MLB Player News

Kirk has gone 0-for-9 with six strikeouts in three games since rejoining the Blue Jays following the World Baseball Classic.

The 27-year-old catcher was a key player for Mexico in the tournament, batting .267 (4-for-15) in four games with a double and a homer, but Kirk hasn't been able to maintain that form back in the Grapefruit League. He's coming off a strong 2025 season in which he set new career highs with 15 homers and 76 RBI in 130 regular-season games while slashing .282/.348/.421.

Guerrero went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

It was his first game back with the Blue Jays after the first baseman starred for the Dominican Republic at the WBC, batting .444 (8-for-18) in five games with three doubles and two homers. Guerrero is also 5-for-13 (.385) in Grapefruit League action, and he has yet to strike out this spring either for the Jays or in the WBC. The 27-year-old will be looking to take his offense to another level after slashing .292/.381/.467 over 156 regular-season games last season with 23 homers and 84 RBI.

The Angels assigned Klassen to minor-league camp Friday.

Klassen's strong start to spring training put him in contention to make the Angels' big-league rotation, but it looks like the 24-year-old will open 2026 in the minors. One of the Halos' top prospects, Klassen posted a 3.86 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 10:5 K:BB across 11.2 innings this spring.

Ponce allowed one hit over 5.2 scoreless innings during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. He struck out five without walking a batter.

Facing a split-squad lineup of bench players and minor leaguers, Ponce fired 44 of 65 pitches for strikes while topping out at 96.3 mph with his four-seam fastball. The right-hander has a 0.66 ERA this spring over 13.2 innings with a 12:4 K:BB and zero homers allowed, and Ponce's importance to the Blue Jays' rotation has only grown since he was signed in December, with Trey Yesavage (shoulder), Shane Bieber (forearm) and Jose Berrios (elbow) all set to open the season on the IL.

Estrada could begin the season on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

Some dominoes are falling on the Toronto staff due to injuries. With Trey Yesavage (shoulder), Shane Bieber (forearm) and Jose Berrios (elbow) all set to begin the year on the IL, Eric Lauer is expected to move into the rotation, leaving a vacancy in the bullpen for a long reliever or swingman. Estrada appears to be the leading candidate for the gig after building up to about 40 pitches in his most recent spring outing and posting a 4.50 ERA and 3:2 K:BB through 10 innings over five Grapefruit League appearances (one start). The 26-year-old right-hander is coming off a shaky 2025, as he produced a 5.73 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 99:32 K:BB in 97.1 innings at Triple-A before getting tagged for seven runs in his first 7.1 big-league innings, albeit with an encouraging 10:1 K:BB.

Fluharty is a candidate to begin the season at Triple-A Buffalo, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

The 24-year-old southpaw has looked good this spring, posting a 1.59 ERA and 8:0 K:BB over 5.2 innings, but Fluharty could be caught in a numbers game. With Eric Lauer now needed in the rotation due to injuries to Trey Yesavage (shoulder), Shane Bieber (forearm) and Jose Berrios (elbow), someone like Lazaro Estrada could claim a spot as the long reliever, while Rule 5 pick Angel Bastardo has also made a strong case for a bullpen job. Fluharty has minor-league options remaining, but so does Braydon Fisher, and the latter is a right-hander, perhaps making him a little more likely to be the reliever squeezed off the Opening Day roster. As a rookie in 2025, Fluharty posted a 4.44 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 56:24 K:BB over 52.2 innings with five wins, one save and five holds in 55 appearances.

Fisher is a candidate to begin the season at Triple-A Buffalo, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

The 25-year-old right-hander hasn't done anything this spring to lose his spot in the bullpen, posting a 1.59 ERA and 8:2 K:BB over 5.2 innings, but Fisher could be caught in a numbers game. With Eric Lauer now needed in the rotation due to injuries to Trey Yesavage (shoulder), Shane Bieber (forearm) and Jose Berrios (elbow), someone like Lazaro Estrada could claim a spot as the long reliever, while Rule 5 pick Angel Bastardo has also made a strong case for a bullpen job. Fisher and Mason Fluharty both have minor-league options remaining, but Fluharty is a left-hander, giving him a little more job security. As a rookie in 2025, Fisher posted a 2.70 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 62:19 K:BB over 50 innings in a middle-relief role with seven wins and five holds in 52 appearances.

Lauer is expected to begin the season in the Blue Jays' rotation with Trey Yesavage (shoulder) headed for the IL, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

While manager John Schneider didn't guarantee the southpaw a spot in the rotation Thursday, there wouldn't seem to be any other clear options in camp for Toronto with Yesavage, Shane Bieber (forearm) and Jose Berrios (elbow) all on the shelf. "He's got a good chance," Schneider said. "Just got to figure out exactly who is where." The Jays play seven straight games to begin their regular season, six at home against the A's and Rockies before beginning a road series against the White Sox on April 2, so using a four-man rotation early wouldn't seem to be an option. Lauer's last spring outing came on a back field, but he built up to nearly 70 pitches in a minor-league game. Over 104.2 innings in a swingman role in 2025, the 30-year-old posted a 3.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 102:26 K:BB in 28 appearances (15 starts).

Gipson-Long (oblique) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Gipson-Long looks to still be on track for an Opening Day return, which is encouraging after the 28-year-old sustained an oblique strain early in spring training. Considering the Tigers bolstered their starting rotation this offseason, Gipson-Long likely would be in a bullpen role if he makes the MLB roster.

Stanton went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Thursday's split-squad Grapefruit League win over the Orioles.

Stanton kicked off the scoring with a first-inning sacrifice fly, then belted a solo homer to right field in the sixth inning. The veteran slugger didn't make his Grapefruit League debut until March 3 and didn't hit his first homer of the exhibition slate until March 9, but his four long balls is tied with top prospect Spencer Jones for the Yankees' lead this spring. If Stanton can stay reasonably healthy this season, a big if given the state of his chronically sore elbows, he should provide fantasy managers with big power numbers after going deep 24 times in only 77 regular-season games last year.