MLB Player News
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Kristian Campbell 2B | BOS
Red Sox's Kristian Campbell: Team's preferred position is LF
The Red Sox's preferred position for Campbell moving forward is left field, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Campbell was Boston's Opening Day second baseman in 2025, and he also saw starts in left field and center field with the big club. Additionally, the 23-year-old added first base and right field to his resume down the stretch at Triple-A Worcester. The Red Sox aren't ruling out Campbell playing multiple positions again in 2026, but chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said of Campbell's defense that the club has discussed "trying to narrow that a little bit and just giving him some stability and consistency." The Red Sox already have Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and Roman Anthony vying for playing time in the outfield, so it's difficult to see an immediate path to playing time for Campbell even if Duran is traded. Campbell has been serving as a designated hitter in the Puerto Rican Winter League but is expected to see reps in left field soon. It seems likely that Campbell will open 2026 back at Worcester, where he spent the final three-and-a-half months of the 2025 season after hitting just .223/.319/.345 in the majors.
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Steven Matz SP | TB
Rays' Steven Matz: Will get another chance to start
Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Tuesday that Matz will be given a chance to open the season in the rotation, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Neander said that Matz -- whose two-year, $15 million contract became official Tuesday -- has "a real desire" to be a starting pitcher again, and the "the investment was made with that in mind." All but two of Matz's 53 regular-season appearances in 2025 came out of the bullpen, but the 34-year-old has predominantly been a starter in his career. He posted a 3.05 ERA and 59:11 K:BB over 76.2 regular-season frames between the Cardinals and Red Sox this past season.
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Drew Pomeranz RP | LAA
Angels' Drew Pomeranz: Finds work in Anaheim
Pomeranz signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Angels on Tuesday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Pomeranz was dominant during his time with the Cubs this past season -- his first MLB campaign since 2021 -- finishing the year with a 2.17 ERA and 1.07 WHIP alongside a 57:15 K:BB over 49.2 regular-season frames. By joining the Angels, the 37-year-old southpaw instantly becomes one of the most reliable arms in a bullpen that finished 2025 with an AL-worst 4.86 ERA, and he figures to receive a fair share of save opportunities alongside Ben Joyce (shoulder) and Robert Stephenson (elbow).
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Jordan Romano RP | LAA
Angels' Jordan Romano: Lands with Halos
Romano (finger) signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Angels on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Once viewed as a dominant closer, Romano has struggled mightily over the past two seasons, posting a 7.83 ERA and 1.46 WHIP across 56.1 regular-season innings between the Blue Jays and Phillies. The Angels will now take a chance on the 32-year-old righty with hopes that he can return to his previous form, but he'll likely be limited to middle-relief work until he can display some consistency on the mound.
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Chris Martin RP | TEX
Rangers' Chris Martin: Back with Rangers
Martin (undisclosed) signed a one-year contract with the Rangers on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Martin was a key part of the Rangers' bullpen this past season, as he finished the year with a 2.98 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 42.1 innings while adding two saves and 13 holds. Now committed to another year in Arlington, the 39-year-old righty will likely continue to work in a setup role ahead of closer Robert Garcia.
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Mike Trout CF | LAA
Angels' Mike Trout: Playing some center field possible
Angels general manager Perry Minasian said recently that he's not ruling out Trout playing some center field in 2026, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Trout was moved to right field at the beginning of the 2025 season, but he was a full-time designated hitter from late April on after suffering a bone bruise to his surgically repaired left knee. The three-time MVP has had a normal offseason and hopes to play the outfield in 2026, and Minasian said Trout is an option at all three outfield spots as well as DH. Trout's strikeout rate ballooned to 32 percent in 2025, but he made a late-season mechanical tweak and homered five times in his last seven games.
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Tristan Peters LF | CHW
Rays' Tristan Peters: Cut from 40-man roster
The Rays designated Peters for assignment Tuesday.
The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Steven Matz, whose signing was made official Tuesday. Peters went 0-for-12 with seven strikeouts during his brief time with the Rays in 2025 and slashed .266/.355/.429 at Triple-A Durham. He stands a good chance of passing through waivers unclaimed.
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Andrew Knizner C | SEA
Mariners' Andrew Knizner: Gets MLB deal from Seattle
The Mariners signed Knizner to a one-year contract Tuesday.
Knizner saw 88 plate appearances this past season with the Giants, putting up a .598 OPS. A career .211/.281/.316 hitter over parts of seven big-league seasons, Knizner is poised to open the 2026 season as the Mariners' backup catcher behind star Cal Raleigh.
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Carlos Rodon SP | NYY
Yankees' Carlos Rodon: Resumes throwing program
Rodon (elbow) is in the second week of his throwing program, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Working his way back from surgery in mid-October to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur in his left elbow, Rodon most recently made 30 throws from 60-75 feet. The southpaw anticipates making some Grapefruit League starts, but he will begin the season on the injured list and isn't expected to make his regular-season debut for the Yankees until late April or early May.
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Injures thumb in winter ball
Perez suffered a left thumb injury Sunday while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League, Al Son de la LVBP reports.
Perez posted a video on Instagram of himself working out and he didn't seem to be overly affected by the injury, so it seems to be a day-to-day situation that shouldn't affect his availability for spring training. The 35-year-old Perez has gone 6-for-29 with two home runs for Leones del Caracas in winter ball thus far.