MLB Player News
-
Aaron Schunk 3B | ATL
Braves' Aaron Schunk: Gets NRI deal from Atlanta
Schunk signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Tuesday, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Schunk went just 6-for-32 (.188) in the big leagues in 2025, but he slashed .291/.352/.477 over 363 plate appearances with the Rockies' Triple-A affiliate. His strong minor-league performance will grant him an opportunity to carve out a role for himself in Atlanta, though he's likely to spend the majority of 2026 in Triple-A again.
-
Caleb Ferguson RP | CIN
Reds' Caleb Ferguson: Nabs one-year deal from Reds
The Reds signed Ferguson to a one-year contract Tuesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Ferguson made 70 regular-season appearances in 2025 between the Pirates and Mariners, posting a 3.58 ERA and 51:22 K:BB over 65.1 innings. The southpaw held left-handed hitters to a .184/.261/.204 batting line, so Ferguson should be leaned on heavily by manager Terry Francona in 2026 when the opposition has lefties due up.
-
Adrian Houser SP | SF
Giants' Adrian Houser: Gets $22 million pact from Giants
The Giants signed Houser to a two-year, $22 million contract with a club option for 2028 on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Houser showed more velocity and put together a bounce-back season in 2025, collecting a 3.31 ERA and 92:38 K:BB over 125 innings covering 21 starts between the White Sox and Rays. The veteran right-hander will turn 33 in February and lands in a favorable home environment in Oracle Park, but Houser's fantasy value will remain limited because of a lack of strikeouts.
-
Gregory Santos RP | SEA
Giants' Gregory Santos: Signs with Giants as NRI
Santos signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Santos first reached the majors with the Giants in 2021 before being traded to the White Sox three years ago. The 26-year-old had a tough time with injuries the past two seasons with the Mariners, making a total of only 16 appearances due to arm and knee problems. Santos is recovered from April arthroscopic right knee surgery and has a chance to win a spot in the Giants' bullpen.
-
Jason Foley RP | SF
Giants' Jason Foley: Inks deal with Giants
The Giants signed Foley (shoulder) to a one-year contract Tuesday.
Foley was non-tendered by the Tigers last month after missing most of the 2025 season following arthroscopic right shoulder surgery. He's not expected to be ready to pitch with the big club until midseason, per Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Foley will remain under team control through 2028, so it could be a sneaky signing if he can return to pre-surgery form. The 30-year-old led the Tigers with 28 saves during his last full season in 2024, posting a 3.15 ERA and 46:20 K:BB over 60 regular-season innings.
-
Caleb Thielbar RP | CHC
Cubs' Caleb Thielbar: Returns to Cubs
The Cubs re-signed Thielbar to a one-year contract Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Thielbar collected a 2.64 ERA and 56:13 K:BB over 58 regular-season innings for the Cubs in 2025. Left-handed batters hit just .161/.211/.276 off the southpaw. Thielbar -- who will turn 39 in January -- will help set up from the left side in the Cubs' bullpen.
-
Justin Crawford CF | PHI
Phillies' Justin Crawford: In line to start in center field
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Tuesday that the team plans to have Brandon Marsh, Crawford and Adolis Garcia as its primary outfielders in 2026, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The Phillies officially announced the Garcia signing Tuesday, and Dombrowski intimated that another notable addition to the club's outfield is unlikely. Crawford will still have to show in spring training that he's ready to take over as the Phillies' primary center fielder, but the team is positioning him to be the guy at that position. There are questions about Crawford's defense in center field, but his bat looks ready after he slashed .334/.411/.452 with seven home runs and 46 stolen bases at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2025 as a 21-year-old.
-
Will Banfield C | CIN
Reds' Will Banfield: Re-ups with Cincinnati
The Reds re-signed Banfield to a minor-league contract Dec. 2.
Banfield was non-tendered by the Reds in November but wound up returning to the organization on a minor-league pact. The 26-year-old catcher went 1-for-10 with six strikeouts during a cup of coffee with the Reds and will provide depth behind the plate at Triple-A Louisville.
-
Elieser Hernandez RP | MIL
Braves' Elieser Hernandez: Grabs MiLB deal from Atlanta
Atlanta signed Hernandez to a minor-league contract Nov. 18.
Hernandez split his time in 2025 between the Korea Baseball Organization's LG Twins and Triple-A Buffalo in the Blue Jays organization. The 30-year-old made nine appearances in the majors in 2024 but hasn't seen significant action at the big-league level since 2022. He'll presumably open 2026 in the rotation at Triple-A Gwinnett.
-
Davis Wendzel 3B | PIT
Pirates' Davis Wendzel: Latches on with Pittsburgh
Wendzel signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Wendzel will receive a chance to win a spot on the Opening Day roster after putting pen to paper on a deal with Pittsburgh. He spent the majority of his time at Triple-A Louisville a season ago, hitting .251 with 13 home runs, 53 RBI, one stolen base and 50 runs scored in 94 games. Wendzel's last big-league appearance dates back to 2024 with the Rangers, and he struggled to a .128 average in 27 outings.