MLB Player News

Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said Sunday that Cijntje will be used as a right-handed starting pitcher during spring training, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

In 2025, the switch pitcher initially made starts right-handed on Saturdays and relief appearances as a lefty on Wednesdays. That plan was abandoned after he was ineffective in the relief outings, and he switched to throwing lefty in certain matchups during his right-handed starts. Cijntje will still occasionally throw left-handed in bullpen sessions, and the Mariners have not ruled out a return to switch-pitching at some point. However, Cijntje's focus for now will be on developing as a right-handed starter. The 22-year-old finished 2025 with a 3.99 ERA and 120:51 K:BB over 108.1 innings between High-A Everett and Double-A Arkansas. Cijntje will return to Arkansas to begin the 2026 campaign and could push to debut at some point later on in the summer.

The White Sox designated Iriarte for assignment Sunday.

The right-hander received his first taste of the majors late in 2024 and gave up one earned run with a 6:8 K:BB over six innings. Iriarte failed to make Chicago's Opening Day roster last spring and stumbled to a 7.24 ERA and 7.2 BB/9 with Triple-A Charlotte in 2025, which has now cost him his place on the 40-man roster.

The Red Sox are acquiring Ziehl and a player to be named later from the White Sox on Sunday in exchange for Jordan Hicks (shoulder), David Sandlin, two PTBNL and cash, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Ziehl was sent to Chicago at the summer deadline in the Austin Slater trade and is now on the move once again. The 22-year-old right-hander worked across four minor-league levels during his first professional season in 2025 and posted a 4.12 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 90:19 K:BB over 107 innings. Ziehl made one appearance at the Double-A level last year but may be more likely to open 2026 at High-A.

The White Sox are acquiring Sandlin, Jordan Hicks (shoulder), two players-to-be-named and cash from the Red Sox on Sunday in exchange for Gage Ziehl and a player-to-be-named, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

Sandlin was added to Boston's 40-man roster in November in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, and he'll now make his way to Chicago. The right-hander had a 3.61 ERA across 82.1 innings at the Double-A level last season but struggled to a 7.61 ERA upon being promoted to Triple-A. Sandlin is likely to return to the Triple-A level to begin 2026 but will be in big-league camp with the White Sox, so he'll have an outside chance of cracking the Opening Day roster.

Bello has been the subject of recent trade talks, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

According to a December report from Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Red Sox "quietly shopped" Bello -- something the organization disputed at the time -- and a league source confirmed to McCaffrey that Bello's name has surfaced in trade discussions. What's changed since December is that Boston's added several starters and has a wealth of starting options. In addition to Bello, Patrick Sandoval and Jordan Hicks are generating interest. The 26-year-old Bello is entering the third year of a six-year deal and is seen as a young, controllable mid-rotation starter another organization might covet. Apparently, Boston is more likely to trade Bello than its top prospects, Connelly Early or Payton Tolle. Bello posted a 3.35 ERA in 2025, but it could have been higher given a favorable BABIP (.268) and a lack of swing-and-miss ability (17.7 K%, 6.7 K/9).

The Rays have extended Hopkins an invitation to big-league camp in spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Hopkins was excellent at Double-A Montgomery this past season, collecting a 2.72 ERA and 141:60 K:BB over 116 innings. He has some of the best stuff of any pitching prospect in baseball and could become a legitimate ace if he's able to throw enough strikes. Hopkins isn't going to break camp with the big club, but there's a good chance he will debut at some point in 2026.

Quantrill signed a minor-league deal with the Rangers on Thursday, which includes an invitation to spring training, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Quantrill closed the 2025 season in the Rangers' organization, making two starts at Triple-A Round Rock. He looks unlikely to break camp in the rotation after posting a 6.04 ERA over 26 appearances between Atlanta and Miami last year, but he could make an impact at some point in the new campaign.

Teng was traded from the Giants to the Astros in exchange for a minor-league player on Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Teng has experience as both a reliever and starter in the majors, and he worked primarily out of the Giants' rotation toward the end of the 2025 season. He still has two minor-league options remaining, so there's a strong chance Teng begins the season with Triple-A Sugar Land. However, he should contribute to the big-league club at some point in 2026.

France was designated for assignment by the Astros on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

France missed most of the 2025 season while recovering from a torn right shoulder capsule. He returned to throw four innings out of the bullpen late in the year, but he'll now have to battle for a roster spot during spring training.

The Angels designated Bido for assignment Thursday.

Bido began the offseason with the Athletics but has since been claimed and waived by Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Miami and now the Angels. The 30-year-old finished 2025 with a 5.87 ERA and 1.61 WHIP over 79.2 innings and could be used as a long reliever in the big leagues if he gets claimed again. Otherwise, he'll report to Triple-A Salt Lake to begin the year.