MLB Player News

The Royals remain committed to Jordan Lyles because the GM signed him to a ridiculous contract, but Zerpa, Daniel Lynch IV and Alec Marsh probably clear the low bar as better No. 5-starter options this season. All three are likely ticketed for Triple-A right now, but if any has a chance of being carried as a reliever, it’s probably Zerpa, who has a 3.84 ERA in six starts and 13 relief appearances over the last three seasons.

It’s odd to see cash included in a deal involving two pre-arbitration, minimum-salaried players, but the Marlins will take it however they can get it. Mervis’s performance really backed up last year, but perhaps it was due to injury or simply boredom while spending a third straight summer in Iowa. He hit .297/.383/.593 with a 15% K rate in his intro to Triple-A in 2022, .282/.399/.533 with a 23% K rate there in 2023 and then .235/.329/.434 with a 30% K rate in 81 games last season. As a major leaguer, he’s come in at just .155/.222/.259 with a 31% K rate in 127 plate appearances. His exit velocity numbers are not very impressive, so he’s not going to succeed in the majors with a high strikeout rate. The path is there to at-bats at first base or DH in Miami, but at this point, he doesn’t seem like a particularly good bet. Still, this is the kind of player a rebuilding club on a budget should be trying out.

Bruján gets traded a week after being designated for assignment. He’s now three years removed from being viewed as one of the game’s better infield prospects, and it’s just hard to see much upside here given his lack of power or defensive value. The 26-year-old has hit .189/.261/.270 in 550 major league plate appearances to date. Out of options, he’ll likely battle for the last spot on the Cubs’ roster in spring training.

This is definitely good for Mervis, who should get a chance to compete for at-bats at first base and DH next spring. His stock has taken a hit, though, given that he’s battled just .155/.222/.259 in 127 MLB plate appearances to date. He also disappointed in Triple-A last season after tearing it up there previously, and there’s a good chance he would have lost his spot on the Cubs’ 40-man roster at some point this offseason. Bruján, who, unlike Mervis, is out of options, was recently DFA’d by the Marlins. He can compete for a utility gig in Chicago, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him wind up on waivers before spring training begins.

Sasaki is now the top pitcher on the market with Corbin Burnes signing on with the Diamondbacks, and the 23-year-old right-hander has had reported interest from a bevy of suitors. The Dodgers did sign Blake Snell to kick off the big spending of the winter, but they’re still considered one of the favorites to land Sasaki. The Cubs, Mets, Yankees and Rangers appear to be the strongest players for his service so far.

Brosseau played in 244 major league games, hitting .242/.313/.428, from 2019-23, but he spent all of last year in the minors and wound up batting .263/.356/.417 with 15 homers in 405 plate appearances for the Triple-A affiliates of the Royals and Mets. If the season started tomorrow, Brosseau would probably claim a spot on a barren Padres bench. The club is certain to keep adding, though.

Hernández might not have fit the roster as well as Pete Alonso, but he would have been a less expensive alternative to add another big bat to the order. Such an addition presumably would have left Brandon Nimmo playing a lot of center field, giving the Mets one of the game’s worst defensive outfields. As is, they currently have two lineup spots per game for Starling Marte and a pair of more legitimate center fielders in Jose Siri and Tyrone Taylor. Marte would seem to be an obvious candidate to be traded if the Mets add another quality hitter.

No deferred money, apparently. Nightengale added that Burnes took Arizona’s offer over a seven-year, $250 million pact with an AL East team (we’re guessing that’s Toronto). Burnes can opt out his six-year, $210 million deal after two years. During those first two years, he’ll have full no-trade protection. After that, assuming he stays put, he’ll be able to block trades to 14 teams.

Now official. Buehler will join Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford in a revamped Red Sox rotation that could also get help in the form of Lucas Giolito not long into the season. Moving into a big-time hitter’s park won’t do anything for his fantasy value, but he offers considerable upside anyway. He’s just riskier than most, and he probably ought to be viewed as a fifth or sixth starter in mixed leagues.

Wow. Heyman says the Burnes can opt out after two years. It sounded like Burnes and the Giants were a match, but it seems San Francisco couldn’t come up with the money. He’s a huge get for an Arizona team that is very well set in the rotation now with Burnes, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez and Brandon Pfaadt. One wonders if the club might part with Gallen for offense, opening up a spot for Jordan Montgomery or Ryne Nelson.

The two sides agreed to the deal just before Christmas and it finally became official on Friday. Manaea was a key cog in the Mets’ rotation during the 2024 season, registering a 3.47 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 184/63 K/BB ratio over 181 2/3 innings in his 32 starts. The 32-year-old southpaw currently sports an average draft position just outside the top 175 players overall in early fantasy drafts.