals’ Opening Day roster. The 35-year-old right-hander has struggled in recent years with a 5.36 ERA in 2023 and a 6.01 ERA in 2024. Stripling didn’t exactly cover himself in glory this spring with a 14.63 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and 2/1 K/BB ratio in eight innings. He’ll look to catch on with another organization, but will probably have to settle for another minor-league deal.

Barger was in the mix for a bench role in spring training, but is headed back to the minors with Alan Roden somewhat unexpectedly making the roster. The 25-year-old hit .367 with three home runs and six RBI in 15 games this spring, but it wasn’t enough to make Toronto forget he hit .197 with seven home runs and 28 RBI in 69 games last year. Given his versatility, it’s likely Barger will appear in the majors this season, though he’ll have to improve his hitting to garner everyday at-bats.

Liberatore beat out Michael McGreevy with a 1.62 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 9/4 K/BB ratio in 16 2/3 innings this spring. The 25-year-old left-hander owns a 4.99 career ERA in 91 appearances mostly out of the bullpen for St. Louis. Liberatore’s fantasy value is limited to NL-Only leagues to start the year.

This is great news for fantasy managers after Hyde told reporters he was unsure if Bautista would make the Opening Day roster earlier this week. The 29-year-old right-hander missed all of the 2024 with Tommy John surgery and it’s very encouraging that he was able to make it all the way back for Opening Day. Bautista enters the year as a top-10 closer in fantasy circles with upside for more.

McKenzie was in competition for the last spot in the Guardians’ rotation with Logan Allen. After the 27-year-old right-hander tossed a scoreless seventh inning in relief on Friday against the Giants, it became clear that McKenzie didn’t win that competition. The Guardians made that official Sunday with Allen part of the Opening Day rotation and McKenzie in the bullpen. McKenzie wasn’t on the fantasy radar for mixed leagues this season anyway, but a bullpen role takes him off the table for AL-Only leagues as well.

Allen had a 1.89 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 19/4 K/BB ratio in 19 innings this spring. Just 26, he had a 3.81 ERA in 125 innings in 2023, but was booted from the rotation after posting a 5.73 ERA in 20 starts in 2024. Allen is someone for AL-Only managers to be aware of to start the year as the Guardians are giving him another chance to stick in the rotation.

Margot opted out of his contract with the Brewers after he didn’t make the team earlier this week. The 30-year-old outfielder will have plenty of opportunity to play with the Tigers as Parker Meadows and Matt Vierling are set to open the season on the injured list. Margot hit .250 with no home runs and six RBI in 11 spring training games with the Brewers. He hit .238 with four home runs and 38 RBI in 129 games with the Twins in 2024. Margot offers little fantasy utility outside of AL-Only leagues.

Diaz’ rough spring concludes with a hamstring injury that will have him sidelined to start the season. The 28-year-old right-hander had a 13.50 ERA in four spring training appearances after missing time with a knee issue. Now that Diaz is beginning the year on the injured list, Taylor Rogers, Scott Barlow, Emilio Pagan or some combination of the three will close games for the Reds and new manager Terry Francona.

McGreevy had a chance to crack the Cardinals’ Opening Day starting rotation this spring. The 24-year-old right-hander was exceptional with a 1.08 ERA, 0.60 WHIP and 12/0 K/BB ratio in 16 2/3 innings, but ultimately St. Louis decided to send him back to the minors. We’ll see McGreevy in the major leagues this summer, but the question remains if he can be a fantasy-relevant starter in mixed leagues.

Take this one with a grain of salt. While the Astros have made no public indications that Smith, who isn’t currently on the 40-man roster, has made the team yet, Bowden is saying he’ll be the starting right fielder on Opening Day. It’s not hard to envision, though the Astros still have other options available including Zach Dezenzo, Cooper Hummel and Zack Short. Smith, who was acquired along with Isaac Paredes and Hayden Wesneski in the offseason trade for Kyle Tucker, is the logical choice and offers the most fantasy upside.