MLB Player News

The deal is official. Bibee, who will make his first-career Opening Day start on Thursday against the Royals, wasn’t set to reach arbitration until 2026 and wouldn’t have hit free agency until 2029. The agreement ostensibly buys out his remaining arbitration-eligible seasons and at least one year of free agency. The 26-year-old righty has recorded a sparkling 3.25 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 328/89 K/BB ratio across 315 2/3 innings (56 starts) over the past two seasons. He’s a surefire top-25 range starting pitcher for fantasy purposes entering the 2025 season.

Singleton hit just .174/.239/.195 this spring. With Zach Dezenzo hitting well and Christian Walker healed, there is just no real need for Singleton in Houston. He could still re-sign with them on a minor league deal, but he figures to test the free agent market first.

The deal will start this season and buy out three years of free agency, keeping Raleigh in Seattle through at least 2030. The 28-year-old backstop has hit at least 27 home runs in each of the last three seasons and drove in 100 runs last year for the first time. He’s emerged as one of the top offensive catchers in baseball and a strong pick in all fantasy formats.

Brown was solid for the Cubs in 55 1/3 innings in 2024 (eight starts), posting a 3.58 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 64/19 K/BB ratio. While his walk rate has improved this spring, he also has a 6.75 ERA and 1.75 WHIP in eight innings. The biggest issue for Brown has been his inability to develop a consistent third offering, which makes him a risky bet in any fantasy format right now.

Gibaut was a high-leverage reliever for the Reds in 2023, posting a 3.33 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, three saves, and 69/28 K/BB ratio in 75 2/3 innings. He battled injuries in 2024 and was only able to pitch two MLB innings, so the Reds will now add him to the leverage ladder at the end of games.

No word yet on the extent of the injury, but shoulder inflammation is never a great sign. The Diamondbacks have already said they’re going to play matchups with their bullpen at the end of games, so that likely means Justin Martinez will see the vast majority of saves when right-handed hitters are up, with A.J. Puk getting save chances when left-handed hitters are up.

It’s a great comeback for the 33-year-old, who has not pitched in an MLB game since 2022. He has a career 3.76 ERA and didn’t allow a single run this spring while striking out 10 and walking four in 9 1/3 innings.

Villar emerged on the fantasy landscape in 2022 with a brief stretch of solid games for the Giants, but is a career .200/.288/.400 hitter with a 32.4 percent strikeout rate. It’s possible the 28-year-old clears waivers and finds up in the Giants’ minor league system.

Dunning went unclaimed on waivers and will remain in the Rangers organization. That’s a bit of a win for Texas, considering Dunning has a career 4.35 ERA and can pitch out of the bullpen or stretched out as a starter. His versatility will likely come into play this season when injuries inevitably take a toll.

Tellez was a non-roster invitee to spring training but claimed a spot on Seattle’s season-opening roster by hitting .298/.320/.574 with three home runs in 50 plate appearances. Tellez hit just .243/.299/.392 in 421 plate appearances for the Pirates in 2024, but he did post an eight percent barrel rate and just a nine percent swinging strike rate, while lowering his overall strikeout rate. His quality of contact remains strong, and he could start the season as the designated hitter against right-handed pitching with Mitch Garver fulfilling that role against lefties and also getting at-bats as the backup catcher.

A brutal offseason for Montgomery just gets worse. The 32-year-old signed late in the off-season last year and struggled in his first year in Arizona, pitching to a 6.23 ERA in 117 innings between the bullpen and the rotation. He pitched poorly this spring and had been the subject of trade rumors, but was set to serve as the long reliever in Arizona to start the season. It appears that Ryne Nelson will now have a chance to take that role and act as the sixth starter for the Diamondbacks’ rotation. Montgomery will miss the entire 2025 season and could return over the summer in 2026. However, he will be a free agent this offseason, so where he ends up is anybody’s guess.