MLB Player News

It’s a procedural move that probably shouldn’t be legal but it is. It clears a spot on the 40-man roster to allow the Padres to select the contract of Nick Ahmed rather than having to designate someone for assignment. Brito will compete for a roster spot for the Padres in 2025.

The deal is now official. Alvarado has been added to Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster after agreeing last month to a split contract. The 25-year-old righty will compete in Grapefruit League action for a spot in the Pirates’ season-opening bullpen after compiling a strong 2.66 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 74/40 K/BB ratio across 50 2/3 innings (41 appearances) last year between Single-A Jupiter and Triple-A Jacksonville in the Marlins’ system.

The deal is now official. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the club option could be worth up to $20 million through performance escalators. Rasmussen is expected to return to Tampa Bay’s starting rotation next season after posting a sparkling 2.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 35/6 K/BB ratio across 28 2/3 innings (16 appearances, four starts) last year in a relief role. The 29-year-old righty offers some appeal for fantasy managers, especially those with relief pitcher-only roster spots, but his numbers figure to take a hit from a run-prevention standpoint with the Rays’ relocation to hitter-friendly George M. Steinbrenner Field. He’s more of a late-round pick for re-draft purposes given his extensive injury history, but he projects as a quality ratio booster, especially in deeper mixed leagues.

Chris Cotillo of Mass Live reports that Dalbec gets $1.25M if he’s in the majors with the White Sox with another $500K possible in incentives and the ability to opt out in June and July. Dalbec has spent his entire career with the Red Sox since being drafted in the fourth round out of Arizona in 2016, and while there were some flashes that suggest he could be a regular, it hasn’t come consistently. He’ll battle for a bench spot with the White Sox in 2025.

Pagan is a speedy outfielder who is coming off an ugly year where he slashed .199/.254/.325 in High-A and Double-A while a member of the Cubs’ organization. It’d take something unforeseeable for him to reach the majors in 2025.

Short gives the Astros some infield depth after the 29-year-old was outrighted off of Atlanta’s roster in 2024. The right-handed hitter is capable of playing all over the infield, but will need to show out in the Grapefruit League if he has any chance of breaking camp with the big-league club.

Weiman spent 2024 with the Cubs, and made 42-of-43 appearances with Double-A Tennessee with a 2.77 ERA and impressive 42/8 K/BB in that timeframe. He likely will just be organizational fodder considering he is 29, but his ability to throw strikes gives him an outside chance of joining the Houston bullpen at some point.

Watson was acquired by the Tigers in the ever-so-rare post-deadline trade, and the Tigers will give him another look in the Grapefruit League. In 2024, he forged an ugly 7.53 ERA over 36 appearances — 15 starts — with an 81/49 K/BB across 75 1/3 innings.

Armstrong was effective at the Double- and Triple-A levels in 2024 over 32 appearances with a 3.41 ERA and 65/30 K/BB over 68 2/3 innings of work. The 24-year-old right-hander could compete for a bullpen spot with a good showing in the Grapefruit League.

Guzman made 35 appearances at the upper levels with the Mets in 2024 while finishing with a 3.88 ERA and 51/26 K/BB over his 48 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old right-hander will need to be added to the 40-man roster to make appearances with New York in 2025, and that doesn’t seem terribly likely at this stage of his career.

Duran was a free agent after hitting 11 homers and registering an OPS of .790 at the Double-A and Triple-A levels while with the Royals’ organization. The 26-year-old could battle for the backup catching gig, but more than likely will be the guy who handles duties behind the plate for Triple-A El Paso.