MLB Player News

Armenteros received a $3 million signing bonus as an international free agent back in 2016 and never wound up making it to Oakland. The 25-year-old outfielder was removed from the Athletics’ 40-man roster back in early May and has now been completely cut loose after posting a .681 OPS with three homers and 14 steals in 58 games this season between Triple-A Las Vegas and Double-A Midland. There’s a chance he gets an opportunity somewhere else in the coming weeks.

Sasaki did throw a three-inning simulated game earlier this week, but he hasn’t officially entered a Cactus League contest. The 23-year-old right-hander is being brought along slowly in his first year a member of the Dodgers, but should be stretched out enough to be ready for a rotation spot to begin 2025.

“Hopefully soon,” Boone said. Stanton is undergoing testing on both elbows, and it’s late enough in camp that even if the slugger checks out fine that he may need to begin the season on the injured list — assuming the return doesn’t come in the next few days, that is. Stanton has struggled to stay healthy as a member of the Yankees, and unfortunately that likely will remain the case in 2025.

Tatis Jr. has missed the start of spring because of the flu. The 26-year-old will be back with plenty of time to be ready for the start of the 2025 season.

The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Kyle Finnegan. Garrett may see interest on the waiver wire as an outfielder with some power, but if he goes unclaimed the Nationals can send him to Triple-A to begin the 2025 campaign.

The Royals have taken it slow with Estévez, but manager Matt Quatraro did tell reporters that the right-hander was able to throw off the mound Wednesday. The hope is that he’ll be able to get 6-7 appearances before the end of the Cactus League, and that should be enough for him to be ready for the start of the season.

Neto, 24, is still recovering from shoulder surgery he underwent back in November. The bad news is he won’t be ready for the start of the season, but Angels manager Ron Washington does believe the shortstop should be ready to roll at the start of April. Neto showed real flashes in 2024, and depending on league structure, he might be worth stashing on the injured list to begin 2025. Tim Anderson, Scott Kingery, Luis Rengifo and Kevin Newman are the candidates to play short while Neto is out.

It’ll be the first time McCullers Jr. faces hitters in his surgery recovery. The 31-year-old is expected to miss the start of the regular season, but the hope is he can be a part of the Houston rotation by the end of April.

Effross suffered the injury during Tuesday’s spring game. The 31-year-old will be out of action for a bit, and this could cause him to miss the start of the regular season.

Hoerner is still recovering from flexor tendon surgery, and will remain in Arizona to rehab rather than play in that series. It means he’ll miss at least two games to open the 2025 campaign, and it remains to be seen whether he’ll be ready once spring training comes to a close. Hoerner was solid in 2024 with a .273 average and 31 steals, and should hit near the top of the Chicago lineup once he is healthy enough to do so.

Freeman will be making his spring debut after missing the first few weeks of Cactus League action as a precaution after ankle surgery in the offseason. The 35-year-old should get a chance to play in the field in the coming days, and he should be just fine for the regular season.