MLB Player News

Diaz will give the Padres some depth behind the plate for the remainder of 2024. The 33-year-old backstop was signed by San Diego to a minor-league contract at the end of August after being released by the Rockies.

La Sorsa won’t be outrighted to Triple-A after he we went unclaimed on the waiver wire. The most likely reason for the release is that La Sorsa is heading overseas, but it’s possible the Nationals just don’t have interest in him being on the organization, as well.

It’s surprising the Yankees couldn’t get anything done here. Kahnle is a fine reliever, but given his lack of durability, he seems like more of a luxury purchase for a top-flight team than a reliable cog for a mid-payroll club. The 35-year-old had a 2.11 ERA in 42 2/3 innings for the Yankees last season. That innings total was his high mark since 2019.

The Mets picked Stanek up from the Mariners last summer, and now they’re bringing him back, even though he had a 6.06 ERA for the club. To be fair, most of that was just two bad outings. In the postseason, he had a 3.38 ERA and an 8/3 K/BB ratio in eight innings. He’ll vie for a setup role in front of Edwin Díaz.

Miley is making his way back from Tommy John surgery and hopes to resume pitching in the majors before the end of May. The 38-year-old made just two appearances for the Brewers last season, but he was very good in 2023, going 9-4 with a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts. He had maybe the best season of his career with the Reds in 2021, going 12-7 with a 3.37 ERA in 163 innings.

The deal is worth a reported $1.525 million, so that’s not a problem. The issue is that he’s going to be handed a roster spot whether he deserves it or not, and after a season in which he hit .202/.282/.294, he doesn’t warrant the treatment. It’s shameful that the Pirates have Paul Skenes, Jared Jones and Oneil Cruz all making the minimum and are doing next to nothing to try to contend.

The Pirates gave the hard-throwing Alvarado a major league deal as a minor league free agent, but now they’re going to put him on waivers and see if anything else wants to take a shot here. The 25-year-old Alvarado has never pitched in the majors. He had a 2.79 ERA and a 71/38 K/BB in 48 1/3 innings for the Marlins’ Triple-A affiliate last season.

It took roughly one week after initial reports surfaced linking Yates to Los Angeles, but Passan adds that the deal is finally done after the veteran stopper passed his physical. There should be an official announcement from the Dodgers in the coming days, if not sooner. The 37-year-old closer converted 33 of 34 save opportunities last year for the Rangers to accompany a sparkling 1.17 ERA (2.50 FIP), 0.83 WHIP and 85/28 K/BB ratio across 61 2/3 innings (61 appearances). He figures to take over as the Dodgers’ primary closer with lefty free agent import Tanner Scott moving to a more versatile fireman-type role. The move is undoubtedly a positive one from a fantasy perspective and puts him squarely in the RP10-15 range on draft day.

It’s encouraging to see Pérez continuing to make steady progress in his lengthy recovery from last April’s Tommy John surgery and figures to be ready to rejoin Miami’s starting rotation at some point in the early stages of the upcoming season. The dynamic 21-year-old righty was one of the most electrifying young arms in baseball prior to the injury and he’s going to make an immediate fantasy impact upon returning.

Rodriguez represents an intriguing low-risk gamble for the rebuilding White Sox as a relief project. The hard-throwing 26-year-old righty spent last year in Arizona’s minor-league system, making 36 relief appearances in the upper minors. He’s struggled to stay healthy since breaking into the majors with the Angels back in 2021 when he looked like an impact reliever.

Liranzo has been kicking around the minors for the past dozen years, but has yet to reach the big leagues. The 29-year-old righty made 31 appearances last year in the Yankees’ minor-league system, with most of those coming out of the bullpen at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He gives Milwaukee some extra depth at Triple-A Nashville.