MLB Player News

“Melton’s another guy that could be a big piece for us,” Brown said during last month’s annual GM meetings. “He’s a really good defensive outfielder with power. He has a chance to make an impact.” The 24-year-old outfielder will presumably compete next spring with established veterans Chas McCormick and Jake Meyers to carve out a permanent role in Houston’s outfield mix, but he’s on the verge of reaching the big leagues after batting .253/.310/.426 with 15 homers and 30 steals in 443 plate appearances last year between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land. Melton checked in at OF70 in Rotoworld’s 2025 Top 500 dynasty rankings and his power/speed combination makes him an easy top 100 fantasy prospect heading into next year. He’s a name to keep on watch lists, even in re-draft formats entering spring training.

Reifert was very impressive in the minors with a 1.96 ERA and 65/16 K/BB with Double-A Montgomery across 35 appearances and 41 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old will get a chance to show if his stuff translates with the Nationals in the Grapefruit League.

This was first reported Monday, but these things take time. Tauchman will stay in Chicago after being non-tendered by the Cubs at the end of the 2024 season, and the 34-year-old should be a serviceable fourth outfielder with a chance to make some starts for one of the worst teams in baseball.

Cairo is considered a quality defensive shortstop who hit just .240 at the Double- and Triple-A levels, but he did get on at a .354 clip while stealing 30 bases. He’ll get a chance to earn the backup middle-infield job with a good showing in spring training.

Vasil was selected in the eighth round by the Mets in 2021 and at one point was considered an intriguing right-handed prospect. He struggled considerably in 2024 with a 6.04 ERA for Syracuse over 138 innings, but the Phillies will get a chance to see if they can get him back on the right track.

A fifth-round pick by the Cardinals in 2019, Thomas has hung around but never had the chance to pitch at the highest level. The 26-year-old posted a solid 2.89 ERA in 56 appearances with Triple-A Memphis, so he might just get that chance if he can make the Brewers out of spring training.

Nunez is 24, but has yet to pitch higher than High-A in his relatively short career. The Padres obviously like something they see in his right arm, and they’ll try and develop him as a bullpen piece. Just keep in mind he can’t be optioned to the minors at all in 2025, so his chances of making the roster are pretty slim.

Even though he had a 3.02 ERA in 56 2/3 innings last season and would have made less than $2 million in 2025, Webb was non-tendered by Baltimore last month. While this is just a one-year deal, the Rangers would have Webb’s arbitration rights for 2026.

A fourth-round pick out of Arizona State in 2020, Workman had his best minor-league season with Double-A Erie in 2024 with 18 homers, 30 stolen bases and an .843 OPS. The 25-year-old will be given an opportunity to be a bench option for Chicago in 2026 with the ability to play all over the infield to his benefit.

Castellano is a 23-year-old right-hander who reached Double-A last year, and he forged a 3.99 ERA in 22 appearances — 20 starts — with an impressive 136/29 K/BB over 103 2/3 innings. His starting background may be the long-term play, but he’ll obviously need to be a bullpen piece if he’s going to make the Twins in 2025.

Bowman was acquired by the Athletics in the deal for Frankie Montas back in 2022 from the Yankees. The infielder posted an .844 OPS in Double-A last year, but that number tanked to .594 when he was promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas from Midland. His path to a roster spot will be showing defensive versatility during the Cactus League.