MLB Player News

It had appeared as though Hentges was nearing a return to the Guardians’ bullpen, but that plan is completely on hold until the club finds out what’s going on with his balky shoulder. Expect the team to provide another update on his status over the weekend.

Freeman underwent the operation in early December. Gomes said that the first baseman won’t be in Cactus League games to begin the year, but he’s expected to be ready for the start of the year in Tokyo. Even with the operation, Freeman should be one of — if not the — first players at his position off the board.

More importantly — or at least equally as important — Gomes said that the team remains in contact about a possible reunion. Kershaw declined his $5 million player option at the end of the 2024 campaign, but the only question is whether he’ll retire or spend at least one more season as a member of the Dodgers. It’s hard to imagine he’ll help as a fantasy contributor even if the Hall of Famer returns in 2025.

It’s a little difficult to see a role for Hernandez on the current version of the Dodgers, but his ability to play everywhere and handle left-handed pitching — on top of the good vibes he provides the clubhouse — makes a reunion make sense. Wherever he lands, there won’t be a ton of fantasy value.

Rojas had his rehab delayed a couple of weeks, but it shouldn’t be something that lingers long into the spring it appears. The 35-year-old is expected to be a utility infielder for the Dodgers in 2025, and could see most of his appearances as a defensive replacement.

Santana submitted a $2.1 million figure. He was terrific for the Pirates last season, posting a 2.44 ERA in 44 1/3 innings, but he’s otherwise been a fringe guy over the course of his career. He has a 4.76 ERA in 221 1/3 lifetime innings.

Leiter had files at $2.5 million. The 33-year-old struggled for the Mets after arriving in a trade with the Cubs last summer, posting a 4.98 ERA in 21 2/3 innings. He has a 3.98 ERA and a 236/71 K/BB in 190 innings over the last three seasons.

It sounds like the Dodgers and Ohtani will put together a plan once pitchers and catchers report. Ohtani probably won’t pitch for at least the first month of the season, but he is expected to be able to serve as a DH right away.

It doesn’t seem like the Padres made much of an attempt to keep free agent Ha-Seong Kim, who started out playing shortstop for the club last year. Bogaerts will definitely be happy to be back at his natural spot. The Padres are also slated to use Luis Arraez at first and Jake Cronenworth at second, assuming that neither is traded.

This is the safe way for the Padres to play it, though it would be fascinating to see if Morejón could stay healthy as a starter. The 25-year-old had a 2.83 ERA and a 71/21 K/BB in 63 2/3 innings out of the pen last season.

Machado got off to a slow start last year, perhaps in part because he couldn’t do his normal offseason workouts, but he did return to his typical level of production as the season went along (he hit .298/.344/.560 over his final 83 games).