MLB Player News

Lugo is enjoying a breakthrough year thanks to improved plate discipline but is hitting just .250 with a 27 percent strikeout rate in 35 games since being promoted to Triple-A. He has some positional questions that led the Red Sox to move him to the outfield this year but he doesn’t have elite power or speed so he profiles more as a middle infield bat offensively. He was the Red Sox’s 17th-ranked prospect, but he was also behind a few other similar players and and was going to need to be added to the 40-man roster this year, so the Red Sox decided to use him in a trade instead. It’s possible he could emerge as a utility bat for the Angels in 2025.

Lopez has opted to test the free agent waters instead of accepting an outright minor league assignment following his removal from Chicago’s 40-man roster. The 29-year-old infielder remains a stellar defender, but hasn’t offered much at the dish for fantasy purposes in several years. He would make sense in a bench role on a contending roster, but he’s highly unlikely to make any sort of contribution for fantasy managers, regardless of where he winds up.

Peralta went unclaimed on waivers earlier this week after being removed from Chicago’s 40-man roster. The 26-year-old lefty boasts respectable 4.37 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 29/18 K/BB ratio across 35 innings (25 appearances) in the big leagues over the last two seasons. He should be able to find another opportunity somewhere else in short order, but might have to settle for a minor league pact with an invitation to spring training.

Oller will take his talents to the defending KBO champions after making eight starts last season for the Marlins where he finished with a serviceable 5.31 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 36/22 K/BB ratio across 42 1/3 innings. The 30-year-old righty will aim to rebuild his value overseas in Korea, which has worked in the recent past for a laundry list of journeyman-type starters.

The deal is now official. It’s a decent landing spot for d’Arnaud, who launched 15 homers in 99 contests last year for the Braves. The 35-year-old veteran backstop, who hit free agency last week after Atlanta declined his $8 million club option for 2025, figures to serve as starter Logan O’Hoppe’s primary caddy in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, his official departure paves a clear path for top prospect Drake Baldwin, who has looked impressive recently in the Arizona Fall League, to potentially make Atlanta’s season-opening roster.

Zuniga has been removed from Los Angeles’ 40-man roster to make room for newly-signed veteran backstop Travis d’Arnaud. The 26-year-old righty recorded a pedestrian 5.09 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 12/8 K/BB ratio across 17 2/3 innings (15 starts) last season for the Angels. He might attract some interest on waivers as extra organizational relief depth.

Atlanta declined d’Arnaud’s $8 million club option for 2024, and while the veteran catcher won’t get quite as much in 2025, he secures a multi-year deal with a (relatively) similar AAV. he hit .238/.302/.436 with 15 homers last year while spelling Sean Murphy and seeing time as the designated hitter. With Logan O’Hoppe behind the plate, Murphy will likely see a similar role with the Angels, and while his eligibility behind the plate makes him a decent option, he’s not joining a lineup that’s going to provide much chance for quality run production.

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the incident occurred Sunday and Franco was arrested in San Juan de la Maguana. Guns were reportedly drawn in an apartment complex, and Franco has been held for questioning with a provisional release Tuesday. Prosecutors report that police found Glock with its magazine and 15 rounds of ammunition but no registration papers was found in Franco’s black Mercedes-Benz, with the weapon registered to another person instead. Franco is currently on administrative leave with the Rays, and will stand trial on Dec. 12 in a separate case involving charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking

Turner was acquired at the deadline by Seattle from the Blue Jays, and while the 39-year-old isn’t the same player he was with the Dodgers, he still gets on base and can hit left-handed pitching while playing first base and designated hitter. He’s assuredly looking at a one-year deal, but this one makes almost too much sense to not happen.

Kaplan comes to the Diamondbacks after serving last year as the assistant pitching coach with the Phillies; a position he held for the last three season with Philadelphia. He replaces Brent Strom after Strom was fired following the disappointing 2024 season for Arizona.

Morton is now 41 — Tuesday was his birthday — and he’s coming off a season with Atlanta where he forged a 4.19 ERA while showing some decent durability with 165 2/3 innings. He’ll assuredly be looking at another one-year deal, but Morton has been effective enough to earn that right to be in the back of someone’s rotation in 2025. Atlanta should be considered the favorites just based on their history.