MLB Player News

Locklear didn’t exactly tear the cover off the ball last month in a brief 11-game cameo for the Mariners, batting .200 (6-for-30) with two homers and one steal. However, he’s going to get some extended runway to at least showcase his power and patience profile at the highest level in the wake of Seattle’s decision to designate veteran first baseman Ty France for assignment. The 23-year-old top prospect has displayed strong plate skills in the upper minors over the last few years and can do some serious damage when he decides to get aggressive. Based on his first stint in the big leagues, there’s probably going to be an initial adjustment period here as he acclimates to everyday life in the majors. However, once he gets comfortable, there’s an opportunity for him to emerge as a certifiable middle-of-the-order force for the Mariners, which gives him some appeal for fantasy managers, especially in deeper mixed leagues.

Armstrong was effective at the Double- and Triple-A levels in 2024 over 32 appearances with a 3.41 ERA and 65/30 K/BB over 68 2/3 innings of work. The 24-year-old right-hander could compete for a bullpen spot with a good showing in the Grapefruit League.

Guzman made 35 appearances at the upper levels with the Mets in 2024 while finishing with a 3.88 ERA and 51/26 K/BB over his 48 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old right-hander will need to be added to the 40-man roster to make appearances with New York in 2025, and that doesn’t seem terribly likely at this stage of his career.

Duran was a free agent after hitting 11 homers and registering an OPS of .790 at the Double-A and Triple-A levels while with the Royals’ organization. The 26-year-old could battle for the backup catching gig, but more than likely will be the guy who handles duties behind the plate for Triple-A El Paso.

Alvarez is coming off a season where he hit 18 homers for Triple-A Worcester with an .811 OPS. The 34-year-old was waived by Boston and claimed by the Mets near the end of the year, but he didn’t play a game with New York. The 34-year-old will be a depth piece for 2025.

Woodruff is currently throwing bullpens twice per week and says his arm feels good. He’s been avoiding the radar gun thus far, so it’s unclear where his stuff is at. That’ll come next week, when he throws in the Brewers’ pitching lab during a visit to Arizona.

The Cubs and Blue Jays are among the other teams known to have interest in Minter, who is coming off hip surgery. It’s interesting that there’s been little talk about him going back to the Braves, even though there are indications Atlanta would be willing to spend on a setup man. Minter has been one of the best in baseball the last five years, amassing a 2.85 ERA in 243 innings since 2020.

The Arlington native, who has said that 2025 would probably be his final season, turned down more money from the Red Sox and likely others to pitch for his hometown team. He previously pitched for the Rangers in 2018 and ’19.

There’s a vesting sixth-year option for $22 million, adds ESPN’s Jeff Passan, with Rosenthal noting that the deal could top out at $90 million. We’re not at all sure this is actually a good move for the A’s, given than Rooker is 30 years old and was already under control for three more years. Still, it’s hard not to be happy for the slugger. Building on his breakthrough 2023 campaign, Rooker hit .293/.365/.562 with a career-high 39 homers and 11 stolen bases for Oakland last season. He’ll remain utility-only in most fantasy formats heading into 2025 after logging just 14 appearances in the outfield this past year.

Heyman’s update comes on the heels of ESPN’s Jeff Passan reporting just a few hours earlier that the Yankees and Padres were continuing to discuss a potential Luis Arraez trade. The 27-year-old three-time batting champion, who is recovering from offseason surgery on his left thumb, would represent an upgrade for New York at the keystone with Jazz Chisholm Jr. moving over to third base.

Martin provides the Rangers with a proven high-leverage option and a potential fallback option at closer if they’re unable to re-sign stopper Kirby Yates. The 38-year-old veteran struggled with some physical issues last year with the Red Sox but still managed to record a strong 3.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 50/3 K/BB ratio across 44 1/3 innings (45 appearances). He’s made a remarkable 369 relief appearances in the big leagues dating back to 2014. The strikeouts and elite control remain intact, which gives him a shot at fantasy relevance in 2025.