MLB Player News

Isbel went hitless in eight straight games from July 30-Aug. 7, but he has five hits the last two days, putting him back up to .228/.284/.377 for the season. He needs a solid finish here to ensure that the Royals don’t try to upgrade in center field over the winter. His defense has justified his lineup spot, but he just hasn’t gotten any better since he debuted three years ago.

The 27-year-old southpaw performed admirably in his first full season in the bullpen, compiling a 4.01 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 36/10 K/BB ratio across his 49 1/3 frames in 21 appearances. There’s enough still to like with this talented left arm that it’s possible Muller could secure a major league contract this winter.

The two-year pact is estimated to be in the range of $6 million. The former top prospect joined the Buffaloes prior to the 2024 season where he registered a 2.58 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 117/52 K/BB ratio across 139 2/3 innings in his 23 starts.

Westbrook finally broke through to the big leagues in his age-29 season with the Red Sox, slashing .150/.234/.350 with a pair of home runs and seven RBI in 48 plate appearances. He’s now free to explore the open market but will almost assuredly have to settle for a minor league contract with an invitation to big league camp.

The 29-year-old will get an opportunity to hit the open market for the first time. Dalbec appeared in 37 games for the Red Sox during the 2024 campaign, slashing just .133/.217/.193 with a homer, eight RBI and three stolen bases in 93 plate appearances. He’ll most likely have to settle for a minor league deal with a spring training invitation elsewhere, but stranger things have happened.

He’ll get a $250,000 buyout. Williams made $7 million last season and would have cleared $10.5 million in arbitration next year had he not hurt his back and missed the first half. As is, the Brewers think he’ll have to settle for a lesser salary in his final year before free agency, and they’re not really worried about maintaining goodwill with the two-time All-Star, as it’s quite doubtful he’ll still be around in 2026. It’s entirely possible he’ll be traded this winter.

Wacha, who would have become a free agent by opting out of a $16 million salary next year, is guaranteed $51 million, and the deal can top out at $72 million if the option is picked up, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Wacha is 33 and had had quite a bit of trouble staying healthy, but he’s avoided major injuries the last half-dozen years and been quite effective three seasons in a row (38-14, 3.30 ERA in 428 IP). A two-year deal seemed more appropriate here, but the Royals are getting a lower AAV with the extended pact. With Wacha back, Kansas City’s rotation is pretty well taken care of. He’ll join Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Brad Singer and then one of Kyle Wright, Alec March or maybe Kris Bubic.

The Marlins got Pintar as the second player along with Deyvison De Los Santos in the A.J. Puk deal with the Diamondbacks. A 2022 fifth-round pick, Pintar struggled mightily with his two Double-A teams this year, hitting just .190/.287/.239 in 191 plate appearances. He was very successful before that, though, batting .304/.403/.516 in 254 PA for high-A Hillsboro, and he’s bounced back somewhat in the AFL, coming in at .286/.368/.381 in 20 games. He’s also 30-for-31 stealing bases if one combines the minor league and the AFL seasons. He’s going to need to find some more pop to make it in the big leagues, but the raw strength is there.

Avila is making a strong case to be added to the Royals’ 40-man roster in advance of the Rule 5 draft. The 23-year-old had a 3.81 ERA and an 82/43 K/BB in 82 2/3 innings over 19 starts for Double-A Arkansas last season, and he has a 3.07 ERA through five AFL outings.

Durbin is now 22-for-23 stealing bases in 18 games for the Rafters. He’s also struck out just four times while hitting .265/.393/.456 in 84 plate appearances. The Yankees now will almost surely have to add him to the 40-man later this month if they don’t want him getting picked in the Rule 5 draft.

Katoh was a second-round pick of the Yankees in 2013, and he briefly surfaced in the majors with the Blue Jays in 2022, collecting a double and walking three times in 11 plate appearances. He signed with the Nippon Ham Fighters after that season, but after not experiencing much success in Japan, he’s chosen to call it a career at age 30.