MLB Player News

Herget will enter spring training as a starting pitcher, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic report.

Herget was a starting pitcher in college but has not made a traditional start in his entire professional career. He did, however, record more than three outs in 31 of his 59 appearances for the Rockies in 2025. Herget was excellent out of the Rockies' bullpen last season, posting a 2.48 ERA and 81:26 K:BB over 83.1 innings.

Soto signed a one-year, $7.75 million contract with the Pirates on Tuesday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.

Soto improved in nearly every major statistical category in 2025, finishing the regular season with a 4.18 ERA and 1.43 WHIP alongside 22 holds and a 70:24 K:BB over 60.1 innings between the Orioles and Mets. He'll receive a $2.4 million raise upon moving to the Pirates and is likely to remain in a high-leverage role; however, the majority of save opportunities will presumably continue going to Dennis Santana.

Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Tuesday that Thompson (lat) should be ready for the start of spring training, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Thompson missed the entirety of the 2025 season due to a left lat strain, encountering multiple setbacks along the way. He was removed from the Cardinals' 40-man roster last month, but the southpaw remains in the organization and will compete for a roster spot in spring training.

Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Tuesday that Lopez (shoulder) will be stretched out as a starting pitcher during spring training, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Weiss noted that Lopez could eventually become a bullpen option if that's the route the team ultimately decides to take, but for the time being Lopez will prepare to be in Atlanta's 2026 rotation. The right-hander missed nearly the entire 2025 season following arthroscopic shoulder surgery in April, but he was throwing off a mound by September and should be ready for the start of spring training.

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes has said that Graterol (shoulder) will be "full-go" for spring training, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Graterol missed the entire 2025 season following November 2024 labrum surgery on his right shoulder. He experienced a setback with the shoulder during the second half, but it appears the hard-throwing reliever is back on track now. Graterol has hardly pitched the last two seasons because of injury, but he held a 1.20 ERA over 68 appearances in 2023, his last full season.

The Dodgers signed Diaz to a three-year, $69 million contract Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

For the second straight offseason the Dodgers have inked the top closer on the free-agent market. The $23 million average annual value sets a new record for a reliever. Diaz will turn 32 in March but is coming off one of his best seasons, having collected a 1.63 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 98:21 K:BB over 66.1 innings while notching 28 saves. He will take over as closer for the two-time defending World Series champs.

The Phillies re-signed Schwarber to a five-year, $150 million contract Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Schwarber had a robust market, but it always seemed inevitable that he would return to Philadelphia. A five-year deal for a designated hitter heading into his age-33 season is risky on paper, but Schwarber is coming off his best season, having posted a .928 OPS with 56 home runs and 132 RBI during the regular season. He will be the Phillies' full-time DH again in 2026.

Karinchak signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Karinchak will receive a new opportunity with Atlanta after failing to make his way to the big leagues while with the White Sox during the 2025 campaign. His last major-league action dates back to the 2023 campaign while with Cleveland, posting a 3.23 ERA with a 52:28 K:BB across 39.0 innings. Karinchak will presumably begin the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Gwinnett and serve as organizational depth.

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said in November that Sasaki will "absolutely" be in the team's starting rotation next season, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.

Sasaki thrived down the stretch of the regular season and playoffs as a reliever, but Gomes noted that shifting Sasaki to the bullpen was more about "trying to get his delivery back." Gomes added of Sasaki that "we're definitely viewing him as a starter and a really good one." Sasaki posted a 4.72 ERA while walking 22 batters over 34.1 innings in his eight starts for the Dodgers in 2025, but the team is confident Sasaki's struggles in the rotation were related to his mechanics, which they feel have been corrected. The 24-year-old is sure to have workload restrictions as he transitions back to a starting role, though the Dodgers' preference for a six-man rotation will make that easier.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Betts will remain at shortstop next season, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The news comes as no surprise after Betts earned a plus-6 in Outs Above Average in 2025 in his first season as a full-time shortstop. Betts played just one inning in right field in 2025, so he will enter the 2026 campaign with only shortstop eligibility in fantasy leagues.