MLB Player News

It’s the second time Garabito has been optioned in a week. It’s possible this is it for him this year, but he’ll probably be back if some other Rangers pitcher goes on the IL.

This was a procedural move as each player had to be activated from the injured list today and placed on the 40-man roster. Bautista, Mateo, and Wells should be full-go for the start of the season with Bautista again being the closer for the Orioles, which could make him a great value in fantasy leagues.

Coulombe ended the season on the injured list after a procedure to remove bone spurs from his elbow, so perhaps that, plus him being 35 years old, led the Orioles to move on. It’s a bit surprising since Coulombe posted a 2.12 ERA and 0.67 WHIP in 33 games this season. Perhaps the Orioles can still bring him back, but Coulombe will now be a free agent and able to sign with any team.

Domínguez came to the Orioles in a deadline trade with the Phillies and pitched to a 3.97 ERA and 28:9 K:BB over 22 2/3 innings while getting 10 saves for Baltimore. With Felix Bautista set to return in 2025, Domínguez will likely take on a set-up role for the Orioles.

This was just a procedural move as today was the deadline for the Red Sox to move them onto the 40-man roster. There’s a chance each pitcher will be healthy for the start of the 2025 season. Hendriks, Whitlock, and Campbell all figure to have a good chance to open the season in the bullpen, and Giolito has a chance to be in the rotation early in the season.

Herget’s career numbers are not that impressive with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP over 42 2/3 innings pitched; however, he did post a 1.59 ERA and 9:3 K:BB ratio in 11 1/3 innings with the Brewers in 2024. That success came on the heels of a big uptick in cutter usage and the elimination of his slider, so perhaps the change in pitch mix might have unlocked another level for the 33-year-old.

Cabbage set Triple-A on fire in the Angels organization in 2023, hitting .306 with 30 home runs and 32 steals in 107 games, but he has been unable to carry that production over to MLB action. He has a .209/.245/.331 slash line in 67 MLB games with two home runs, two steals, and a 40.8 percent strikeout rate. The Pirates will hope they can get some production out of him in 2025.

Luke Jackson started the year with the Giants and was traded to the Braves at the deadline where he had a 4.50 ERA in 18 innings with Atlanta. The 33-year-old has a 3.94 career ERA in 358 1/3 innings and will likely find another opportunity as a free agent.

Considering Sean Murphy battled a wrist injury and put together a poor 2024 season, it’s surprising that the club would let d’Arnaud move on. However, the 25-year-old did hit just .238/.302/.436 with 15 home runs in 99 games, so perhaps the Braves feel that they can get that production elsewhere. There is still a chance the Braves could try to bring d’Arnaud back later in the offseason, but this could also be good news for Braves catching prospect Drake Baldwin, who is coming off a strong season and could be on the MLB roster next season.

The move was reported last week, but now it’s official. The 33-year-old batted .302 with 39 home runs, 104 RBIs, and a .925 OPS in 2024 and was the best hitter in Atlanta’s lineup. He will resume his place in the middle of the order in 2025 and while it’s unlikely he can duplicate these numbers, he should be a strong fantasy asset again for those looking for power and RBIs.

Fenstermaker, who has spent 15 years in the organization, is being promoted after Chris Young was bumped up to president of baseball operations a couple of months ago. The 37-year-old Figueroa, a former infielder who had 84 major league plate appearances from 2014-16, had been working in the Rays front office.