MLB Player News
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Josh Simpson RP | SEA
Marlins' Josh Simpson: Booted from roster
Simpson was designated for assignment Thursday.
Simpson made his big-league debut in 2025, posting a 7.34 ERA and 1.83 WHIP across 30.2 innings with the Marlins. He walked 22 during that time while also serving up 1.5 HR/9. Those numbers make it little surprise that Simpson lost his roster spot, which is a move that created room for John King to officially be added to the roster.
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Rafael Montero RP | NYY
Yankees' Rafael Montero: Joins Yankees
Montero signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Thursday, which includes an invitation to spring training, Hector Gomez of Z101Digital.com reports.
Montero bounced between three teams in 2025 but still covered 60.1 innings in the majors. His primary problem was control, as he walked 37 batters while striking out 58. If Montero earns a roster spot, he'd likely begin the season in a low-leverage role.
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Zack Thompson RP | STL
Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Recovering from shoulder surgery
Thompson is not yet throwing off a mound after having arthroscopic left shoulder surgery in August, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Thompson missed the entire 2025 season due to shoulder issues, but it was not previously known that he had a cleanup procedure. The left-hander has been playing catch as he eases back into a throwing program. Thompson is no longer on the Cardinals' 40-man roster and should report to Triple-A Memphis once he's healthy enough to do so.
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Ronny Henriquez RP | MIA
Marlins' Ronny Henriquez: Lands on 60-day injured list
The Marlins placed Henriquez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.
The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Chris Paddack, whose signing was officially announced Thursday. Henriquez underwent a UCL reconstruction surgery with an internal brace procedure on his right elbow in December and will be sidelined for the duration of the 2026 season.
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Ryan Walker RP | SF
Giants' Ryan Walker: Found mechanical fix over winter
Walker believes he fixed a mechanical issue over the offseason that had affected his command last season, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Walker discovered that he had been over-rotating, which made it difficult to command his slider, in particular. That led to having to throw more sinkers for strikes, and because the hitter was able to guess what was coming, his sinker got hit harder. After finishing with a 1.91 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 32.1 percent strikeout rate in 2024, Walker regressed to a 4.11 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 22.6 percent strikeout rate in 2025. The 30-year-old is the favorite to open 2026 as the Giants' closer, and he could have a bounce-back season if his mechanics are in order.
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A.J. Causey RP | ATH
Athletics' A.J. Causey: Shipped to Sacramento
The Royals traded Causey to the Athletics on Thursday in exchange for Mitch Spence.
Causey spent time with the Royals' High-A and Double-A affiliates in 2025, posting a 1.72 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 73.1 innings across the two levels. The 23-year-old righty will likely begin his tenure with the Athletics in Double-A and aim to reach Triple-A Las Vegas at some point this summer.
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Evan Phillips RP | LAD
Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Placed on 60-day IL
The Dodgers placed Phillips (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
The move frees a spot on the 40-man roster for Enrique Hernandez (elbow). Phillips will be sidelined for at least the first few months of the 2026 campaign after having Tommy John surgery last May.
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Alec Marsh RP | KC
Royals' Alec Marsh: Officially placed on IL
The Royals placed Marsh (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.
Marsh missed all of 2025 due to shoulder problems, and after undergoing surgery in November to address the issue, he's expected to miss the entire 2026 campaign as well. His move to the 60-day IL clears space on the 40-man roster for Mitch Spence, whom the Royals acquired in a trade with the Athletics on Thursday.
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Jackson Kowar RP | BAL
Twins' Jackson Kowar: DFA'd by Twins
The Twins designated Kowar (shoulder) for assignment Thursday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
The transaction clears a 40-man roster spot for Anthony Banda, who was acquired via trade Thursday. Kowar was a waiver claim of the Twins earlier this month and could now be on the move again. He ended last season on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement, and it's unclear what Kowar's current health status is.
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Anthony Banda RP | MIN
Twins' Anthony Banda: Traded to Minnesota
The Twins acquired Banda from the Dodgers on Thursday in exchange for international bonus pool money, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Banda had been designated for assignment last week and is now on his way to a new organization. The lefty collected a 3.14 ERA and 111:52 K:BB over 114.2 regular-season innings during his time with the Dodgers and should fill a high-leverage relief role as part of an unsettled Twins bullpen.