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  • Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD

    Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Prepping for full season in two-way role

    Ohtani indicated Saturday that he'll be ready to take on a full two-way role at the outset of the 2026 regular season, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

    Ohtani began last year continuing to rehab from September 2023 Tommy John surgery and didn't pitch in a major-league game until mid-June. He was managed carefully upon his return to the mound, as he finished the regular season with a modest 47 innings over 14 starts. The superstar was very effective as a hurler, though, posting a 2.87 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 62:9 K:BB during those appearances. The leash was loosened in the postseason, as Ohtani completed six frames in each of his first three playoff outings and then started Game 7 of the World Series on three days of rest. After getting through the summer and fall with no arm issues, Ohtani is now set to slot into the Dodgers' rotation from the outset of the 2026 campaign. There will likely still be some careful management of Ohtani as a pitcher -- manager Dave Roberts stated Saturday that the two-way star won't pitch for Japan in the World Baseball Classic, and he's expected to continue to be part of a six-man rotation with Los Angeles -- but Roberts also said that Ohtani will be treated as a normal pitcher on days when he takes the mound.

  • Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Will be full go for start of spring

    Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said Friday that Kjerstad (fatigue) will be a full participant during spring training, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

    Kjerstad didn't play after late July last season due to what the Orioles referred to as fatigue, and he later underwent treatment for an undisclosed medical condition. It's unclear whether the issues were related to his previously disclosed myocarditis diagnosis, but either way, it seems Kjerstad is now in the clear health-wise. Kjerstad slashed .192/.240/.327 in 54 games for the Orioles and .149/.225/.248 over 27 contests with Triple-A Norfolk in 2025, but he had a 112 wRC+ in his first two years with Baltimore and a 156 wRC+ in 2024 at Norfolk. While he will enter spring training healthy, Kjerstad currently looks to be buried on the Orioles' outfield depth chart.

  • Eloy Jimenez DH | TB

    Blue Jays' Eloy Jimenez: Inks minor-league deal with Toronto

    Jimenez and the Blue Jays agreed on a minor-league contract Sunday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

    Jimenez will stick around with the Blue Jays organization after ending the 2025 campaign with Triple-A Durham. The 29-year-old batted .278 with three home runs, 29 RBI, 14 runs scored and a stolen base over 151 at-bats in 40 contests with Durham last year. Jimenez has reportedly lost 20 pounds since the end of the 2025 campaign, and he has been playing in the Dominican winter league. Additionally, the contract he signed Sunday includes a spring training invite.

  • Luis Torrens DH | NYM

    Mets' Luis Torrens: Agrees to pact with Mets

    The Mets and Torrens avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.275 million contract Thursday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

    Torrens was eligible for salary arbitration for a final time. He put up a .629 OPS for the Mets in 2025 and is again slated to serve as the backup catcher behind Francisco Alvarez (thumb) in 2026.

  • Trenton Brooks: Inks deal with KBO club

    The Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization signed Brooks to a one-year, $700,000 contract Tuesday, Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency reports.

    He can earn an additional $150,000 in incentives. Brooks has hit just .136/.208/.212 in 37 games at the big-league level and will now try his luck overseas.

  • Josh Bell DH | MIN

    Twins' Josh Bell: Grabs one-year contract from Twins

    The Twins signed Bell to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2027 on Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

    It's the first major-league free-agent signing this offseason for the Twins. Bell should see most of the playing time at first base in Minnesota but is also an option for starts at designated hitter. The 33-year-old slashed .237/.325/.417 with 22 home runs across 140 games this past season for the Nationals.

  • Kyle Schwarber LF | PHI

    Phillies' Kyle Schwarber: Back with Phillies on $150M deal

    The Phillies re-signed Schwarber to a five-year, $150 million contract Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

    Schwarber had a robust market, but it always seemed inevitable that he would return to Philadelphia. A five-year deal for a designated hitter heading into his age-33 season is risky on paper, but Schwarber is coming off his best season, having posted a .928 OPS with 56 home runs and 132 RBI during the regular season. He will be the Phillies' full-time DH again in 2026.

  • Yordan Alvarez DH | HOU

    Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Slated for designated hitter duty

    Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that he would like Alvarez (ankle) to "spend most of his season" at designated hitter, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

    Alvarez started 32 games at DH and 15 in left field during his injury-shortened 2025 campaign, and Houston wants to limit his time in the field in hopes that it will help keep him healthy. While it makes sense for the Astros to do everything they can to keep Alvarez's bat in the lineup, it makes for a difficult lineup construction for Espada, especially when it comes to where Isaac Paredes (hamstring) slots in. Alvarez's 2025 season ended prematurely due to a severe left ankle sprain, but general manager Dana Brown said Monday that the slugger will be ready to go for the start of spring training.

  • Yordan Alvarez DH | HOU

    Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Will be full-go for start of spring

    Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Alvarez (ankle) will be "full go" for the start of spring training, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

    Alvarez went down with a severe left ankle sprain late in the regular season. Brown said nearly a month ago that Alvarez had resumed jogging at roughly 70 percent intensity, and while it's unclear how much, if at all, the slugger has progressed with his running since then, Alvarez is not expected to be limited at the start of spring training. Additionally, manager Joe Espada added that his preference is for Alvarez to spend most of his time at designated hitter in 2026, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. The 28-year-old will remain an injury risk heading into the 2026 campaign, however, after being limited to only 48 contests in 2025, mostly due to a fracture in his right hand.

  • Padres' Luis Campusano: Secures contract for '26

    Campusano signed a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Padres on Friday.

    Campusano went 0-for-21 with six walks and 11 strikeouts in the majors during the 2025 regular season, but he continued to show promise in the minors, finishing with a .334/.438/.586 slash line over 466 plate appearances at Triple-A El Paso. The 27-year-old owns a .666 OPS through 178 games in his big-league career but will have a chance to win a spot on San Diego's Opening Day roster this spring.

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