MLB Player News

Hancock pitched well Sunday with two earned runs allowed over five innings, but the Mariners likely won’t use a fifth starter over the final week so he’s expendable. Gabe Speier was recalled to take Hancock’s place.

Adding some infield depth. Walton, 30, finished last season in the majors with the Giants, going 3-for-22 with a homer. He previously hit .306/.380/.441 in 99 games for Triple-A Sacramento.

Lawrence, 37, was a mainstay in the Triple-A Tacoma rotation last season, going 11-11 with a 5.95 ERA and a 108/48 K/BB in 165 innings. The journeyman righty has a 6.75 ERA in 124 career major league innings, about half of which came with the Mariners in 2017 and ’18.

Padilla received brief callups from the Cubs in 2022 and the White Sox in 2023, but he was denied a longer look last season after missing much of the first half. He wound up with a 3.23 ERA and a 37/16 K/BB in 30 2/3 innings out of the pen for Triple-A Charlotte. Walks have always been a big issue for him, but if he could get better there, he’s talented enough to help out as a middle-leverage reliever.

Despite walking way too many batters, Krook has been effective as both a starter and a reliever in the minors. In the majors, though, he’s given up 13 earned runs in five innings for the Yankees and Orioles. The A’s will likely keep the 30-year-old in the bullpen and see if they can figure something out with him. He’s struck out 109 in 77 2/3 innings in Triple-A the last two years.

Alexander, 31, spent last season in Boston’s Triple-A rotation, going 7-6 with a 4.42 ERA and a 129/39 K/BB in 138 1/3 innings. The stuff isn’t quite there to make him a solid MLB starter, but he’s someone who can eat innings if the need arises.

Kaiser, who had a brief major league stint with the Rockies in 2023, hit .221/.343/.339 for Colorado’s Triple-A affiliate last season. The 27-year-old will likely serve as Triple-A depth for the Diamondbacks.

The 29-year-old right-hander was well-traveled during the 2024 season, seeing big league action with the Blue Jays, Brewers and Giants before he was sent outright to Triple-A in early June. He’ll attempt to rebuild his stock with a strong season overseas.

The 25-year-old right-hander was claimed off of waivers from the Reds on November 1. Roa finished the 2024 season on the 60-day injured list with a right shoulder sprain after posting a 5.55 ERA and a 47/30 K/BB ratio across 48 2/3 innings at Triple-A Louisville. The move frees up another spot on the Marlins’ 40-man roster — which is now down to 37 players — as they attempt to decide who to protect for the upcoming Rule 5 draft.

Morosi notes that while the Dodgers, Braves, Giants and Red Sox all make sense as suitors given their vacancies at shortstop, he also adds that the Yankees, Blue Jays and Astros are believed to be interested in Adames as a third baseman. The 29-year-old slugger is coming off of his finest season as a professional, setting new career highs in home runs (31), RBI (112), stolen bases (21) and runs scored (93). He should wind him hitting in the middle of a contender’s lineup so regardless of his landing spot expect Adames to remain as a fringe top-10 option at the shortstop position in fantasy drafts.

Kato, 25, was well-traveled during the 2024 season. He appeared in one game in the Astros’ organization at Double-A Corpus Christi, 32 games for the Mariners across three minor league affiliates and 64 games with the York Revolution in the independent Atlantic League. All told, he slashed .283/.393/.389 with one homer, 17 RBI, eight swipes and a 34/18 K/BB ratio across 135 plate appearances in affiliated ball. He’ll add minor league infield depth for the Braves.