MLB Player News

The Athletics selected Zhuang's contract from Double-A Midland on Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Zhuang spent the entire 2025 season at Midland and finished the year with a 4.08 ERA and 1.28 WHIP to go with a 145:35 K:BB over 145.2 innings. The 25-year-old right-hander is ineligible to be taken in the Rule 5 Draft now that he owns a spot on the Athletics' 40-man roster, and he could be bumped up to Triple-A next year. However, his unimpressive performance in Double-A doesn't inspire much confidence in his chances of reaching the big leagues in 2026.

The Athletics selected Perez's contract from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Perez spent most of the 2025 season at Double-A Midland, where he posted a .724 OPS across 405 plate appearances. The 24-year-old caught fire upon being promoted to Triple-A in early August, however, finishing the year with a .298/.412/.642 slash line over 182 plate appearances at Las Vegas. His late-season surge will buy him a 40-man roster spot and protection from the Rule 5 Draft, though the A's may elect to let him continue developing at Triple-A before adding him to their big-league roster.

The Athletics selected Nett's contract from Double-A Midland on Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The A's acquired Nett at the trade deadline as part of the return for Mason Miller. Upon joining his new organization, the 23-year-old Nett posted a 4.60 ERA and 1.61 WHIP with a 30:14 K:BB across 31.1 innings (seven starts). The team will ensure he sticks around a bit longer by giving him a 40-man roster spot ahead of the Rule 5 Draft, though he may need to show some improvement at Midland before being granted a promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas, let alone the majors.

The Athletics designated Bleday for assignment Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Bleday took a step back in 2025, finishing the season with a .698 OPS to go with 14 homers, 39 RBI, and 48 runs scored across 307 plate appearances in the majors. As a result, he'll lose his place on the Athletics' 40-man roster, helping to make room for the addition of three prospects ahead of December's Rule 5 Draft. The 28-year-old outfielder posted a .980 OPS over 132 plate appearances in the minors, however, which could be intriguing enough for another club to bring him in via waiver claim.

The Mariners designated Saucedo for assignment Tuesday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

The 32-year-old lefty will end up as the roster casualty necessary to make room for Alex Hoppe, who was acquired Tuesday in a trade with the Red Sox. Saucedo struggled to get going in 2025, turning in a 7.43 ERA and 1.88 WHIP across 13.1 innings with the Mariners. He posted a 2.75 ERA in 19.2 frames at Triple-A Tacoma, however, which may be enough for another team to put in a waiver claim on him.

Tampa Bay selected Areinamo's contract from Double-A Montgomery on Tuesday, thus protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Rays acquired Areinamo in a deal with Milwaukee in late July. The 21-year-old had been playing at the High-A level prior to the trade, but he immediately jumped up Double-A with the Rays and slashed .255/.316/.397 with four homers, 19 RBI and six stolen bases over 37 contests. Areinamo can play multiple infield positions and has shown a bit of pop along with good speed on the basepaths. Perhaps most impressively, he's struck out below a 13 percent clip each of the past three seasons.

The Twins selected Prielipp's contract from Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday.

Prielipp spent most of the 2025 season at Double-A Wichita before receiving a promotion to St. Paul, where he posted a 5.14 ERA and 1.57 WHIP across 21 innings in five appearances (four starts). The 24-year-old is ineligible for the Rule 5 Draft now that he holds a spot on the Twins' 40-man roster, though he will most likely be sent back to Triple-A to begin 2026 so he can continue his development.

The Twins selected Morris' contract from Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday.

Morris spent the entirety of 2025 at St. Paul, where he turned in a 4.09 ERA and 1.34 WHIP alongside an 89:28 K:BB over 94.2 innings. His addition to the 40-man roster will grant him protection from the Rule 5 Draft in December and improve his chances of winning a spot in Minnesota's rotation during spring training.

The Twins selected Mendez's contract from Double-A Wichita on Tuesday.

Mendez spent all of 2025 in Double-A, posting a .299/.399/.439 slash line with 11 homers, 62 RBI, 68 runs scored and 10 steals over 491 plate appearances between Philadelphia's and Minnesota's affiliates. Now the owner of a 40-man roster spot, the 22-year-old doesn't have to worry about being selected in the Rule 5 Draft and can now focus on reaching Triple-A St. Paul sometime in 2026.

The Twins selected Gonzalez's contract from Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday.

Gonzalez worked his way up from High-A to Triple-A by the end of the 2025 season, slashing .329/.395/.513 with 15 homers, 66 RBI, 75 runs scored and eight stolen bases across 549 total plate appearances. The 21-year-old outfielder's breakout campaign will grant him protection from the Rule 5 Draft in the form of a 40-man roster spot, and he may be able to win a place on the Twins' Opening Day roster if he continues to hit well in spring training.