MLB Player News

Chisholm has started each of the last three games against a left-handed starter, so this is likely just a routine day off. Vidal Brujan will get the start in center field and hit eighth, which is noteworthy since his defense at third base last week cost the team. The Marlins have other left-handed hitters out of the lineup due to the platoon with Avisail Garcia starting in right field over Jesus Sanchez and Emmanual Rivera in the lineup instead of Nick Gordon.

Finalizing a deal agreed to way back on Dec. 10. Estrada will make $3.25 million this year and then presumably get a $750,000 buyout of the mutual option. The Rockies will control Estrada’s rights for 2026 either way, since he still won’t have the service time to qualify for free agency. Estrada was one of baseball’s worst hitters last season, coming in at .217/.247/.343 in 381 plate appearances before the Giants sent him to Triple-A for the final month. He was considerably better the two previous years, though he’s always had subpar exit velocity numbers. Whether he offers much fantasy value this year will hinge partly on his legs. He swiped 44 bases between 2022 and ’23, but he was just 2-for-4 in 96 games last season.

Cartaya was a consensus top-50 prospect two years ago, but he has struggled in the minor leagues since then and was designated for assignment by the Dodgers last week. The 23-year-old hit .221/.323/.363 with 11 homers and 52 RBI over 400 plate appearances between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2024, but he figures to start the season in Triple-A with Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vazquez already in Minnesota. It’s still a nice gamble for the Twins.

Dubón gets a $1.5 million raise after hitting .269/.296/.361 in 428 plate appearances last season. It’d be better if he plays less this year, but that could hinge on what upgrades are still to come for the Astros outfield. Dubón will have one more year of arbitration in 2026 before he’s slated for free agency.

Kelenic had a nice June, but he was otherwise a bust for the Braves last season, hitting .231/.286/.393 in 449 plate appearances while mostly sitting out against lefties and playing mediocre defense in left field. He’s still just 25, but there just isn’t much to be encouraged about here. While he’ll open up as a starting outfielder this season, the Braves are still looking for help there, and whoever they come up with might prove to be a better option than Kelenic in left once Ronald Acuña Jr. returns.

Ferguson pitched in 62 games in 2024 split between the Astros and the Yankees. The 28-year-old posted a 4.64 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 54 1/3 innings; however, he was much better in Houston, posting a 3.86 ERA and 26/9 K/BB ratio in 21 innings. He likely sets up as the main late-inning left-handed pitcher in the Pirates’ bullpen at the present moment.

Rogers served as the Tigers’ starting catcher for much of 2024, hitting .197/.255/.352 with 10 home runs in 337 plate appearances. However, he posted a 2.2 WAR despite those offensive struggles thanks to elite defense behind the plate. Former top prospect Dillon Dingler will split time with Rogers this season, but the veteran’s defense will keep him in the lineup often.

Adams was a serviceable backup for the Nationals in 2023 but took a step back offensively last season, slashing just .224/.292/.336 with two home runs in 130 plate appearances. He also grades out poorly as a defensive catcher, so he’s likely best served as organizational depth behind the plate.

The Tigers declined their $3.1 million team option on Mize after the season and will wind up saving money. The 27-year-old had some optimism heading into 2024 after missing significant time in previous seasons due to injury. However, it didn’t all click for the former top pick as he posted a 4.49 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 78/29 K/BB ratio in 102 1/3 innings. Perhaps another healthy offseason will allow Mize to take another step forward in his development, but it seems like he’s shaping up to be a fine back-of-the-rotation MLB starter, which is great for the Tigers at this cost but not something that intrigues fantasy managers.

Arenado has reportedly let it be known that he prefers to be traded to Boston; however, Boston already has Rafael Devers at third base, so they would need to shift other players around to make room for Arenado. Considering the 33-year-old is coming off a down season, there’s a chance the Red Sox don’t want to shake things up too much to bring Arenado in, which means the veteran would need to waive his no-trade clause to other teams. Morosi believes the Mariners and Tigers could have a shot if things don’t work out with Boston, and he would be a huge addition to either of those lineups.

There are plenty of rumors right now swirling around the Red Sox and Nolan Arenado, but Morosi reported that the Red Sox might instead look to swing a trade that bolsters their rotation. Alcantara would be quite a get for the Red Sox and considering Triston Casas is reportedly available, it would make sense to have a trade centered around those two players. Alcantara is 29 years old and missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he is one of the top pitchers in baseball with a career 3.32 ERA in 900 2/3 innings. If he were to end up in Boston alongside Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler, and Tanner Houck, it would give them one of the better rotations in baseball.