MLB Player News

While he will compete for a regular rotation spot during spring training, Hurter and Kenta Maeda may end up splitting bulk-relief duties, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

With the Tigers recently adding Jack Flaherty to the mix, they now have a surplus of starting options. Flaherty, Tarik Skubal and Reese Olson all figure to be locked into the rotation. Behind them, Detroit has the likes of Hurter, Alex Cobb, Jackson Jobe, Casey Mize and Keider Montero. With the exception of Jobe, who made his MLB debut toward the end of last year and appeared in just two regular-season contests, all of the other pitchers started games in 2024. The veteran Cobb should snag a rotation spot in the early going, which leaves plenty of players vying for one role. Jobe has the most upside of the bunch and could run away with the job if he impresses, though manager A.J. Hinch may mix and match and use some pitchers in bulk relief. The lefty Hurter and righty Maeda could be a natural pairing in that scenario, with the two potentially working together in some contests.

Maeda may get another shot at a rotation spot this year, per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic, though Detroit's addition of Jack Flaherty could push the former into the bullpen.

Maeda was brought over to Detroit before last season to start games, but he struggled mightily in his first year with the team, posting an ugly 6.09 ERA across 29 appearances (17 starts). The veteran righty did fare a bit better as a reliever, posting a 4.44 ERA out of the bullpen. Maeda stood to potentially get another chance at starting in 2025, though with Jack Flaherty joining the team Sunday, the rotation suddenly looks a bit more crowded. Flaherty, Tarik Skubal, Reese Olson and veteran newcomer Alex Cobb should all be locked into rotation spots. That leaves Maeda competing with Jackson Jobe and Casey Mize for the No. 5 starter spot with Keider Montero and Brant Hurter as longer-shot candidates. The one thing working in Maeda's favor is that he is owed $10 million this season and Detroit may look to give him one last shot as a starter.

The Guardians signed Allard to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.

Allard made four starts and three relief appearances for the Phillies in 2024, producing a 5.00 ERA and 23:8 K:BB over 27 innings. In 82 frames with Triple-A Lehigh Valley last season, he held a 5.38 ERA and 74:34 K:BB. Allard will compete for an Opening Day roster spot but is likely headed to Triple-A Columbus where he'll provide rotation depth.

The Rays acquired Faedo from the Tigers on Monday in exchange for Enderson Delgado and cash considerations, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Faedo had been removed from the Tigers' 40-man roster and will now join a new organization. The right-hander is out of minor-league options, so the Rays will need to carry him on their Opening Day roster or put him through the waivers process. Faedo has a career 5.00 ERA over 30 starts and 3.44 ERA over 34 relief appearances at the big-league level.

The Yankees signed Carrasco to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.

Carrasco made 21 starts with the Guardians last season, putting up a 5.64 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 89:33 K:BB over 103.2 innings before being removed from their 40-man roster in September. Slated to turn 38 in March, Carrasco appears to be a longshot to make the Yankees' Opening Day roster but would give them some veteran rotation insurance at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Suarez is expected to take on a long-relief role to open 2025, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Suarez has ample big-league experience as a starter, but he came out of the bullpen for 19 of his 22 outings last season. He wasn't very effective overall, as he registered an ugly 6.02 ERA and 1.61 WHIP across 52.1 frames, though he fared decently well in two starts at the end of the campaign, allowing three earned runs and posting a 10:4 K:BB over 10 innings. Nonetheless, there isn't likely to be room for Suarez to compete for a rotation role to begin 2025, as the Angels' first four spots are likely locked up and a number of more attractive options are set to compete for the fifth-starter role. As such, the lefty appears most likely to function in long relief, which further diminishes his already minuscule fantasy value.

Detmers is one of several pitchers who will be competing for the Angels' fifth-starter role during spring training, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Detmers began 2024 in the Angels' rotation and was sizzling out of the gates with a 3-0 record, 1.19 ERA and 30:7 K:BB over 22.2 innings across his first four starts. The southpaw faded dramatically from there, however, finishing the campaign with an ugly 6.70 ERA and 1.56 WHIP over 87.1 frames while spending much of the season in the minors. There's little doubt that Detmers has impressive stuff -- among other things, he has a no-hitter to his name and a career 25 percent strikeout rate -- but he's yet to put it all together to cement himself as a consistent big-league pitcher. Detmers will have every chance during spring training to show that he belongs in Los Angeles' rotation, but Bollinger considers Jack Kochanowicz the early favorite to secure the team's fifth-starter spot to open the campaign.

Kochanowicz may have a leg up to open the 2025 season as the Angels' fifth starter, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Newcomers Yusei Kikuchi and Kyle Hendricks appear set to join Tyler Anderson and Jose Soriano in the rotation, which leaves one spot up for grabs. Reid Detmers and Chase Silseth (elbow) will almost certainly compete for that slot during spring training, and youngsters Caden Dana, George Klassen and Sam Aldegheri could be in the mix as well, but Bollinger considers Kochanowicz to be the favorite based on his strong finish last year. Over his last nine starts, Kochanowicz posted a 2.78 ERA over 58.1 innings and hurled eight quality starts, though he struck out a meager 20 batters during that span. The latter figure limits his fantasy stock quite a bit, and there's no guarantee that he'll even open the campaign in the majors if he struggles in exhibition play.

Flaherty and the Tigers agreed on a two-year, $35 million contract Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Flaherty will return to Detroit after spending the first half of the 2024 campaign with the team prior to being traded to the Dodgers at the trade deadline in July. The right-hander combined to start 28 regular-season games with Los Angeles and Detroit last year, compiling a 3.17 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 194 strikeouts over 162 innings. Flaherty will make $25 million in 2025, and his contract includes an opt-out after the season, otherwise he'll make at minimum $10 million in 2026 with the possibility of making as much as $20 million. The 29-year-old figures to again be a valuable asset for fantasy managers in 2025 while operating in a pitcher-friendly ballpark in Detroit.

Mize figures to compete for a back-end rotation spot in spring training, though he may ultimately end up in a long-relief role in 2025, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Tarik Skubal is the unquestioned staff ace, and Reese Olson and newcomer Alex Cobb figure to slot in behind him. Top prospect Jackson Jobe also seems likely to grab a rotation spot this spring, which would leave Mize and the likes of Brant Hurter, Keider Montero and others to compete for the fifth spot. Mize, the top pick of the 2018 draft, has flashed potential as a starter in the majors but has yet to truly live up to his potential. Injuries have been part of the issue, so the Tigers may decide to shift the 27-year-old into long relief in the hope of keeping him healthier and more effective.