MLB Player News

Atlanta designated Waldichuk for assignment Saturday.

Just two days after being claimed off waivers from the Athletics on Thursday, Waldichuk will once again enter the waiver process following Atlanta's addition of Tyler Kinley on Saturday. After missing the entire 2024 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery, the 28-year-old Waldichuk returned to action at Triple-A last season but struggled with an 8.65 ERA and 2.06 WHIP across 51 innings.

Kinley signed a one-year, $4.25 million contract with Atlanta on Saturday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Atlanta declined Kinley's $5.5 million club option for 2026 earlier in the offseason, but the team will now bring the 34-year-old reliever back on a more team-friendly deal that also includes a club option for 2027. Kinley owned a 5.66 ERA and 1.45 WHIP through 47.2 innings when the Rockies shipped him to Atlanta at the trade deadline, at which point the right-hander flipped a switch and posted a 0.72 ERA and 0.68 WHIP across his final 25 frames. He'll likely face a healthy amount of competition for high-leverage opportunities in Atlanta, but his recent body of work should keep him in the late-inning mix heading into the new season.

The Rockies traded Grosz to the Diamondbacks on Saturday in exchange for Jake McCarthy

Grosz spent all of 2025 at the High-A level, posting a 4.67 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across 125.1 innings between the Yankees' and Rockies' affiliates. The 23-year-old righty will likely aim to reach Double-A at some point in 2026.

The Diamondbacks traded McCarthy to the Rockies on Saturday in exchange for Josh Grosz.

McCarthy appeared in just 67 games for the Diamondbacks during 2025 and finished the season with a career-low .592 OPS across 222 plate appearances. Moving to Coors Field should help the 28-year-old's chances of bouncing back offensively in 2026, and he'll likely have more opportunities to start in the outfield with the Rockies as well -- primarily against right-handed starters.

Stanek agreed to a contract with the Cardinals on Friday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Stanek endured one of the worst seasons of his MLB career during 2025, finishing the year with a 5.30 ERA and 1.57 WHIP across 56 innings with the Mets. His recent performance will likely prevent him from taking on a high-leverage role right away with the Cardinals, though the team's lack of bullpen depth could enable him to pick up a handful of holds over the course of the season.

The Dodgers signed Ibanez to a one-year contract Friday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

Ibanez was non-tendered by the Tigers earlier in the offseason but has managed to land on his feet in Los Angeles. He's a career .280/.327/.452 hitter versus left-handed pitching and does not have minor-league options remaining, so Ibanez is a good bet to make the Dodgers' Opening Day roster and get some starts at second and/or third base against southpaws. Ibanez will remain under team control through 2028.

Atlanta designated Wisely for assignment Friday.

The move frees a 40-man roster spot for the addition of George Soriano, who was claimed off waivers. Wisely was a waiver claim himself in September and holds a career .214/.265/.319 slash line over parts of three major-league seasons. The 26-year-old can play all over the diamond, but he's out of minor-league options, which could hurt his chances of being claimed again.

Atlanta claimed Soriano off waivers from the Orioles on Friday.

It's the second time this offseason Soriano has been waived and claimed, after he bounced from Miami to Baltimore in November. The righty reliever has collected a 5.95 ERA and 117:55 K:BB covering 118 innings across parts of three seasons in the big leagues. Soriano does not have minor-league options remaining.

The Nationals claimed Schultz off waivers from the Blue Jays on Friday.

Schultz reached the majors with the Jays in 2025 for the first time, finishing with a 4.38 ERA and 28:8 K:BB over 24.2 innings. The 28-year-old has past starting experience but has worked mostly as a reliever the last two years. Schultz will compete for a spot in the Nationals' bullpen.

The Dodgers claimed Fitzgerald off waivers from the Twins on Friday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.

Fitzgerald had been booted off the Twins' 40-man roster last week and is now headed to the back-to-back World Series champs. A 31-year-old utility infielder, Fitzgerald slashed .196/.302/.457 with four home runs in 24 games for the Twins and slashed .277/.367/.469 in 59 contests with Triple-A St. Paul. He'll compete for a reserve role in spring training but is likely ticketed for Triple-A Oklahoma City.